this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2025
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Unpopular Opinion

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I havent used any type of straw in quite some time. Plastic or paper.

They do nothing for me and I think they are one of the most pointless disposal food packaging items to exist.

Edit: there are many useful applications for straws I simply didn’t think about when posting this. Thanks for the commenters for pointing this out.

top 29 comments
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[–] wesker@lemmy.sdf.org 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

But how do you breathe under water while waiting for the Tweety Bird to take the bait?

[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

One of those hollow swamp reed things of course.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

I like straws because my husband is disabled and drinking with a straw is much safer than straight from the glass.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

🤷‍♂️ No one is making you use them. I’m more concerned about all the single use non biodegradable plastic. At least straws are available in materials that biodegrade.

[–] Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

That’s kinda what sparked this post. Def against single use plastic whenever possible. Not trying to get political but there’s some news stories about this today…

[–] guaraguaito@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

Lots of food places serve things in plastic containers that are basically made to be drunk with straws.

[–] i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I like my water bottle with a straw lid, because when I am in bed and can't sit up easily, it is still not too difficult for me to stay hydrated.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (2 children)

There’s a spot between my frame and mattress where I can wedge one of those big stainless mugs with a straw.

I just need to roll over and sip at it like a hamster. Really great for hangovers.

[–] i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago

Living the dream!

[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

That's pretty brilliant

[–] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

Straws are for people with tiny hands and full diapers

[–] ADKSilence@kbin.earth 3 points 2 months ago

Spitwad blasters. Hard to get a good distance without some sort of directional control and air focus.

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 3 points 2 months ago (5 children)

I don't... like them. Does anybody actively like them? Quick poll, does anybody here pop a can of coke or a glass of water and deliberately go find a straw to put in there?

As far as I can tell straws exist either to drink something too thick to reliably pour out of a glass rim, like a smoothie or a milkshake, or to cirvumvent some limitation, be it accessibility or having to extract liquid from a sealed vessel.

By the same token, who here just brings a large, wobbly paper glass up to their face in a dark movie theatre and tries to repeatedly sip it?

[–] Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I guess I did forget about milkshakes or smoothies. Those do have a solid use case.

[–] PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Boba? I don't even know what the "point" would be without a straw tbh

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 2 points 2 months ago

That's just soup at that point. And to be fair, a boba straw is in the spork continuum anyway.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 3 points 2 months ago

I do. I almost never drink something without a straw. But for me, it's due to medical issues. Straws make my life easier.

[–] andrewta@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Bottle of pop. No

Glass of water at a restaurant. Yes

My hands shake and it’s annoying as hell when people stare at me when I’m trying to drink. So I get a straw.

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 2 points 2 months ago

Sure, but then you're in the accessibility scenario. It's still a utility thing.

[–] Chromebby@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Yeah I guess for boba tea they're useful. Also if you whiten your teeth and are worried about staining them.

[–] howrar@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

For soft drinks, I would use a straw. Anything else, no. I'm not a fan of how they feel on my teeth and using a straw helps mitigate that.

They're also a vital part of the bubble tea experience.

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 1 points 2 months ago

Water, in particular, feels like it tastes very weird through a straw. Maybe because it's so neutral, but the mouthfeel of it changes so much with the vessel and straws just make it seem like someone is powerwashing your mouth to prep you for surgery or something.

It's not the worst, and I bet the people in this thread reporting that they need straws for mobility or other medical reasons don't think about it that much, but I think I'd default to flavored drinks if I had to use a straw by default.

[–] DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 3 points 2 months ago

I don't mind them in my water bottle with a flip up cap, but yeah, if I'm using a cup a straw seems pretty pointless.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Found the turtle that got one stuck in its nose.

[–] csm10495@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

Ever try a metal one?

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 1 points 2 months ago
[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

They’re nice with blow

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The whole debate was the first time I saw Americans for who we really are. Whiney, entitled, and refuse to change for the tiniest, smallest of reasons. Changing literally one of the smallest things I encounter because it helps animals? Nope, gotta literally rage for weeks online about it

It's how I knew we were fucked when covid hit. What, wear a mask? I think piece of fabric over my face? To help other people who aren't even me?! Obviously this is the worst thing in the entire history of human kind!

[–] MicrowavedTea@infosec.pub 3 points 2 months ago

To be fair Europeans have been whining about paper straws and bottle caps since forever too. It's not a purely American thing.