So when I started last week's poll, I almost said to myself, "Why bother? Who in their right mind would choose Bagels over Donuts? I mean, that’s like choosing Jar Jar over Chewbacca." Oh how wrong I was.

At first I suspected that my website had somehow been sabotaged by Communist Spies, but due to my extensive network of Imperialist Spies, I was able to eliminate this possibility.

Then I though, "They've all just gone crazy!" To which I responded, "Whoa whoa whoa. Think about whom you are talking Matthew J. Hanson. You're talking about the same people who not only have the good sense to visit Matthew J. Hanson.com on a regular basis, but who also take up their democratic responsibility to vote in trivial internet polls.

If that many readers of Matthew J. Hanson.com preferred Bagels over Donuts, there must be some logical explanation, so I decided to do a little research, and I've discovered several reasons that a person might prefer Bagels to Donuts.

For one thing the bagel is a slightly more versatile food. While it is commonly served as a breakfast food, it can be eaten at any meal, and while it is considered perfectly acceptable to eat it plain, the Bagel can be complimented by any number of toppings (the most common of which is, of course, vegemite). Additionally Bagels can be used as a sandwich foundation, as a substitute for the common sliced bread.

While Donuts are capable of being used in all of the above manners (and should be used in all of the above manners) it is typically only eat as a dessert or breakfast substitute.

Another reason some people might have chosen Bagel (warning pdf) over Donut, is that they perceive Bagels as being more healthful. Notice I said perceive, because if you take the time to examine the evidence you will find a different story. You probably noticed that the whole wheat Bagel contained more than twice as many calories as the Donut (just the bagel, not including the vegemite), but probably missed was the secret ingredient.

Also people might have thought I meant a spare car tire. I can see how that would be confusing.