# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 29, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157 "2026-01-29T18:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1 "2026-01-29T18:21:35Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 2) - #10002 by Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/10002). Previous discussions: - [Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380) - [Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 2)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2 "2026-01-29T18:22:44Z")
As I was saying before being rudely interrupted by Discourse: It’s not a poll but it looks like a poem. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3 "2026-01-29T18:27:38Z")
_Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3))_ ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/4 "2026-01-29T18:28:52Z")
You scared the hell out of me, seeing a poll under my post I thought I had mistakenly posted in the “Polls Only” thread! ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/5 "2026-01-29T19:46:17Z")
well, you were the first (real) poster in the **Part 3** thread ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/6 "2026-01-29T20:37:38Z")
Ceci n’est pas une discussion. (Pardon my franglish). ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/7 "2026-01-29T23:48:31Z")
I would totally abuse the “choice of toppings” feature on the baked potato; filet minion, roast veggies, and a glass of merlot on top, please. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/8 "2026-01-29T23:53:49Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > 50% Ceci n’est pas un poll·m. I have some spoon rests that say “SPOON” in big white letters. My husband got our label maker and took it upon himself to slap on a label that says (this is not a) and below, of course, it says SPOON. He thinks he’s hilarious. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/9 "2026-01-29T23:54:55Z")
I think **Fear\_Itself** likes potatoes _way_ too much. If I wanted a magical food machine it would make something really special. Maybe crab cakes or roast goose or stuffed flounder, or any of a thousand things that are more difficult to prepare than any kind of potato. That said, I voted for “choice of toppings” 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/10 "2026-01-29T23:55:27Z")
Mashed potatoes in a heartbeat. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/11 "2026-01-30T00:05:10Z")
Tough choice, but I like the flexibility of choosing toppings. Had they been rigidly assigned, I’d have gone for mashed with gravy. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/12 "2026-01-30T00:09:12Z")
I picked the potato salad. But I’m assuming it’s made in the ways that I like it, never in the ways that I don’t. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/13 "2026-01-30T00:24:56Z")
Choice of toppings. I’d game the shit out of it - load the potato with things I can eat, then toss the potato. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/14 "2026-01-30T00:41:26Z")
I’m torn on the potato poll. I don’t like potatoes very much. I _do_ like tater tots and crispy fries, but they are not terribly healthy. And i suspect if we had that magical potato machine, there’d be an awful lot of nights when it seemed easier to just eat potatoes, rather than cook something real. So French fries or tater tots would probably lead to a significant decrease in the quality of my diet. So… I guess baked potatoes with toppings is the most likely to give us something resembling “real food”. Shame that i don’t much like potatoes, but that’s probably the choice. And maybe do what @silenus suggests. Hey, potatoes are probably good for the compost pile. (But if they were there, I’d probably eat some.) (I haven’t voted, yet.) ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/15 "2026-01-30T00:42:49Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m torn on the potato poll. I don’t like potatoes very much. I _do_ like tater tots and crispy fries, but they are not terribly healthy. And i suspect if we had that magical potato machine, there’d be an awful lot of nights when it seemed easier to just eat potatoes, rather than cook something real. So French fries or tater tots would probably lead to a significant decrease in the quality of my diet. > > So… I guess baked potatoes with toppings is the most likely to give us something resembling “real food”. Shame that i don’t much like potatoes, but that’s probably the choice. And maybe so what @silenus suggests. Hey, potatoes are probably good for the compost pile. (But if they were there, is probably eat some.) Verbatim what I was ruminating on, I’ll just second puzzlegal’s post. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/16 "2026-01-30T00:52:38Z")
For that poll I chose to believe there would be zero health effects. And let’s get real, after the initial joy of mashed potatoes every night, it would probably taper off to like once a week. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/17 "2026-01-30T00:59:32Z")
You may be less lazy than i. I would feel no joy at mashed potatoes every day, but if they were just there, always ready and available, i expect I’d eat a lot of it. (To be clear, when there are lots of other choices, like Thanksgiving, i usually skip the mashed potatoes.) ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/18 "2026-01-30T00:59:41Z")
“I like baked potatoes. I don’t have a microwave oven, and it takes forever to bake a potato in a conventional oven. Sometimes I’ll just throw one in there, even if I don’t want one, because by the time it’s done, who knows?” - Mitch Hedberg I do have a microwave, but a conventional oven produces much better results. So if this magic machine produced a perfectly cooked baked potato with no waiting, then it’s baked potato all the way. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/19 "2026-01-30T01:13:59Z")
Yeah, that’s just what my body needs, a magic machine that yeets me a tater whenever I want one. mmm ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/20 "2026-01-30T01:27:07Z")
I chose baked potatoes, but only because of the toppings. I do not believe I would ever get tired of baked potatoes or mashed potatoes, or of hashbrowns if they were proper hashbrowns and not crispy potato patties. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=2)