# Straws or no? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125 "2008-12-14T16:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CAT\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@CAT\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAT_1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/41 "2008-12-16T07:58:17Z")
I have horribly sensative teeth, so I use straws for really cold or really hot stuff. It helps a bit. I don’t use them at home as much, however. When I don’t want a straw and a waitperson is handing me one, I just tell them, no thanks, so it saves everyone the dilema of a good straw being tossed\* out. Or if there is an unused one left, I take it home. I have a few stashed in my car too. \*And yes, any halfway decent restaurant will not reuse anything left on the table. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/42 "2008-12-16T08:16:54Z")
Hot coffee + me driving = straw! CMC +fnord! > [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > All I can say to that is :smack: Unless you go to an actual tobacco shop, your more likely to find them if you ask for chenille stems. :rolleyes: But, real pipe cleaners can also be found with stiff nylon bristles mixed with cotton, much nicer for real scrubbing! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/43 "2008-12-16T13:38:04Z")
If a straw is provided, a straw will be used. Why on earth not?? I imagine those of you non-straw types are the same people who insist on using chopsticks in chinese restaurants even though there is perfectly good silverware on the table. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/44 "2008-12-16T14:02:30Z")
> [@Joey\_Tightlips](#): > > If a straw is provided, a straw will be used. Why on earth not?? I imagine those of you non-straw types are the same people who insist on using chopsticks in chinese restaurants even though there is perfectly good silverware on the table. Actually, I am a straw user, but I insist on chopsticks when eating Asian, it is easier than a fork. Hell, I’d eat with chopsticks exclusively if it wouldn’t drive my family nuts to have every moronic yokel in the place staring at me while I eat. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/45 "2008-12-16T14:05:56Z")
I use straws at restaurants, but I don’t buy them and use them at home. This is very strange that it’s the norm when dining out, yet it’s somewhat odd to use at home. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/46 "2008-12-16T17:54:09Z")
I don’t like straws, and I wish restaurants would quit trying to force them on me. It’s easy to ignore a wrapped straw left on the table, but it seems like they always put a half-wrapped straw in my drink for me, and I have to take the drippy straw (and the sticky lemon slice) out and lay it aside. It’s wasteful and messy. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/47 "2008-12-16T22:35:15Z")
I always use them with an iced drink. I hate having ice hit my teeth/lips as I’m trying to drink. One of my roommates is a “guys don’t use straws” type, but I don’t buy it. If I’m not having a hoppy IPA, I’m having a gin & tonic (NO lime), and I challenge anyone to claim those aren’t manly enough. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125/48 "2008-12-16T23:22:58Z")
I fibbed a little in my OP - I do use straws when I got a soda at a convenience store. Because I generally do that when I’m on the road - straws are safer in a car. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straws-or-no/477125.md?page=2)