# Very strange poll for men **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330 "2008-10-10T15:40:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/21 "2008-10-10T16:49:25Z")
1. 40 2. Sacramento, CA, USA 3. White boy. 4. Yes, assuming I had at least a passing acquaintance with the person. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/22 "2008-10-10T16:54:22Z")
1. 49 2. Canada 3. WASP 4. Uh, sure, why not? ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/23 "2008-10-10T16:59:56Z")
Ok, while there has not been much ethnic diversity in this thread, it seems this particular issue is as obscure as I thought it might be. The point of this poll was not to settle anything, other than my curiosity. If you have not answered the poll, please do **NOT** look in the spoiler box before answering. Thanks! In hoodoo (like voodoo, only different), there is a very simple “spell” used to trap a man – it involves putting menstrual blood in the spaghetti sauce. Spaghetti, because it is usually served with a red sauce, which hides the blood easily, and also because it is a very commonly enjoyed dish. This was told to me ages ago by a black girlfriend, and I have heard many of my black male friends comment that they will not eat spaghetti unless they make it because of this. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/24 "2008-10-10T17:05:02Z")
1. Age: 39 2. state/region/country from which you hail: U.S. Born in Ohio, in AZ since 1994 3. ethnicity: Northern European mutt 4. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? Sure, if I knew her to be a decent cook ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/25 "2008-10-10T17:06:32Z")
1. 28 2. Pacific Canada 3. English 4. Of course. Grad students never turn down free food. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/26 "2008-10-10T17:09:19Z")
1. 60 2. California 3. Northern European modified by 300 years of living in America 4. Yes, and puzzled by what bit of cultural lore I have totally not picked up on ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/27 "2008-10-10T17:15:43Z")
A question, **Litoris** : [spoiler]Was the men’s reluctance to eat the spaghetti because a. they didn’t want to eat menstrual blood? b. they were worried about actually being “trapped” by the spell? c. both? And what’s the difference between hoodoo and voodoo?[/spoiler] Thanks for posting this. Interesting stuff. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/28 "2008-10-10T17:15:49Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Ok, while there has not been much ethnic diversity in this thread, it seems this particular issue is as obscure as I thought it might be. The point of this poll was not to settle anything, other than my curiosity. > > If you have not answered the poll, please do **NOT** look in the spoiler box before answering. Thanks! > > In hoodoo (like voodoo, only different), there is a very simple “spell” used to trap a man – it involves putting menstrual blood in the spaghetti sauce. Spaghetti, because it is usually served with a red sauce, which hides the blood easily, and also because it is a very commonly enjoyed dish. This was told to me ages ago by a black girlfriend, and I have heard many of my black male friends comment that they will not eat spaghetti unless they make it because of this. That’s pretty close to what I figured it was about. Maybe that’s where that whole “black guys don’t eat pussy” thing comes from. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/29 "2008-10-10T17:22:28Z")
**Green Bean** , I think both. I never asked specifically, though. **An Arky** – I have heard that, too, but have been reassured that it is most definitely not the case. I don’t know that the two are related. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/30 "2008-10-10T17:25:46Z")
1. Age 2. state/region/country from which you hail 3. ethnicity (yes, this is important to the poll for a change) 4. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? 5. spoiler why not, if the answer is no 6. 50 7. Maryland, Baltimore County if you want to get more exact. 8. White dude with all kinds of nationalities mixed in. 9. Sure… as long as she didn’t hate me. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/31 "2008-10-10T17:28:55Z")
1. 31 2. MO 3. Caucasian 4. Um…sure? Unless she said it in a tone that made me think she put poison in it. Then I’d probably just eat the meatballs. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/32 "2008-10-10T17:54:12Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Ok, while there has not been much ethnic diversity in this thread, it seems this particular issue is as obscure as I thought it might be. The point of this poll was not to settle anything, other than my curiosity. > > If you have not answered the poll, please do **NOT** look in the spoiler box before answering. Thanks! > > In hoodoo (like voodoo, only different), there is a very simple “spell” used to trap a man – it involves putting menstrual blood in the spaghetti sauce. Spaghetti, because it is usually served with a red sauce, which hides the blood easily, and also because it is a very commonly enjoyed dish. This was told to me ages ago by a black girlfriend, and I have heard many of my black male friends comment that they will not eat spaghetti unless they make it because of this. I figured that’s what this was about. Green Bean: My understanding is that Voodoo is a religion while Hoodoo more like a witchcraft. Everyone who I know who’s into that sort of thing is also Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/33 "2008-10-10T17:55:09Z")
> [@Carl\_Corey](#): > > 1. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? Depends on the woman 39, Pacific Northwest, mutt, and what he said. Is this a woman in my office with whom I share the mutual hots, or is this a woman on the bus who drops a paper bag of pasta in my lap and tells me to eat it before the Belgian police catch up to her? ETA: Read the spoiler box.Never heard of anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/34 "2008-10-10T17:56:09Z")
1. Age: **26** 2. state/region/country from which you hail: **Originally, England, now, Florida** 3. ethnicity (yes, this is important to the poll for a change): **Asian/Pacific Islander (I’m of Indian descent)** 4. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? **It depends on the woman. Generally, "Hey! Food!"** 5. spoiler why not, if the answer is no: **If I had reason to believe she was trying to kill me or give me dysentery** ETA having read the spoiler: Ewwww! Not eating unsolicited spaghetti ever again! ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/35 "2008-10-10T18:01:03Z")
Haven’t read the spoiler. I think I know where this is going, but I hope I’m wrong. 30 New York City Caucasian Spaghetti? Absolutely. With a little butter or maybe pesto. With tomato sauce? No. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/36 "2008-10-10T18:01:06Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Ok, help me figure out if this is just one of those weird things that only a handful of people know about or not. Anyone who knows why I am asking, please do not spoil it and tell, just answer the questions, I will 'splain later: > > 1. Age > 2. state/region/country from which you hail > 3. ethnicity (yes, this is important to the poll for a change) > 4. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? > 5. spoiler why not, if the answer is no Without reading any of the replies to the thread, here is my answer: 1. 25 2. Eastern US 3. White 4. Obviously you are implying that some people think one should not, but . . . 5. I have no idea why not. I have a few guesses, but I’ll keep them to myself. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/37 "2008-10-10T18:15:25Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Ok, help me figure out if this is just one of those weird things that only a handful of people know about or not. Anyone who knows why I am asking, please do not spoil it and tell, just answer the questions, I will 'splain later: > > 1. Age > 2. state/region/country from which you hail > 3. ethnicity (yes, this is important to the poll for a change) > 4. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? > 5. spoiler why not, if the answer is no 1. 38 2. SF Bay Area 3. Latino 4. It’s situational. Is this woman a stranger or a friend? A colleague or a casual acquaintance? I’m not in the habit of receiving homemade (non-dessert) food as gifts, but I wouldn’t see anything wrong with it. Though I can assure you I would share it with my wife (and say as much to the woman who gave it to me). 5) N/A ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/38 "2008-10-10T18:31:56Z")
i pretty much figured out the reason for your poll before I read any responses. For the record: 1. Age 2. state/region/country from which you hail 3. ethnicity (yes, this is important to the poll for a change) 4. would you eat spaghetti made “especially for” you by a woman not related to you? 5. spoiler why not, if the answer is no 1.) 52 2.) Northeast US 3.) Polish 4.) Probably not, but possibly 5.) [spoiler] If I didn’t know them, or know them well, I’d be suspicious of what was in it. I don’t like eating food when I’m unfamiliar with the contents, and am urged to 'just eat it". That’s how I ended up eating calf’s brains once. If I knew and liked the woman, then I might. You should know that menstrual blood is not the only thing that can be put into a man’s food to “bewitch” him, and that voodoo is not the only tradition that will do this (To be truthful, I don’t know for a fact that voodoo does do it). So you aren’t necessarily home free if you avoid red foods. By the way, I have known people who practiced such magical arts, and I have accepted food from one who was, at one time, interested in me. I asked her later if she had ever tried this ploy, and she said that she hadn’t – she would have wanted me to love her for herself, not by aid of a charm. [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/39 "2008-10-10T18:43:16Z")
**CalMeacham** You are correct, other fluids can be used, and in a variety of foods. The thing is, it seems to be spaghetti most often around here. This came up in response to a friend of mine telling me that his (soon-to-be-ex) girlfriend stayed up all night making him spaghetti and although it was crap, he felt he owed it to her to eat it. This girl knows that she is in a dead-end relationship, he is still in love with his ex-wife, etc and is a “goth” which made me wonder if she would pull this kind of shit. Anyways, when he had never heard of the practice, I wondered if it was really all that obscure. My husband asked the 2 black guys at his work and both knew exactly what he was talking about and said “oh hell no!” ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330/40 "2008-10-10T18:46:43Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > **CalMeacham** > > You are correct, other fluids can be used, and in a variety of foods. The thing is, it seems to be spaghetti most often around here. This came up in response to a friend of mine telling me that his (soon-to-be-ex) girlfriend stayed up all night making him spaghetti and although it was crap, he felt he owed it to her to eat it. This girl knows that she is in a dead-end relationship, he is still in love with his ex-wife, etc and is a “goth” which made me wonder if she would pull this kind of shit. Anyways, when he had never heard of the practice, I wondered if it was really all that obscure. My husband asked the 2 black guys at his work and both knew exactly what he was talking about and said “oh hell no!” I’d be suspicious if someone _stayed up all night_ making me spaghetti. Either she’s a really bad cook or . . . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-poll-for-men/467330.md?page=3)