# 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:** 36
**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 14, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/701 "2026-03-14T00:52:20Z")
Not if you’re factoring in their comfort and wellbeing. The water feature alone will take up a lot of space. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/702 "2026-03-14T01:16:23Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > The poll question was which do you see most often. There can be only one answer (unless there’s literally an exact tie). Yes, but out of 13 possible answers I’ve commonly seen 4 of them and never heard of the other 9. I don’t have an exact count of any of them (because who would?) ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/703 "2026-03-14T02:19:42Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > General Tso’s is most common Seems like you already came up with your answer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/704 "2026-03-14T03:41:55Z")
I just rewatched Around The World in 80 Day (1956) and for those who could not remember Buster Keaton he was the conductor on the US train journey. ---
**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 14, 2026, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/705 "2026-03-14T09:22:46Z")
Fair enough. (It should’ve been a multiple choice 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:** [March 14, 2026, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/706 "2026-03-14T12:05:04Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > I’m one of those who insists on driving a car with a manual transmission I’m reminded of the Cecil Adams column on manual vs. automatic in terms of fuel efficiency. He lightly mocks the pleasure of manual driving: “Let’s face it – it’s fun! You can pretend you’re Mario Andretti.” (Not an exact quote, but close – hey, its been like thirty years. And, I think the SD website “updated” the car racing reference to someone more current, when they posted the digital version of the same column – to someone now equally outdated). ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/707 "2026-03-14T12:23:36Z")
I haven’t seen the column on that, but in addition to the fun aspect, there are other reasons to choose a manual. - Security. In 2026 many car thieves don’t know how to drive a manual. In fact, my insurance rates are a bit lower because of this. - Attention. Driving a manual requires you to be engaged with driving. Driving an automatic allows your mind to wander more. - Emergency starting. If I get stuck somewhere with a dead battery, I just need a slight downslope to start the car and don’t need someone with jumper cables to help me. In fact I can roll start my cars in my own driveway, in reverse (and have done so). ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/708 "2026-03-14T12:25:11Z")
Good points, especially (for me) the attention one. I’ve been teaching my fifteen-year-old kid how to drive – all automatic so far, but you’ve helped convince me I will teach him manual soon as well (I’m sure one of our friends has a manual car we can borrow!). Another advantage is when you have no choice – e.g., renting a car in some parts of the world (knowing how to drive manual saved me in a rural Mexico work situation a couple years ago). ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/709 "2026-03-14T12:31:49Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Another advantage is when you have no choice – e.g., renting a car in some parts of the world (knowing how to drive manual saved me in a rural Mexico work situation a couple years ago). That’s less common these days, but I’ve been in the same situation in Spain in the 90s. These days even Europe is mostly automatic. ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/710 "2026-03-14T12:33:25Z")
Here in the UK, if you pass your test in a manual, you can drive both manual and automatic, whereas if you pass in an automatic you can only drive automatics. I don’t know if that’s a consideration in the US ? ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/711 "2026-03-14T12:33:56Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > In 2026 many car thieves don’t know how to drive a manual. I’m surprised they don’t cover that in car thief school. mmm ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/712 "2026-03-14T12:35:24Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > I don’t know if that’s a consideration in the US ? It’s not (at least in New Jersey), but I think it should be. ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/713 "2026-03-14T12:43:03Z")
(It’s a bit of a hijack, but for completeness’ sake, here’s the [SD column I referenced](https://www.straightdope.com/21342526/to-slow-a-stick-shift-car-should-you-brake-or-downshift). Not about fuel efficiency, but about downshifting. Link is to the 1998 digital upload that changed “Mario Andretti” to “Al Unser Jr.” – as I said, equally outdated in 2026!). ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/714 "2026-03-14T12:46:40Z")
Thanks. For the record, I’m with Uncle Ceece on this one. ---
**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 14, 2026, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/715 "2026-03-14T13:17:43Z")
I don’t think I ever heard of the site before. But if it had destroyed the world, it wouldn’t be possible to check the site. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/716 "2026-03-14T13:52:15Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > But if it had destroyed the world, it wouldn’t be possible to check the site. I’m not sure you would need to. mmm ---
**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 14, 2026, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/717 "2026-03-14T14:43:16Z")
I’m sure that you wouldn’t. ---
**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 14, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/718 "2026-03-14T18:54:07Z")
Today is not Pi day, there can be no Pi day because there is no month 14. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/719 "2026-03-14T18:54:13Z")
I hate stop-start to the extent that it was the deal-breaker in my last new vehicle purchase. I loved everything else about the vehicle, but I would not buy anything with stop-start. mmm ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/720 "2026-03-14T19:19:20Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’m reminded of the Cecil Adams column on manual vs. automatic in terms of fuel efficiency. A Manual used to be able to give more MPG, but with the advances in automatic transmissions, not so much. My knee has explained to me, in no uncertain terms- that driving a stick should be mostly in the past. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=37)