# 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:** 27
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/521 "2026-02-27T05:12:15Z")
For the benevolent family member paying for tuition, I would contact them first. A so-far unmentioned scenario is that this is also working out in some beneficial way for them, be it taxes, publicity, or who knows what else, and they may _prefer_ to keep the expenses at the full rate. Keep them in the loop! ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/522 "2026-03-03T14:03:45Z")
I’m waiting for the new fence tester, because I’ve got a pacemaker, and being shocked by the fence might stop it. But the ones I’ve seen have a light to tell you if they’re on. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/523 "2026-03-03T14:17:14Z")
When I was a kid one of the neighbors had an electric wire on their fence; you could touch it with a sprig of foxtail and it would give you the mildest of shocks. I’d do something like that. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/524 "2026-03-03T19:53:20Z")
Squish is one of my favorite words. I used to call my husband Squish Potato. It’s generally understood in our family that squishes are hugs and love. My son loves squishes. I appreciate a good squash. Squash is pretty funny. But I vote for squish. For some reason squ is an inherently funny way to begin a word. I also love squid. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/525 "2026-03-03T19:54:04Z")
“I” is an inherently funnier letter than “A”, except when it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/526 "2026-03-03T20:04:57Z")
Not a hypothetical. Many years ago, I set up an electrified fence but my tester wasn’t working. I did not have the courage to test it myself. My wife, muttering something like, “You effin’ coward” under her breath, touched it and confirmed the installation was successful. Some time later, I did test it myself, but accidentally, when I managed to lean into the hot wire after losing my balance. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/527 "2026-03-03T20:06:01Z")
Squish is a very woody word. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/528 "2026-03-03T22:15:08Z")
I have never wanted to find out so I’ve never tried but but can’t guys test if the fence is electrified easier than women can? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/529 "2026-03-03T22:18:31Z")
I think I’d rather have the mild shock on my finger, thank you. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/530 "2026-03-03T22:35:39Z")
Yeah, it’s not _that_ mild of a shock. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/531 "2026-03-03T22:49:49Z")
I have a distant memory of my grandparents’ neighbor telling my twelve-year-old uncle, “Son, you haven’t lived until you’ve peed on an electric fence.” ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/532 "2026-03-04T00:08:32Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I have never wanted to find out so I’ve never tried but but can’t guys test if the fence is electrified easier than women can? _Mythbusters_ tested this. They found that, what appears to be a steady stream, is actually a series of small droplets. The gaps between the droplets are too large for a spark to jump, so they could never get a circuit to form. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/533 "2026-03-04T16:12:59Z")
“Squash” is less funny because one of its meanings is a perfectly ordinary gourd, whereas “squish” only has the, well, squishy meaning. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/534 "2026-03-04T16:43:00Z")
Exactly my thought. Especially since 90% of the time, if i use the word “squash” i am thinking about the gourd. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/535 "2026-03-04T20:30:44Z")
It’s not the word but what you do with it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8t4pmlHRokg/maxresdefault.jpg "Kids in the Hall: Head Crusher") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t4pmlHRokg) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/536 "2026-03-04T23:51:23Z")
Squish is indeed more amusing, and it saved one of the two universes! [https://lexx.fandom.com/wiki/Squish](https://lexx.fandom.com/wiki/Squish) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/K4GU0tHhRSc/maxresdefault.jpg "LEXX 🪐 Giga Shadow") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4GU0tHhRSc&t=1460) (should be que’d, 24:20 if not, and the film as a whole is NSFW) ---
**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:** [March 5, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/537 "2026-03-05T10:42:05Z")
10 hours alone at home would be utter HEAVEN. I’d do all my favorite things: nap with cats, read, cruise the interwebs, watch a little tv, putter outside, eat my favorite things. I love being alone at home with no schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/538 "2026-03-05T11:45:39Z")
I’m not going to spend 10 hours doing just one thing; that should have been a multiple choice poll. I’ll likely spend time watching TV, playing video games, web surfing, practicing my ukulele, walking outside, doing crossword puzzles, or other activities I’m not thinking of right now. How much of what will depend on my moods that day. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/539 "2026-03-05T13:05:18Z")
Right. In fact, I’d likely divide up my time among all the OP’s listed suggestions, with around equal time for each. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/540 "2026-03-05T13:08:58Z")
It lacks an option “Playing Civilization” (Or, ok, “Playing Computer Games”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=28)