# 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:** 451
**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:** [October 29, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9003 "2025-10-29T18:38:50Z")
[Lesher on The Philosophical Aspects of Jean Delville’s L’Ecole de Platon](https://www.19thc-artworldwide.org/autumn13/lesher-on-the-philosophical-aspects-of-jean-delville-s-l-ecole-de-platon) discusses both of those aspects, and says that the Plato-Christ thing is certainly deliberate, though it explains away the homoeroticism. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9004 "2025-10-29T21:56:44Z")
Fat, stupid, ugly: 1. I am fat, I’m not really sensitive about it. I mean, I would prefer not to be fat, but I have no problem describing myself as fat. I don’t believe fat precludes being beautiful, or smart, or interesting. So someone telling me I’m fat would be 0% an issue. Assuming they aren’t being a raging asshole about it. Pretty sure my response would be, “No shit.” 2. I’m not objectively stupid, so I wouldn’t like being told that I’m objectively stupid. I _feel_ stupid sometimes, so it might sting. 3. I’m of middling attractiveness, I think ''ugly" is farfetched - but this is also very subjective. And as such it can’t be held out as some kind of objective truth. So if someone thought I was ugly I’m not sure I would care. I mean, I have been told I’m ugly, because I went to middle school like everyone else. I found it more annoying than devastating. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9005 "2025-10-29T22:41:26Z")
Newly sober religious person: I have been in this situation, and I gave a highly modified version of my actual opinion, so I can’t vote “yes” or “no”—somewhere in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9006 "2025-10-29T22:51:52Z")
I don’t talk about religion with religious people. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9007 "2025-10-29T22:52:37Z")
It is hard too because this right-wing cult promotes ideas that are destructive to society. My old friend could somehow realize that he, not some oppressive hateful god-power and its pastor, got himself sober. In an ideal world he would drop the cult and keep the healthy life. But the world is far from ideal. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9008 "2025-10-29T22:59:25Z")
I totally understand why someone drowning in the ocean would cling to anything that floats. If they are picked up by a boat of pirates, it’s better than drowning. But I would advise them to get off the boat at the nearest shore rather than stay with the pirates. So, yes, I would understand a my-life-is-a-train-wreck person feeling healing and benefit after joining the cult. But I would urge them to get off as soon as they are healthy enough to leave. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9009 "2025-10-29T23:57:31Z")
I am not ugly or stupid. Calling me fat is okay, but a little rude. People really do like fruitcake. My wife and I both like it- but we differ on nut content- for me, more raisins, especially golden raisin. She like more pecans and walnuts. “People hate fruitcake” is a false meme. Just like “only losers wear fedoras“ (this came from a woman who went thru a dating site, and decided- entirely based upon photo and profile- that guys with “neckbeards” and “fedoras” were “losers”. She never met any of them, so her opinion was not valid, also the guys wore trilbies, not fedoras, she was too ignorant to know the difference). But if you have a “neck beard” and wanna wear a trilby- go ahead. Similar to “socks with sandals- many old guy arriving in their florida vacation wearing sandals for the first time, and so they wore them with high, thin black socks- which frankly is not a great look- but if they were comfortable, hey why not? But thick grey shortish wool socks are often worn with hiking sandals, or on cold days. Mind, you on those days i wear boots, but hey, to each their own. “No socks with shorts” is a dead meme along with not wearing white after labor day. I hope the fruitcake hating poster was joking, but if they didnt know that meme was very wrong- they do now. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9010 "2025-10-30T00:00:24Z")
I mean. _I_ hate fruitcake. And of course I would wanna know, so I didn’t waste all that time making fruitcake. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9011 "2025-10-30T00:10:10Z")
I would give them my opinion, but phrased as gently as possible. I am fat. Whether I’d object to being told so would depend on the tone and the context. Ditto for being told that I’m ugly, which is purely a matter of individual opinion anyway. If I were told that I’d said or done something stupid and I thought it was true, I’d be embarrassed. If I were told that in general I’m stupid relative to the general run of humans, I wouldn’t believe it, and I would either be pissed or think the person who said so was stupid; or possibly both. If I were told that nobody likes me and thought it were true, I’d be extremely upset; but as I know a number of people who do like me, I’d instead be pissed at the person who said so for being emotionally manipulative; unless they just meant nobody in their group liked me, in which case I’d shrug and go hang out with somebody else. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9012 "2025-10-30T00:13:24Z")
I have social anxiety. Being universally disliked is the nightmare scenario. That’s the only one that would really have long-term impact, I think. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9013 "2025-10-30T00:19:10Z")
I like fruitcake fine, so long as it doesn’t have any candied citrus peel/citron in it. Candied cherries, pineapple, dates, cranberries, raisins, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts-- all good. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9014 "2025-10-30T00:19:26Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I mean. _I_ hate fruitcake. _De gustibus non disputandum._ Sure, some people dont care for fruitcake. Some people dont care for fired chicken, either. Over 2 Million fruitcakes are sold each year, despite a REALLY old Johnny Carson joke- > **[The misunderstood fruitcake has a magnificent shelf life -- and history](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/the-misunderstood-fruitcake-has-a-magnificent-shelf-life-and-history)** > > To the Romans, it was the original energy bar. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I like fruitcake fine, so long as it doesn’t have any candied citrus peel/citron in it. I dont mind of that for color, but should be mostly real fruit. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > . Candied cherries, pineapple, dates, cranberries, raisins, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts-- all good. My wife loves the nuts (she choose me, so …., I would prefer less nuts myself. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9015 "2025-10-30T02:52:45Z")
Answers to the [Which TV shows can you identify from the first names of their main characters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6331) poll: - Basil, Sybil, Polly, and Manuel: _Fawlty Towers_ - Charles-Haden, Oliver, and Mabel: _Only Murders in the Building_ - Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia: _The Golden Girls_ - Edith, Michael, Gloria, and Archibald: _All in the Family_ - Gordon, William, Kate, Lynn, and Brian: _ALF_ - Hal, Lois, Malcolm, Francis, Reese, and Dewey: _Malcolm in the Middle_ - Harold, Reinhold, Nostradamus, Macintosh, Rosalind, and Christine: _Night Court_ - Jack, Janet, and Christmas: _Three’s Company_ - Jerome, George, Elaine, and Cosmo: _Seinfeld_ - Kevin, Gwendolyn, Paul, John, Norma, Wayne, and Karen: _The Wonder Years_ - Mark, Dylan, Helena, and Irving: _Severance_ - Miriam, Susie, Joel, Rose, and Abraham: _The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel_ - Peter, Lois, Brian, Christopher, Megan, and Stewart: _Family Guy_ - Philip, Hermes, Hubert, John, and Amy: _Futurama_ - Tommy, Dick, Harry, Sally, and Mary: _3rd Rock from the Sun_ - Wilberforce, Betty, Shirley, Stephen, Ernest, Dick, and Cuthbert: _Are You Being Served?_ ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9016 "2025-10-30T05:51:20Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Answers to the [Which TV shows can you identify from the first names of their main characters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6331) poll: > > (snipped) > > - Jack, Janet, and Christmas: _Three’s C_ _ompany_ Having lived in Asia since 1990 and not following American TV, this was the only show from the list that I regularly saw. Wasn’t she called Chrissy on the show? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9017 "2025-10-30T06:11:32Z")
I’m overweight but not obese. I have also taught English to children so I’ve been told I’m fat. Which in Asia is true. I know I’m not stupid so if someone says that, then I would wonder where they are coming from. I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life and I’ll make a lot more, but there is a difference between doing stupid things and being stupid. I’m in the mid 60s, so I don’t have the same looks that I did before. I was never ugly Teaching small kids without filters did a lot of inoculate me to insults. I had one kindergarten student who used to scream at me: “Teacher Tokyo, I hate you!!” and I’d reply that he needed to wait in line. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9018 "2025-10-30T06:14:32Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Having lived in Asia since 1990 and not following American TV, this was the only show from the list that I regularly saw. Wasn’t she called Chrissy on the show? She was, but apparently her full name was Christmas. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9019 "2025-10-30T06:16:04Z")
Looking at the results for my poll on acts that aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: we like some of the quirkier acts here at the SDMB. “Weird Al” Yankovic is our top vote-getter, and The B-52s and Devo are also in the top seven. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9020 "2025-10-30T11:48:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > She was, but apparently her full name was Christmas. Yep, Christmas Snow. Her father was a minister with a sense of humour. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9021 "2025-10-30T15:25:08Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Harold, Reinhold, Nostradamus, Macintosh, Rosalind, and Christine: _Night Court_ I’m surprised 20% of respondents got this one. This show is unusual in that almost all the main characters go by nicknames and diminutives rather than their full given names, which are only rarely mentioned. (Admittedly, discovering that one character’s name is actually “Reinhold” was a major plot point of one episode, but I’m not sure it was ever referenced again in the series.) > [@psychonaut](#): > > Gordon, William, Kate, Lynn, and Brian: _ALF_ Given how many people got the previous question right, I’m surprised how many didn’t get this one, about a contemporaneous show on the same network. Unlike with _Night Court_, the writers frequently reminded viewers that the title character’s real name was actually Gordon Shumway. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9022 "2025-10-30T15:38:11Z")
I got all the ones from shows I’ve watched, except one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=450) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=452)