# Things people say they want, but probably wouldn't actually like **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513 "2016-08-30T22:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/101 "2016-09-09T12:23:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Or will be partially thrown clear of the car. I used to wonder how so many bodies managed to be thrown clear of the car cleanly (only of course to usually then get hurt from the ground or another car,) until I realized that often they aren’t thrown cleanly. Or be thrown clear and discover that a pine tree is tougher than a human neck. The discovery did not last long and her fiancé still goes through Hell around the anniversary of that accident. Next November 16th will be the 25th anniversary. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/102 "2016-09-09T15:35:06Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Higher minimum wages. > > It sounds good on paper, and it makes us all want the poor working-class mother to afford to feed her family… > > …but the added cost will either end up eliminating jobs or it will cause your burger that previously cost 1.08 to cost 4.95. You obviously read different economists than I do. What I have read is that a $15 minimum wage might raise the cost of a burger by a dime. And actual data shows it does not cost jobs. And, most importantly, those minimum wage employees tend to spend every cent they make so that the added money boosts the economy. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/103 "2016-09-09T15:49:51Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > A lot of people I meet express the desire to live in a warm tropical climate year round. > > I dunno. People say this, but I think only a fraction would really enjoy it. Folks have it in their minds that they’d be able to exercise outdoors whenever they want year round. But no. They don’t understand that palm trees don’t shade for shit. Daily constitutionals just aren’t going to happen in 95-degree heat in direct sunlight and 100% humidity. You will be driving to the grocery store across the street just like everyone else. And you may think you’ll spend all your weekends laying out on the beach. But you probably won’t. The novelty wears off after awhile and sitting in tourist traffic isn’t fun. And you may think it would be so nice to never have to shovel snow again. But is shoveling snow worse than boarding up your windows when the hurricane comes to town? And you may think you’d love wearing shorts in December. But you will miss those crisp fall days. You will stare longingly at all your snazzy winterwear and pray for a stretch of cool weather. > > And you think your allergies are bad now? When the growing season lasts the whole year, watch out! I agree with this. Add bugs, insects, and creepy crawlers, which all thrive in a tropical climate. Owning a Ferrari or other fancy foreign high performance car. Your insurance rates skyrocket, it’s $500 (or more) for an oil change, you may be afraid to drive it for fear of the smallest fender bender, you fear it being stolen. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/104 "2016-09-09T15:52:25Z")
Having breakfast in bed is a standard cliche, but many people don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/105 "2016-09-09T16:55:10Z")
> [@quiltguy](#): > > The expression you voice when you’re ravenously hungry, “I could eat a horse,” is probably not all that truthful or desired in actuality. If it is, I wonder how they’d go about it? Baked? Boiled? Fried? Grilled? As is? Sauced? Go-withs? Uhhh… anybody got some TUMS™? Horse bourguinon is quite lovely, heart en casserole [diced into 1 inch cubes, excess blood and clots rinsed away in salt water, then stewed with chopped onion, garlic and italian herbs in red wine at a low temp for hours until meltingly tender and served with sourdough bread … nom!] ground into burger meat and made into meatloaf, meatballs italian style [ok, italian wedding soup…] and horseburgers on the grill … > [@Nava](#): > > Depends on the person. My sister-in-law’s brother spent a couple of weeks in a vacation resort in which the umbrella drinks were refilled before they’d even been emptied, towels were replaced as soon as you had used one to dry up after exiting the pool, and loved it. > > His sister’s response to the story was “the first time it happened, I would have gotten paranoid. The second time, I would have gone postal! …Husband of mine?” > “Yes?” > “If you ever hear me wish for servants, please call the cops, I’ve been abducted by aliens.” > “Will do, my love.” > [@elbows](#): > > Servants. Like people to wait on you, be at your beck and call, like that! > > Sure it sounds awesome, your every whim indulged! But all servants come with an enormous loss of privacy. As they are underfoot, in your house. Even if they have their own quarters and are forbidden to look you in the eye or speak to you, you’re still not ‘alone’, in your home. Ever! You’re actually just taking on more dependants. > > Now think about famous movie and music stars with big old houses, with gardens and pools, tennis courts. That’s a lot of support staff to maintain all that stuff! > > No thank you, I’d much rather my privacy! Meh, I grew up with servants at my grandparents, and my mom had maids and I had a nanny … and have vacationed at a resort and on cruise ships that had that type of service. You learn to drop your used clothing into the hamper instead of tossing it all over the floor, and you deal with wet towels and such a bit more neatly than if you were home alone. No sense in being an asshole and just trashing the places. You still say please and thank you when asking for a service or receiving a service. As they were my family servants, one doesn’t tip at the time of service, but you do give birthday and christmas presents and typically a cash bonus around the holidays, though when traveling and at a hotel, resort or cruise you tip at the time of service [well the room service gets tipped at the end of the vacation.] You probably will get walked in upon at least one in a naked/almost naked/in the shower/in bed and you just deal with it, it is just as embarrassing for the servant as it is for you. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/106 "2016-09-09T17:32:09Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > A lot of people think they “want to travel a lot for work”. Few actually like living out of a hotel for long stretches in a city where they don’t know anyone, having to deal with airport bullshit every week. Depends. Younger people love it. Its the people with families who find it difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/107 "2016-09-09T17:39:27Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Having breakfast in bed is a standard cliche, but many people don’t like it. It’s way too easy to tip over that little lap-tray, then your leisurely morning is spoiled by having to strip the bed quickly before the pot of tea you just spilled soaks down into the mattress. I know this. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/108 "2016-09-12T17:45:37Z")
I recall reading somewhere that protesting against the presence of U.S. military forces is or was something of a national pastime in South Korea, but that whenever the U.S. government has appeared to seriously consider withdrawing its forces from South Korea, the South Koreans suddenly say, No, we didn’t \*really \*mean for you to leave! Stay! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/109 "2016-09-12T18:32:47Z")
Everybody hates tenants. Everyone loves collecting rent. Nothing much to see here. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/110 "2016-09-12T22:33:10Z")
Open borders. Unless you keep all your doors unlocked 24/7/365 you should already know that’s a terrible idea. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/111 "2016-09-13T08:12:43Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Meh, I grew up with servants at my grandparents, and my mom had maids and I had a nanny … and have vacationed at a resort and on cruise ships that had that type of service. You learn to drop your used clothing into the hamper instead of tossing it all over the floor At my family’s homes, the reasoning to bring your clothes to the hampers and separate them by colors was precisely the lack of servants. Being polite to whomever will do the laundry does not require them to be paid for it. > [@AK84](#): > > Depends. Younger people love it. Its the people with families who find it difficult. I’ve never liked the hotel parts and one of the reasons I’d like to go in-house has been the effect of too much airport food on my ass-size, but I still like the actual traveling. Many of my coworkers have very sharp household divisions; others are empty-nesters. The ones who dislike traveling the most are those with little kids, and not always. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/112 "2016-09-13T09:51:06Z")
For a few years I had an apartment right on the beach, on the south shore of Long Island. I was overjoyed when I first found the place. I was working nights at the time, so I’d be able to spend all day on the beach, bicycling up and down the boardwalk, listening to the surf and the cry of the sea gulls. The first summer started out like that, but after a while became quite boring. By the end of the summer I was bored out of my skull. By the time the second summer came, I hardly went out to the beach, only for brief walks, never to just lie in the sun. I actually liked the beach a lot more in winter … and in a hurricane. And I never want to hear another sea gull again. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/113 "2016-09-13T11:21:24Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’ve never liked the hotel parts and one of the reasons I’d like to go in-house has been the effect of too much airport food on my ass-size, but I still like the actual traveling. Many of my coworkers have very sharp household divisions; others are empty-nesters. The ones who dislike traveling the most are those with little kids, and not always. I think it depends on the frequency and nature of travelling. Consultants (of which I think you are one) seem to travel 50-60 times a year, and that is very very hard on family life. For me, its perhaps twice a month out of town and perhaps half a dozen times overseas. I can easily maintain that even after I get married. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/114 "2016-09-13T14:50:23Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I think it depends on the frequency and nature of travelling. Consultants (of which I think you are one) seem to travel 50-60 times a year, and that is very very hard on family life. That kind of frequency is a pain in all parts of the body, frankly, even without involving family life. In one of my projects we lost one person (dude in his late 50s) because it was in Middle of Nowhere, France, three of us (dude, me and a guy whose wife did 99.999% of the childrearing) wanted to rent a flat there and stay every other weekend, but the team leader (one 3yo, one 5yo) could not conceive of “not going home” (IME, not doing something is often a lot easier than doing, but what do I know). There was even one weekend that we flew home, he met his wife and kids at the kids’ school, they took the kids to the grandparents’ and flew back to spend the weekend in Paris - I get tired just thinking of it. Bossman couldn’t conceive of “not going home”, I was having fits thinking of being on the freaking Channel area for half a year and not taking advantage of the weekends to do some sightseeing :smack: For the last two months of that project I was the only one on site, so I flew home only once. And I stayed at an aparthotel, where the room you get has a kitchenette so it’s pretty much a serviced studio. And I went to Mount Saint Michel, and to Caen and to… 😃 I’ve had other projects which involved relocation but zero travel, and one on the _ingenieros Telefónica_ (named after the company which made it commonplace) schedule of traveling to a Latin American site for 89 days, spending 32 days back home and back onsite. This last version is much less stressful, even for people whose family is an ocean away. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/115 "2016-09-14T10:42:26Z")
I’m not the poster you were responding to, but : > [@DrDeth](#): > > Have you ever done it? Yes. > [@](#): > > Trust me the boredom sets in after a few months. Trust me, it doesn’t. And I can’t see it setting in even in 30 years. I’m definitely not afraid of retiring and finding myself bored. At least not until a deteriorating health limits me severely. People are very different. What doesn’t work for you can work perfectly well for plenty of other people. [QUOTE=Spice Weasel] I am utterly lost without structure. I know plenty of people who really struggled after retirement because of similar issues. [/QUOTE] Even though I’ve known people who need to be provided with structure, it never occured to me that it could a problem for retirement. Another example of people being different. And yet another hobby to prevent boredom : providing structure. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/116 "2016-09-20T15:44:48Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Even though I’ve known people who need to be provided with structure, it never occured to me that it could a problem for retirement. Another example of people being different. > > And yet another hobby to prevent boredom : providing structure. If someone needs a job in order to provide structure, then that seems a rather tragic way to get “structure.” Time is finite and life is short; working an unnecessary job for “structure’s” sake is sad. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/117 "2016-09-20T15:46:07Z")
I think another thing that is popular, but often backfires, is the idea that people can identify as whatever or whomever they want. In theory, it sounds like freedom and identity-self-consciousness power, but then you end up with situations like Rachel Dolezal, or perhaps you might have white Caucasian students deliberately claiming to be of a minority race so they can get affirmative action. ---
**Author:** ![gallan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ee59a6/32.png) [@gallan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/118 "2016-09-20T17:44:12Z")
Speaking of minimum wage, the concept that “minimum wage jobs are for teenagers.” How would that even work?! Teenagers are in school during the day, which means all restaurants, retail stores, banks, daycare centers, and every other job that depends on minimum wage workers would either be closed during the day, or be staffed entirely by high-school drop-outs. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/119 "2016-09-20T18:05:10Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Being polite to whomever will do the laundry does not require them to be paid for it. Nitpick: _whoever_ ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513/120 "2016-09-20T19:27:02Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I think another thing that is popular, but often backfires, is the idea that people can identify as whatever or whomever they want. Is it actually a popular idea? I have never heard of anyone actually in favor of the idea, the only people who talk about ‘people can identify as whatever or whomever they want’ are people critical of things like non-standard gender identity. I’m very skeptical of any ‘popular idea’ that only the opponents of the idea actually talk about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-they-want-but-probably-wouldnt-actually-like/764513.md?page=7)