# 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:** 187
**Author:** ![LavenderMagnolia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@LavenderMagnolia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderMagnolia)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3721 "2026-10-27T01:34:48Z")
I was a supervisor at a grocery store several years ago. Saw a lot of “extreme couponers”. An adult, for example, would get in line and buy four jugs of laundry detergent, then have their eight-ish-year-old child buy four more, and they were also doing another transaction to buy four jugs for their “friend”. Haha. Officially, we were supposed to stop customers from going over the limit, but my own supervisors didn’t care. The couponers also liked self-checkout machines because, at the time, one person could do multiple transactions and get around the item limit. Since then, I’ve been to a couple of stores that quit accepting coupons at machines. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3722 "2026-10-27T01:43:25Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Takei and Shatner will die on the same day, a July 4th, each unaware of the other’s passing. Truth! ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3723 "2026-10-27T01:49:23Z")
“Shatner/Takei still survives” ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3724 "2026-10-27T02:32:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > refer to VW Beetles, programming errors, or a certain wascally wabbit. Or hidden microphones. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3725 "2026-10-27T03:56:44Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > VW Beetles But only the old, air cooled (Type 1) versions. The repackaged Golfs are not Bugs. They’re abominations. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3726 "2026-10-27T04:18:58Z")
Yes, I really do understand what the insects called “bugs” are, technically, and i try to use it . But yeah, sometimes I use it informally. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3727 "2026-10-27T10:30:29Z")
In re: death notice My husband is the only one who might know that I post here, but I’m not sure it would occur to him to announce my death. Frankly I don’t think that anyone here would realize I’d gone missing; I don’t post enough and I’m generally unremarkable. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3728 "2026-10-27T12:02:01Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Or hidden microphones. I knew there was a another common meaning i was missing! I sat there for a while, and finally gave up. I would have added the cars, too, if I’d thought of them. But that’s not what i was trying to think of. Would somebody post about my death? Ed and the other mods all know my name. It’s possible they’ll track down an obit if i disappear or something. If someone here learns of my death, my preference is that they post about it, because I’d want to hear if other posters die. But i suppose i won’t care then. 😆 ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3729 "2026-10-27T12:19:10Z")
What “bug” means depends on the context. To further confuse things, there’s the verb. To remind somebody, to annoy somebody, to try to get somebody to do something. I need to remember to bug my neighbor about fixing the irrigation outlet. (Which might or might not annoy him.) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3730 "2026-10-27T13:57:02Z")
There is also Bugs Meany, Encyclopedia Brown’s arch-enemy. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3731 "2026-10-27T15:27:12Z")
I don’t generally walk out of situations, but i did once find myself in the midst of an interview where they wanted me to do all sorts of things I’d never heard of. I’m not sure why they brought me in for an interview. I clearly misunderstood the job, and/or they misunderstood the labor market. Anyway, i told them i didn’t think i was qualified and that we might all save time by ending the interview. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderMagnolia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@LavenderMagnolia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderMagnolia)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3732 "2026-10-27T15:40:00Z")
I’ve worked at two places that had a rule about conducting three or more interviews for every open position, even if the managers already wanted to promote a current employee. So they would interview people who they had no intention of hiring. I wonder if this might have happened to you? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3733 "2026-10-27T15:40:58Z")
I was at an interview for a government position which was more HR than computer stuff. I was asked about a situation where I had one horrible employee who made life worse for everyone, how would I respond as the departments manager? I realized that my response wouldn’t fly, so I stood up, shook the interviewers hand, and told him that I didn’t think this was going to work out. He asked why, so I responded that what I would do is build a file against her and fire her ass as soon as I could… which is, obviously, not the response this question wanted. He agreed that we would be a poor fit, and we both moved on. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3734 "2026-10-27T15:44:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I responded that what I would do is build a file against her and fire her ass as soon as I could… which is, obviously, not the response this question wanted. That is the _only_ correct response I can think of. What were they looking for? I mean, I suppose they could have wanted to hear that you’d mentor her and provide resources in hopes she’d become more productive and less disruptive, but that would be part of building a file to fire her, too. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3735 "2026-10-27T15:53:38Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > That is the _only_ correct response I can think of. What were they looking for? I mean, I suppose they could have wanted to hear that you’d mentor her and provide resources in hopes she’d become more productive and less disruptive, but that would be part of building a file to fire her, too. I think that was exactly what they were looking for - someone to mentor the worst employee to become, at best, mediocre. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3736 "2026-10-27T16:48:18Z")
Back in the 90s, fresh out of the Navy I found myself at a lot of “interviews” that turned out to be scams. Some were MLM pitches posing as interviews. One memorable one that advertised as looking for a sound engineer trainee was actually a white van speaker scam. In that case the “interview” was fine but on training day I realized what it was and walked away on the side of the road, thus checking off 2 boxes in the poll. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3737 "2026-10-27T17:05:28Z")
Sorry - what’s MLM? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3738 "2026-10-27T17:05:58Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > what’s MLM? Multi-level marketing. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3739 "2026-10-27T17:07:28Z")
Hmmm…thanks. Is this a technical term for “pyramid scheme”? ---
**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:** [October 27, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/3740 "2026-10-27T17:08:01Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Many donkeys are cute. I’ve never seen a cute horse, mule, or hinny. (In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hinny.) So anyway, cuteness is why I voted for donkeys. This was me. Donkeys can be very cute. I know they can also be obnoxious sometmes, but they’re mostly cute. There’s a reason there are a lot of donkey sanctuaries. Bugs: it’s what I call the old VW cars I own a condo with my younger sister. She is completely squicked out by cats roaming all over the kitchen counters. She gets the heebie jeebies. We could never have a cat for this reason. I love dogs, and since we don’t have one now, I’ve made friends with a ton of the neighborhood dogs on my walks. Just got love-bombed by a tiny corgi this morning! My sister knows I’m on this board, but she’s so techphobic she’d not know how to get on to notify people. I’m sure she’d have a panic attack trying to create a thread. I rather doubt people would miss me. The only movie I walked out of was _Tron._ I found it excruiatingly boring. Plus, it was a double feature, and we had already watched the other movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=186) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=188)