Are there ANY issues that the whole SDMB (or at least those active in GD) can actually agree on? I suspect there are, and I would like to find out which they are, but I have no idea where to start.
So in order to get a base reference… what can we ALL agree on? Can you think of anything?
Hopefully (though I’m not at all certain), at least the following:
The best estimate for the age of the universe is between 13 and 15 billion years old or so.
The Earth is an oblate spheroid that revolves around the Sun.
The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.
Life arose sometime between 3 and 4 billion years ago or so.
The best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth is evolution from common descent.
You would think something like “The internet exists.”, or even more basic like the law of identity (‘a’ = ‘a’), but once you get to hard solipsism or even Last Thursdayism. I suspect we could even argue about those…
The value of discussing issues (as opposed to resorting to physical violence).
It’s taking longer than we thought.
Really? Not a single creationist left on the SDMB? I hope you’re right.
I think ”the internet exists” and ”a=a” would both be confirmed by anyone who is able to read the SDMB. If not, it will at least draw the solipsists out…
Hopefully…
I’d like to suggest:
Everyone here is an alive human being.
Life has an inherent value.
The Kosmos exists.
That there is a quarry somewhere that we are supposed to throw stuff into, but we don’t want to.
Nope. Nothing has an inherent value.
Damnit.
What would it take to make you change your mind?
I once started a thread asking people who was better; Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse? And everyone who responded voted for Bugs Bunny.
Put $500,000 in small, unmarked bills in a suitcase . . . 
Well sure, I guess we could agree on obvious things like that…
Mary Ann is hotter than Ginger
I’d go with Betty. But I’d be thinking about Wilma.
Yes, and it’s my very favorite of Humboldt’s works.
The conch.
I have to agree with Frank: life has a subjective value. I treasure my life, and pretty much all living things. Extinction is bad. Every man’s death diminishes me.
But… No, life doesn’t have an inherent value, only the value we place upon it.
I honestly cannot think of any argument that would change my mind on this; it really comes down to how I define the words.
Sorry, but I’ll spoil the unanimity here. Ginger spikes my punch; Mary Ann just kinda bores me.
The Professor was hotter than those 2 IMHO:p
No. There is plenty of violent willful ignorance that is written down. Oppositionism isn’t discussing issues either.
That just means more Mary Ann for me…and cocoanut creme pie 