# 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:** 153
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3041 "2026-09-14T13:52:37Z")
“French words with the `/y/` sound (like _value_ or _duke_) were approximated by English speakers as `/iu/` or `/juː/“` ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3042 "2026-09-14T13:54:57Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I was thinking of the word Ute for the tribe Nope, it’s for [children](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu8tX2BAD1k) ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3043 "2026-09-14T14:19:57Z")
Weird. Thanks. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3044 "2026-09-14T15:28:47Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Wait until you see my collection of small cardboard boxes! Ha! I should send you mine. I keep them for a while then a fit of tidyness hits and I get rid of them. I could just ship them to you! ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3045 "2026-09-14T15:29:01Z")
Many British English dialects retains a Y sound before a U in a number of words where the Y has been dropped in US English, like “tune”, “duty”, “student”, “avenue”, etc. The removal of the historic Y sound is called yod dropping. > **[Phonological history of English consonant clusters | Yod-dropping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonological_history_of_English_consonant_clusters#Yod-dropping)** > > Yod-dropping is the elision of the /j/ from certain syllable-initial clusters of the type described above. Particular cases of yod-dropping may affect all or some of the dialects that have the relevant clusters. The change of \[ɪ\] to \[j\] in these positions (as described above) produced some clusters which would have been difficult or impossible to pronounce, which led to what John Wells calls "early yod dropping" in which the \[j\] was elided in the following environments: 1.After /ʃ, tʃ, dʒ/, for e... ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3046 "2026-09-14T15:35:21Z")
Weirdly, I say “nyooz” for “news,” and “nooz” sounds wrong and irritating, but I can’t imagine where I got those habits and ideas, since I yod-drop all over the place. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3047 "2026-09-14T16:18:48Z")
For sock categories, I initially voted 2 – regular everyday socks and dress socks, but upon reading the discussion I realized I forgot about one, hiking socks. So I went back and changed my vote. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3048 "2026-09-14T16:35:32Z")
There’s some as does, and most as ain’t. > [@carrps](#): > > Ha! I should send you mine. I keep them for a while then a fit of tidyness hits and I get rid of them. I could just ship them to you! Would you ship them in a box? ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3049 "2026-09-14T16:42:09Z")
A big one, not a small one. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3050 "2026-09-14T16:44:10Z")
Well, the cat likes to gnaw on the big boxes. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3051 "2026-09-14T16:47:30Z")
Heh, reminds me of a YouTube dachshund named Otto who literally tears boxes open with his teeth. He doesn’t just rip the wrapping paper off or tear off strips, he bites into the boxes and tears holes in them. A perfect little fiend. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3052 "2026-09-14T17:07:25Z")
Synchronicity! I was listening to a vintage broadcast of _The Lone Ranger_ this morning and can’t remember the specific details, but if I save up 25c and send in a _Coupon_ (pronounced “koo-pon”) I can maybe get some pretty good swag. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3053 "2026-09-14T17:14:45Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Would you ship them in a box? Would you ship them with a fox? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3054 "2026-09-14T17:29:44Z")
I am relieved that I am not the only person who didn’t have my facts straight about the War of 1812. In case you didn’t look it up, the answer is: the British burned both the White House and the Capitol, along with the Treasury building, Washington Navy Yard, and the home of the State, War and Navy departments.\[1\] It’s probably easier to list the government buildings they _didn’t_ burn down. * * * 1. > **[When the British Burned Washington, D.C. | HISTORY](https://www.history.com/articles/the-british-burn-washington-d-c-200-years-ago)** > > As the War of 1812 neared its conclusion, British forces torched the White House, the Capitol and nearly every other ... ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3055 "2026-09-14T17:42:45Z")
I object to the term “burned down”. That means something different than just burned or set on fire. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3056 "2026-09-14T17:51:17Z")
That’s just not cricket! ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3057 "2026-09-14T18:18:41Z")
Coincidentally, i just had my blood drawn. I’m not sure my behavior is consistent, but i often watch after the needle is set. (But not as they stab me.) ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3058 "2026-09-14T18:25:59Z")
If I don’t watch the entire process I’ll get dizzy. I know it’s counterintuitive, but it’s the way it is. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3059 "2026-09-14T18:31:41Z")
I watch everything. It’s never bothered me. Some phlebotomists habitually say “look away” right before they insert the needle; I assure them that I’m fine. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3060 "2026-09-14T18:35:58Z")
I get stuck so often that it doesn’t bother me and I like to see the whole thing: the stick, the draw, blood burbling into the vial, the switching of vials (when necessary), just everything. I also like to praise the phlebotomist if the stick is particularly good (that is, painless). If you’re my phlebotomist and I don’t say, “Good stick!”, that means it hurt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=152) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=154)