# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/241 "2026-02-12T23:40:50Z")
So if you hear a knock on the door, open it, and it’s the GF asking if Steve is home, and you just saw Steve go upstairs with his side girl, what’s the neutral thing to do? Just not answer the door? Would that count as covering for Steve? Hmm. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/242 "2026-02-12T23:43:53Z")
I’d find a new friend, jeez. This is taking me back to my college days. I, the lone girl, shared a house with my husband and four of his guy friends. Some of them were pretty terrible. But none of them cheated on anyone that I’m aware of. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/243 "2026-02-13T00:24:00Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So if you hear a knock on the door, open it, and it’s the GF asking if Steve is home, and you just saw Steve go upstairs with his side girl, what’s the neutral thing to do? Just not answer the door? Would that count as covering for Steve? Hmm. That’s part of I’m not covering for him. Not going to lie for him. Up to him to do what he wants with that information. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/244 "2026-02-13T00:32:40Z")
I dunno, maybe the neutral thing is to yell up the stairs, “hey, Steve, Susan is at the door”. I don’t want to get involved in this. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/245 "2026-02-13T00:36:05Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That’s part of I’m not covering for him. Not going to lie for him. I’m not sure I get what you propose to do. If you’re not going to lie for him, you tell the GF “yeah, he’s upstairs,” just like in the poll? > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I dunno, maybe the neutral thing is to yell up the stairs, “hey, Steve, Susan is at the door”. I’d consider that covering for him, myself. I’m pretty sure Steve would. Maybe that’s what it comes down to: whether you putting an obstacle in the way of her finding out the truth is covering. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/246 "2026-02-13T00:56:54Z")
I think covering for him is telling Susan that he’s not home. Or pretending no one is home by not opening the door. 🤷‍♀️ What i did let’s the second woman know that a woman has come calling. He’s presumably cheating on her, too. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/247 "2026-02-13T01:02:30Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > What i did let’s the second woman know that a woman has come calling. He’s presumably cheating on her, too. How is this any more neutral than the story in the poll? You’re still informing to a girlfriend while playing innocent; you’re just switching which you’re informing. And while I know we don’t know for sure, there are plenty of women who don’t mind being the side chick. If the other girl is such a person, then I’d say you’re definitely covering. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/248 "2026-02-13T01:19:45Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > For the roommate poll, I’m staying out of it. I’m not exposing him and I’m not covering for him either. Right. Just stay out of it. > [@Leaper](#): > > So if you hear a knock on the door, open it, and it’s the GF asking if Steve is home, I=he is home but busy right now. I will tell him you dropped by. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I dunno, maybe the neutral thing is to yell up the stairs, “hey, Steve, Susan is at the door”. That could work. Does the pollster mean “books by John Dickson Carr.?” ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/249 "2026-02-13T01:21:52Z")
Well, 1. the poll suggested that you somehow set up the meeting. 2. I’m pretty sure Susan is going to ask to come in, and I’m not going to say no. So i ain’t think I’ll end up “covering” for him. 3. it’s neutral because that’s also what i say if the UPS guy is at the door, or whatever. What would you do? ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/250 "2026-02-13T01:24:50Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > And while I know we don’t know for sure, there are plenty of women who don’t mind being the side chick. If the other girl is such a person, then I’d say you’re definitely covering. There are also plenty of women who don’t mind if their partner has other partners. I get introduced to “my girlfriend’s boyfriend” all the time. What makes it cheating is if you are lying to one or both of them about it. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’d guess if he’s lying to one of them he’s lying to both of them. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/251 "2026-02-13T01:26:36Z")
I’m not sure if I ever read the _Hollow Man_ but I do know the solution from…osmosis? I _have_ read the excerpt about locked room mysteries somewhere. It’s been reprinted in books about Mystery literature. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/252 "2026-02-13T01:31:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I=he is home but busy right now. I will tell him you dropped by. I would absolutely consider that covering for him, 100%. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > 1. the poll suggested that you somehow set up the meeting. > 2. I’m pretty sure Susan is going to ask to come in, and I’m not going to say no. So i ain’t think I’ll end up “covering” for him. > 3. it’s neutral because that’s also what i say if the UPS guy is at the door, or whatever. > > What would you do? 1. In the sense that you lured the GF into coming to the house at that specific time? I’m afraid I don’t see it. 2. Then you’re doing exactly what the story in the poll did: pseudo-innocently letting her find out the truth for herself. 3. I don’t see how that follows. You know who’s upstairs with him. Do you think Steve will take your action as neutral if he knew about it? As for your last question, my point is not specifically what I’d do, but me thinking about the situation after posting and realizing that I can’t think of an action that I would consider “not getting involved”; you are either facilitating the discovery of the cheating, just like in the story, or you’re helping to obscure it from the girlfriend. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/253 "2026-02-13T01:36:04Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I don’t see how that follows. You know who’s upstairs with him. Do you think Steve will take your action as neutral if he knew about it? I don’t think Steve has any right to complain. He put me in the situation where both women are at the house and I’m standing between them. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/254 "2026-02-13T01:38:24Z")
Complain? I meant that he’d be delighted that you gave him a heads up and would specifically ask you to keep being his bouncer in the future. That’s not “not getting involved,” IMO. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/255 "2026-02-13T01:58:34Z")
I can’t remember if I’ve read Carr. I read a lot of stuff; some of it stays with me, some of it doesn’t, and some of it stays with me but not with the author’s name attached. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/256 "2026-02-13T02:12:52Z")
I read a number of Carr’s novels and remember mostly liking them\*. I was a teenager at the time, though, and it’s quite possible they don’t hold up all these years later. I have a vague recollection that the characters were not especially well developed, and that he couldn’t write about women except in very stereotypical-for-the-time terms, but I could be wrong. I did like the puzzles. \*There was one novel, don’t recall the name, where on the _first page_ the detective tells us that a particular character was not the murderer–only to have that character turn out to, guess what, be the murderer after all. I objected strenuously. (I think I’m remembering this correctly–) ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/257 "2026-02-13T02:21:40Z")
Not sure who Carr is. Immediately thought of John LeCarre, whose work I have read (_A Most Wanted Man_) and I thought it was great. In an emotional sucker-punch way. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/258 "2026-02-13T02:24:45Z")
Hmm, i gave him a heads up, but I’m also opening the door when Susan asks to go in. I don’t think he’s going to thank me. But also, fuck him. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/259 "2026-02-13T02:28:25Z")
I think I know which one you mean. And I agree that was a cheat even though the puzzle was a good one. Stabbed to death with a clock hand, if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/260 "2026-02-13T02:36:56Z")
He was an American novelist who lived in England, I believe, and is best known for his locked room mysteries. Someone is dead in a locked room–who did it, and how was it done? He had two main detectives who always seemed pretty interchangeable to me: Gideon Fell and Henry Merrivale, I think were the names. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=14)