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.

  • RebekahWSD@lemmy.world
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    6 hours 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
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    9 hours ago

    🤷‍♂️ 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.worldOP
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      8 hours 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…

  • DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth
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    8 hours 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.

  • i_dont_want_to
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    10 hours ago

    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.

  • MudMan@fedia.io
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    10 hours ago

    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?

    • howrar@lemmy.ca
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      4 hours ago

      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.

    • Drusas@fedia.io
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      7 hours 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
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      8 hours ago

      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
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        8 hours ago

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

    • Chrome@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

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

  • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
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    10 hours ago

    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
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      9 hours ago

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

  • ADKSilence@kbin.earth
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    11 hours ago

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