# 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:** 95
**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 23, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1882 "2024-06-23T22:14:42Z")
In the 1970s the San Diego Zoo let kids ride the giant tortoises. They’re pretty quiet about that part of their history. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1883 "2024-06-23T22:17:41Z")
Disneyland used to have a Mule ride, it went more or less the route of the Mine train. Once at the Indio Date festival I rode a camel. But of course on the farm we rode horses. ---
**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 23, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1884 "2024-06-23T22:36:51Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I tried to ride the dogs when I was small (they were fairly large dogs) but they just sat down so I slid down off their backs. > > I didn’t think that counted. Oh! My mother told me that when I was small, I used to ride atop the neighbor’s St Bernard. I think that DOES count, especially based on the wording of the poll. I wanted to ride the mules at the Grand Canyon, but didn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a mule or cattle. I have ridden horses for real, and sat atop elephants and camels as other people told the animal where to go. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1885 "2024-06-23T22:41:50Z")
As a kid I rode a donkey, at least inthe UK is was common to offer donkey rides on the beach. (Just being led), surprised it wasn’t on the list. ---
**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 23, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1886 "2024-06-23T22:47:22Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I didn’t think that counted. Yeah, I’d say you have to have traveled some distance on the animal for it to count as riding it. I guess if @puzzlegal traveled at least a few steps on the Saint Bernard then it would count. > [@Jegpeg](#): > > As a kid I rode a donkey, at least inthe UK is was common to offer donkey rides on the beach. (Just being led), surprised it wasn’t on the list. Honestly I’m surprised donkey rides are a thing. I thought donkeys had a reputation for being stubborn and uncooperative and thus not suitable for riding or as beasts of burden. That was why I didn’t include them in the poll. ---
**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 23, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1887 "2024-06-23T23:01:15Z")
I rode an elephant at an amusement park with my young son. Must have been around 35 years ago. The only thing I really remember about it is being surprised at how rough its skin was. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1888 "2024-06-23T23:10:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Disneyland used to have a Mule ride, it went more or less the route of the Mine train. Dang, I forgot about that. I’ll have to go change my vote. That was a _long_ time ago. Re: Christmas tamales. I know there are Mexican immigrants all over the country. I’m a little surprised the custom hasn’t spread more widely. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > I thought donkeys had a reputation for being stubborn and uncooperative That’s mules. Stubborn as a … ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1889 "2024-06-23T23:13:13Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Honestly I’m surprised donkey rides are a thing. I thought donkeys had a reputation for being stubborn and uncooperative and thus not suitable for riding or as beasts of burden. That was why I didn’t include them in the poll. We also have an expression of stubborn as a mule anyway here is proof (as far as anything is proof these days with doctored images) [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/54/d6/e9/54d6e914723441dd175ae74b5937d8d7.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/54/d6/e9/54d6e914723441dd175ae74b5937d8d7.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1890 "2024-06-23T23:15:21Z")
I’ve read several UK books (especially the Ruth Gallagher mysteries) where donkey rides on the beach are often mentioned. ---
**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 24, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1891 "2024-06-24T01:36:22Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I guess if @puzzlegal traveled at least a few steps on the Saint Bernard then it would count. I don’t remember. But from my mother’s description, i definitely rode around on the dog, and didn’t just sit on it. I still like large dogs of that general type, st. Bernards, mastiffs, mountain dogs… ---
**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 24, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1892 "2024-06-24T01:45:34Z")
My dad gave me piggyback rides when I was little. Other than that, I’ve only ridden the 25¢ horse out in front of K-Mart and various carousel animals. ---
**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 24, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1893 "2024-06-24T03:37:33Z")
I’ve been to the desert on a horse with no name. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1894 "2024-06-24T03:45:06Z")
His name was Dan. ---
**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 24, 2024, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1895 "2024-06-24T04:04:48Z")
Was there anyone for to give you no pain? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1896 "2024-06-24T09:29:41Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Honestly I’m surprised donkey rides are a thing. There’s a whole song about it ! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/azsLB-xuIh0/maxresdefault.jpg "Riding on a donkey") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azsLB-xuIh0) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1897 "2024-06-24T10:57:58Z")
Went for a quick horseback ride yesterday , before the rains started. I rode Jake, my gf rode Gracie (aka Grapeseed). ---
**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, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1898 "2024-06-24T13:34:35Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Honestly I’m surprised donkey rides are a thing. I thought donkeys had a reputation for being stubborn and uncooperative and thus not suitable for riding or as beasts of burden. Donkeys are or have been pretty commonly used for both purposes in quite a few places in the world. They’re smaller than horses, but much easier/cheaper to keep fed, and are surprisingly strong. ---
**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 24, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1899 "2024-06-24T14:27:16Z")
I would think donkeys are more common than mules theses days. I know there are donkey rides at some county fairs and such, but I’ve never seen mule rides available. When I was a kid a family down the road had three or four horses and a donkey (named Jenny, natch). My sister and I would go riding with them, and sometimes I had the use of my grandfather’s horse, but if not, there were always more kids than horses and somebody had to ride the donkey. Even longer ago, when I was only four or five years old, there was a very old man who used to plow his fields with a mule. A couple of times he let me ride the mule while he plowed. I remember mule rides being much smoother than donkey rides. When I rode an ox it was at some kind of colonial farm attraction, near Williamsburg, VA. IIRC. It seemed like everybody had goats when I was a kid, and they were ridden, or we _attempted_ to ride them, all the time. Goats were better at pulling a cart or somebody’s wagon than allowing riders. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1900 "2024-06-24T15:44:05Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > In the 1970s the San Diego Zoo let kids ride the giant tortoises. They’re pretty quiet about that part of their history. I think I have a picture in the picture books my mom put together of me on one of those when I was a kid. I’ll see if I can find it. ---
**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 24, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/1901 "2024-06-24T16:41:31Z")
There’s a tendency for buildings where notorious crimes took place to turn into morbid tourist attractions. Jeffery Dahmer’s apartment building was torn down for exactly that reason – it was starting to attract a stream of tourists who just wanted to see the place where the famous murders took place. So my choice would be to tear down the school not just for the victims families’ stated reasons, but also to avoid a stream of people showing up just to take selfies there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=94) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=96)