# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636 "2024-02-16T02:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 351
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7002 "2025-06-06T18:51:42Z")
My favorite “unusual material” for a straw was straw. Yes, natural straw, which worked surprisingly well. If those were cheap and readily available, I’d be happy to use them. But they were pricey, and i assume that paper straws were invented because that’s a kit cheaper than straw straws. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7003 "2025-06-06T19:11:53Z")
I don’t think using straws is immature, particularly. I think it’s generally wasteful and unnecessary; but some people have particular needs and/or situations for which straws make sense. And I’ll make an exception for an actual ice cream soda, which seems to me to call for a straw. But even a small child can use a sippy cup; and for that matter an adult could also, if they feel like it. Usually I just don’t see any need for a straw; and, probably because I’m not used to it, usually find one more awkward to drink through than just drinking from a cup or glass, if I do get handed a drink with a straw already in it. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7004 "2025-06-06T19:18:15Z")
The only time I use a straw is when drinking a beverage containing ice cubes. I have a kind of phobia about accidentally swallowing an ice cube and choking on it. Without a straw I have to carefully filter the drink through my teeth. But the only time I drink iced drinks is in a restaurant when I fail to ask for a drink without ice, so my use of a straw is pretty rare. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7005 "2025-06-06T19:27:30Z")
I tend to not use straws at all, but I’ve liked the glass ones I’ve gotten at fancy cocktail bars. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7006 "2025-06-06T20:19:40Z")
It just occurred to me that we participated in some straw polls. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7007 "2025-06-06T20:26:34Z")
You will be pun-ished for that. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7008 "2025-06-06T20:34:44Z")
I wouldn’t say childish but straws are unnecessary. When travelling I will use a thermal mug for hot drinks and a sports / cycle bottle for cold drinks. They eliminate the risk of spillage and the need straws, plastic ones are terrible for the environment (even if they end up in landfill which is the best case scenario), paper ones go soggy quickly and are also a waste being single use and metal / glass ones are a pain to wash. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7009 "2025-06-06T20:38:51Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > You will be pun-ished for that. What should we do to him? Just spitballing here but maybe we should put him, upside down, in the fridge? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7010 "2025-06-06T20:57:29Z")
I dunno if flying in a chopper is all that super exciting. Okay, the first time I did- in one of those early choppers with open sides- yes, that was a bit of wild fun. But just traveling somewhere - not much more exciting than a small plane. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7011 "2025-06-06T21:07:33Z")
If skiing counts as an adrenaline based activity (and I’m only high intermediate and know my limits) then I wanted to add white-water river rafting, which I’ve enjoyed quite a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7012 "2025-06-06T21:17:25Z")
I downhill skied, once. Too much adrenaline. But I quite like cross-country skiing. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7013 "2025-06-06T22:03:08Z")
I was driven around the Indy speedway by a racetrack employee, but he told us if he exceeded 60 MPH he would be fired. So there wasn’t much adrenaline in there. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7014 "2025-06-06T22:14:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I dunno if flying in a chopper is all that super exciting. Agreeing. I took a helicopter ride once – a short sightseeing thing – and didn’t find any significant adrenaline involved. The thing was glass bottomed so you could see better and I was worried I’d be afraid, but I wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7015 "2025-06-06T23:10:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I dunno if flying in a chopper is all that super exciting. I wouldn’t consider about half that list “adrenaline activities”; while some are fun or exciting i don’t consider them to the level adrenaline ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7016 "2025-06-06T23:35:08Z")
I assumed that “skiing” referred to downhill skiing, since cross-country skiing is about as adrenaline-provoking as slogging through mud, especially for a beginner. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7017 "2025-06-07T01:28:08Z")
I’m not sure about adrenaline-provoking but uphill in XC skis can get your heart pumping ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7018 "2025-06-07T02:54:37Z")
I’ve gone whitewater rafting, which was a blast. I’ve gone ziplining over part of Las Vegas near the High Roller. I’m not sure what to call my jump off the Stratosphere. It’s not really a bungee jump – there’s no bounce back. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7019 "2025-06-07T03:22:35Z")
I have over 250 flights as a hang glider pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7020 "2025-06-07T03:26:59Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I’m not sure what to call my jump off the Stratosphere. Vertical zipline ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7021 "2025-06-07T05:33:51Z")
I flew on this De Havilland Beaver back in 2010 (that’s a 15 years younger me). I think it may have actually had more than 4 seats, but it’s on floats, so that ought to count for something. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54572287906_f088e9828b_b.jpg "P1010108") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/66423490@N08/54572287906/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=350) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=352)