# 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:** 365
**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 24, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7282 "2025-06-24T19:55:11Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I probably would shop at CostCo, if there were one anywhere near me; but there isn’t. Whatever other store chain you’re polling about or thinking of polling about, there probably isn’t one of those near me either. We do have a couple; but not most of them. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7283 "2025-06-24T20:14:58Z")
My mom told of when we lived in the small town where I was born (c. 1400 people), at lunchtime, the school would disgorge roving gangs of young’uns who would go in search of the house that had mac&cheese.        When she made it, she put the macaroni in a stoneware casserole dish with layers of cheese between, poured milk over it, topped with breadcrumbs and put it in the oven. There must have been some flour in there to complete the sauce, but I am not clear how she did that. ---
**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 24, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7284 "2025-06-24T20:17:09Z")
Costco works for me. We are a household of 2, and we go (well, _I_ go) every 2-3 weeks. I go on a weekday, usually about a half hour after they open. Never, ever on the weekend. The perception that Costco shoppers are all buying 5-gallon drums of ranch dressing is distorted. Most of my purchases are not what I would consider gargantuan (1lb. pack of cheese slices, gallon of milk, 18-count pack of eggs). Sure, I’ll buy the jumbo pack of terlit paper or a 24-bottle case of Propel, but then I’m good to go for a good long while. It also helps that my Costco is a 2-minute drive away. mmm ---
**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 24, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7285 "2025-06-24T21:01:13Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > It’s just too bland and mooshy for me. > [@eschereal](#): > > When she made it, she put the macaroni in a stoneware casserole dish with layers of cheese between, poured milk over it, topped with breadcrumbs and put it in the oven. There must have been some flour in there to complete the sauce, but I am not clear how she did that. I grew up on baked mac & cheese. - Cook the noodles - Shred a block of American cheese - Layer the two in a Pyrex glass bowl - 400° for an hour When we ate it, the noodles were like raw again; you could hear others at the table _crunching_…& we’d fight over who got the bowl to stab the baked on cheese off the sides of the bowl. I can’t stand that Kraft cheese sauce version. Yeech! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7286 "2025-06-24T22:09:28Z")
I usually make Shells & Cheese, but add some kind of protein to the mix, be it rotisserie chicken or chopped hot dogs. He’ll, broccoli & cauliflower have made appearances as well. Add some hot sauce and you’ve got a couple of meals off 1 box. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7287 "2025-06-24T22:35:01Z")
Let’s be clear: technique matters _more_, but size does matter. ---
**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 24, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7288 "2025-06-24T23:17:05Z")
I’ve never even noticed size. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7289 "2025-06-25T00:46:55Z")
Not a poll I have enough experience to answer. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7290 "2025-06-25T13:54:09Z")
I had never heard of BJ’s Wholesale Club until the poll, and there are no Costco stores near enough for me to even consider a membership. There are a couple of Sam’s Clubs that are close enough for a once-every-coupla-months trip., but I don’t think it’s worthwhile for a membership. Before I retired I had a Sam’s card for the company I worked for, and would buy stuff for myself sometimes. The problem I had was that most of their stuff wasn’t that cheap. The commercial style paper towels, TP, trash bags, and the like were cheap, but mostly they sold brand-name items. I don’t buy brand names if I can possibly avoid it. Their Coca Cola might be 20% cheaper than at the grocery store, but it’s not cheaper than the generic/store brand cola. At the time, the meat they sold was always much more than anything on sale at Kroger or HEB. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7291 "2025-06-25T16:56:26Z")
Why am I “writing my initials”? If I’m initialing something, as like a shortened version of a signature, I just use first and last, because I normally just use my first and last name as my signature. If I were specifically writing down what my initials are, I’d write all three of them. But I can’t remember the last time I had any reason to do that. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7292 "2025-06-25T16:59:05Z")
When I have to initial something (mostly contracts and medical forms), I write a little calligraphic glyph which my college roommate created for me; it incorporates all three initials (including the one for my middle name), and can be written/drawn with just a few penstrokes. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7293 "2025-06-25T17:14:06Z")
My first and last name initials combine neatly into one little mess. ---
**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 25, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7294 "2025-06-25T17:34:29Z")
When I visit my parents, I‘ll end up at Costco 2-3 times. Similarly when we visit my husband‘s sister, but with BJ‘s. So I put once a year for both. If I‘ve been in a Sam‘s Club it was more than 20 years ago, so never fits. Mac & cheese at home is a main dish. But if we go out for BBQ, it’s one of my favorite side dishes. ---
**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 25, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7295 "2025-06-25T18:12:04Z")
Before I changed my name, I just used middle initial + last initial and ignored the first name. Now I use all three initials. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7296 "2025-06-25T18:19:53Z")
To paraphrase the basketball coach’s adage about height, you cannot coach size. For flights, when by myself, i wait until the flight is about to close the doors then choose the best seat available. If Im with other people, we just go to our seats when called. ---
**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 25, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7297 "2025-06-25T18:38:49Z")
I sign my name with first, middle, last, and that’s what i usually use for my initials, too. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7298 "2025-06-25T18:41:37Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > If I were specifically writing down what my initials are, I’d write all three of them. But I can’t remember the last time I had any reason to do that. Legal documents, for example. ---
**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 25, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7299 "2025-06-25T18:54:37Z")
Depends upon what boarding group I’m in & how crowded the waiting area is. I want overhead space for my carry on, either over me or between me & the exit. I don’t want to have to wait for everyone to exit to go back x rows to get my carryon. If I’m a later group, I’ll get up but stand back a way; I’m not a gate louse! That way I’m in position to be nearer to the front of my boarding group when it is called but if I’m in an earlier group, I’ll wait longer but still stand my my waiting area seat before I get crammed into those too small seats ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7300 "2025-06-25T18:55:54Z")
I’m a little hesitant to start a discussion on the “size matters” poll. I said “technique” and I’ll stick with that. However, I imagine it depends. If someone is more than two standard deviations below the mean, perhaps it would matter more than technique. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/7301 "2025-06-25T19:11:39Z")
Costco saved my life. Not really but it saved a lot of stress. I buy my paper products in bulk at Costco. Store it in my garage until needed. I had done my periodic shopping not long before the Covid shortages hit. By the time I was running out of toilet paper it was back in stores. During the pandemic Costco was also usually better stocked with meat than the supermarket. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=364) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=366)