# 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:** 485
**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:** [December 25, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9683 "2025-12-25T15:49:19Z")
The room has rated my wrapping skills ‘good’. Squared edges and everything, just can’t make it completely tight. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9684 "2025-12-25T16:54:06Z")
I am actually very good at wrapping gifts, but there are few things I hate to do more. mmm ---
**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:** [December 25, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9685 "2025-12-25T20:23:10Z")
I answered “no” to “are shoes worn in your house,” but then realized that I wish to clarify: shoes are _allowed_ to be worn in my house, but I’m the only one who lives in my house and I tend to take my shoes off as soon as I get home (in favor of socks, slippers, or indoor-only sandals [which I guess technically count as shoes but I don’t think of them as such]). Guests may remain shod. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9686 "2025-12-25T20:36:16Z")
I said I’m good at wrapping gifts because i used to be excellent at wrapping gifts, rendering even odd shapes into attractive packages. And i have both less imagination and worse coordination than i used to have, and my gift wrapping skills have declined. This year i was feeling uninspired and a little stressed over Christmas, and did not wrap the toothbrushes and the lip balm for the stockings. But i still wrap gifts as well as the professionals, and have turned down free gift wrap services because i liked the paper i had at home better for the recipient, for instance. Maybe i should have said excellent? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9687 "2025-12-25T21:35:29Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I should have read the other options before selecting “poor”. “Poor” is an overly generous description of my gift wrapping skills. Yeah. I used already decorated boxes and bags. My rating would be “crappy”. > [@Misnomer](#): > > I answered “no” to “are shoes worn in your house,” but then realized that I wish to clarify: shoes are _allowed_ to be worn in my house, but I’m the only one who lives in my house and I tend to take my shoes off as soon as I get home (in favor of socks, slippers, or indoor-only sandals [which I guess technically count as shoes but I don’t think of them as such]). Guests may remain shod. More or less the same, so I didnt answer. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9688 "2025-12-25T21:52:16Z")
Can’t answer the shoe poll. Not going to tell the HVAC guys or the relative who needs orthotics that they can’t wear shoes. Most others go in socks or slippers that we provide. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9689 "2025-12-25T22:02:58Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Maybe i should have said excellent? It’s a time of year for grace, I say go with excellent. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9690 "2025-12-26T01:27:14Z")
I quit wrapping gifts many years ago but I was pretty good at it. The problem was that I never wrapped a single present that didn’t have cat hair under the tape. It didn’t matter where I wrapped it, floor or table, and no matter how careful I was, cat hair managed to get included. Also, gift bags were just quicker and I got lazy. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9691 "2025-12-26T01:40:22Z")
I’m not the best at wrapping gifts but my husband is far worse, so I said fair, given the alternative. Sometimes they look nice and sometimes they look good enough. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9692 "2025-12-26T01:45:24Z")
I don’t wear shoes in the house because I prefer being barefoot. I don’t really care if anyone else keeps their shoes on - my husband does more often than not. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9693 "2025-12-26T01:47:41Z")
No shoes in our house, are there dear? Nope, none, unless immediate chores (like taking out the trash or bringing in the tree) require it. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9694 "2025-12-26T14:19:24Z")
I’m pretty good at wrapping presents given an optimal work area with a flat hard surface. Unfortunately I’m usually scrambling to wrap on a bed which makes it harder and lowers the quality. Shoes are allowed in the house. We take ours off immediately but we don’t force guests to remove their shoes. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9695 "2025-12-26T16:27:16Z")
I had a hard time answering the shoes poll. My feet are nude 95% of the time while I am indoors, but I couldn’t care less if others are wearing shoes in my house. mmm ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9696 "2025-12-26T16:56:56Z")
I’m taking the day off but my staff isn’t. Kind of a dick move, I know. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9697 "2025-12-26T17:05:52Z")
Today would be a regular work day for me, but I took the day off – as did my boss, and 99% of my colleagues. Our customer is federal, and were all given the day off by Trump. I do have one employee who’s working today: most of them work a schedule that gives them every other Friday off, and today is their “off” day. I encouraged the one guy to take the day off, but he reminded me that he used all of his leave earlier this year. However, he isn’t traveling/doesn’t have any plans and doesn’t really mind working from home on a quiet day. 🙂 I’ll also be taking next Friday off. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9698 "2025-12-26T17:30:23Z")
I’m retired so every day is a day off. I do have a part time gig that I only work what I want but I’m currently on medical leave from that. My wife worked today and yesterday ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9699 "2025-12-26T18:01:43Z")
December 25, December 26, January 1, and January 2 are holidays where I live. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9700 "2025-12-26T18:05:34Z")
I don’t actually know. I am doing some work today. Staff isn’t in the office. I am not sure of Boxing Day is a stat holiday. (~looks it up~) No, not a stat holiday in BC. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9701 "2025-12-26T18:46:43Z")
Teleworking today. Would be a normal day but I was allowed to just work from home today. I don’t have to go back to the office until next Friday (Jan 2). ---
**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:** [December 26, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/9702 "2025-12-26T20:08:33Z")
I put that I’m self employed so it’s up to me, which is true; but I’m not sure what I’d claim otherwise. What I’ve done so far today is mostly stack some firewood under cover before the storm got here, splitting some of it first; which certainly feels like work to me, but there’s no hope of anybody paying me for it, except in the sense that burning more firewood means burning less fuel oil and the fuel oil would definitely need to be paid for. Right now it’s sleeting and I’m eating a late lunch. I’m not sure what to do with the rest of the afternoon; some of it might be farm paperwork, but it might not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=484) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=486)