# 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:** 80
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1581 "2026-05-04T19:49:27Z")
I should think Louisiana would be the easiest state to ID, seeing as it’s a big “L.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1582 "2026-05-04T20:13:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Wyoming and Colorado are the most tricky ones. But I’ll admit I’m not sure I could distinguish North Dakota, South Dakota, or Kansas either Yeah the square states are tricky. I do sometimes go to a local comic book store, but only for gaming. The only comic i currently buy is the graphic novels for Rivers of London. > [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Based on the apparent education level of “large groups of Americans”, Those polls are not reliable, as too many will give joke answers for 'fun". ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1583 "2026-05-04T20:41:19Z")
I’m decent with geography but I have to be honest with myself. I would probably miss more than a few of the square states if presented alone and out of context. On a map with other states I’m sure I would get all of them. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1584 "2026-05-04T21:59:34Z")
Me too. I can go through the map in my head and name the states with all of the context clues that entails, but a state by itself is harder – especially if they are all resized. I’ve done this type of quiz with countries and it was much harder then I expected. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1585 "2026-05-04T22:15:46Z")
> **[The U.S.: 50 States Outlines - Map Quiz Game - Seterra](https://www.geoguessr.com/vgp/3263)** > > When you’re identifying the U.S. states on a map, their locations help, but often it’s the state’s outline that provides the best visual cue. Have you ever noticed that the hook-shaped peninsula of Massachusetts looks like a flexing bicep, or that... ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1586 "2026-05-04T22:21:28Z")
100%, 4:44. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1587 "2026-05-04T22:29:40Z")
I got all fifty easily enough on the linked quiz, but they give you a cheat! There’s a star outline for the locations of Denver and Cheyenne. No other state capitals were indicated. Now I’m sure I would have gotten them right anyhow because Wyoming and Colorado were both on the page. I see Wyoming in my mind as more square(ish) than Colorado, but I don’t think I could have done it looking at them individually without the other to compare to. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1588 "2026-05-04T23:38:15Z")
35%, 06:35 and that only because in the end I knew by memory where some states where, and there were less to choose from 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1589 "2026-05-05T00:32:38Z")
In the state outline poll I answered all fifty but honestly, Colorado vs. Wyoming would give me pause. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1590 "2026-05-05T00:34:59Z")
The Dakodas did me in. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1591 "2026-05-05T05:18:27Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > The Dakodas did me in In more ways than one. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1592 "2026-05-05T10:08:20Z")
The Barn House? What’s that? ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1593 "2026-05-05T11:21:14Z")
I’m guessing that was a little joke, to see who is paying attention. If anyone claims to have visited a nonexistent category more than once, the rest of their answers are suspect. Or ???. I’m blown away that half the Dopers (or at least half the respondents, so far, to this poll) never visit Miscellaneous… And, how is it that that they decided to visit just for this one poll? Am I being massively whooshed? Or am I misunderstanding something severely? We’re a month past April Fools Day… ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1594 "2026-05-05T11:52:03Z")
The question was “Which Categories have you visited **at most once** in the last 12 months?” I expect most people have visited MMPIMS much more than once. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1595 "2026-05-05T12:26:38Z")
I’m clearly an idiot. I don’t get it. Someone who checks the MMPIMS box is saying they only visited MMPIMS once or twice in the past year, no? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1596 "2026-05-05T12:30:24Z")
I usually don’t even know what forum I’m in. I just click “latest posts” and work my way down. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1597 "2026-05-05T13:03:08Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’m guessing that was a little joke, to see who is paying attention. If anyone claims to have visited a nonexistent category more than once, the rest of their answers are suspect. Or ???. > > I’m blown away that half the Dopers (or at least half the respondents, so far, to this poll) never visit Miscellaneous… And, how is it that that they decided to visit just for this one poll? > > Am I being massively whooshed? Or am I misunderstanding something severely? We’re a month past April Fools Day… The Barn House was a forum named after [Ed’s book](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3546251-the-barn-house) which was intended for home repair, etc. and which engendered some ill will for various reasons too complicated to get into. It was eventually hidden (accessible to those who knew the URL!) and then cornfielded. I included it as an inside joke. I have no idea what’s going on with the voting. I wondered if I had phrased it “have you visited these forums at least once in the last year” if it would have gone differently. (shrug) ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1598 "2026-05-05T13:04:31Z")
Okay, thanks. Or is it an (inadvertent) comprehension test, and I’m among the few who passed? 🙂 And, yes, phrasing it that way would have “gone differently.” People would have voted exactly the opposite way (or _should_ have). ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1599 "2026-05-05T13:07:41Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > is it an (inadvertent) comprehension test Yes, and half those who voted failed. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/1600 "2026-05-05T13:23:06Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > And, yes, phrasing it that way would have “gone differently.” People would have voted exactly the opposite way (or _should_ have). lol. Just to explain what happened, I started to write a poll that said “what forums do you NEVER visit”, but then I thought, they have to visit _this_ forum to vote, so I amended it to once or never. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=79) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=81)