# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=1 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 2 --- ## [What are the Christian views on extraterrestrials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-christian-views-on-extraterrestrials/1033285)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-christian-views-on-extraterrestrials/1033285 "2026-10-11T01:09:17Z")
Inspired by another recent thread on a narrower topic. Is there a general consensus among Christians on the subject of intelligent races on other planets? Do they feel that extraterrestrials are impossible because the … --- ## [Hegseth says public execution by firing squad will be Livestreamed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-says-public-execution-by-firing-squad-will-be-livestreamed/1033708)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-says-public-execution-by-firing-squad-will-be-livestreamed/1033708 "2026-10-09T23:01:15Z")
Pentagon’s plan to livestream Fort Hood shooter’s execution sparks intense backlash - CBS News First, let’s get this out of the way: What the everlovin’ FUCK? Second, is there any info that he plans to charge for it, o… --- ## [Is a homogeneous society a better, healthier option in the modern age?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-homogeneous-society-a-better-healthier-option-in-the-modern-age/1033066)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-homogeneous-society-a-better-healthier-option-in-the-modern-age/1033066 "2026-10-07T18:09:31Z")
I’ve come to believe that a homogeneous society, like that in Japan, is much healthier than a society consisting of many different value systems and behavior. I see the components of our society pulling against one anot… --- ## [Lindsay Clancy...child murderer or victim?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsay-clancy-child-murderer-or-victim/1033205 "2026-10-07T18:07:40Z")
There is no doubt that Lindsay Clancy murdered her three young children. I think her own legal defense team admits that. Their defense is Clancy was severely mentally unstable due to a variety of reasons. I admit I am… --- ## [What are the prospects for a high-speed rail network in the United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-prospects-for-a-high-speed-rail-network-in-the-united-states/184408)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 183\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2026, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-prospects-for-a-high-speed-rail-network-in-the-united-states/184408 "2026-10-06T21:21:47Z")
There are several threads going on right now in the GD forum relating to whether any automobile fuel can be developed that would be an effective substitute for petroleum-derived gasoline. Maybe it can and maybe it can’t… --- ## [Measuring productivity for cognitive work](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-productivity-for-cognitive-work/1033372)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-productivity-for-cognitive-work/1033372 "2026-10-03T15:54:19Z")
Subject inspired by discussion in several threads about AI but not necessarily about AI. It also is a question about how cognitive work productivity is measured, how it actually makes sense measure it, and how productivi… --- ## [Euthanasia of a minor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euthanasia-of-a-minor/1033475)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euthanasia-of-a-minor/1033475 "2026-10-02T18:16:55Z")
I really do not know if this is the right place for this topic. I also do not know how I feel about it, what my position on it is. One-year-old child in Netherlands euthanized. On one side, I do not want someone, espe… --- ## [In what ways is society not ready to accept or deal with mental illness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-ways-is-society-not-ready-to-accept-or-deal-with-mental-illness/1033471)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-ways-is-society-not-ready-to-accept-or-deal-with-mental-illness/1033471 "2026-10-02T03:17:35Z")
There is a lot of stigma for mental illness, far more than for illnesses outside of the brain. But I get the impression that there are various reasons why mental illness isn’t going to be accepted the same way we accept … --- ## [Why is Vladimir Putin still alive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vladimir-putin-still-alive/1033390)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vladimir-putin-still-alive/1033390 "2026-10-01T21:16:22Z")
It can’t have escaped the notice of the Ukrainian government that Putin is the architect and booster for the aggression against Ukraine; that unlike almost every war fought in modern times, it really makes a difference w… --- ## [Lyrics to "Oughta Be"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-to-oughta-be/1033498)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-to-oughta-be/1033498 "2026-10-01T03:01:02Z")
Oughta Be Have you ever woken up from a Sunday morning suicide attempt And said “Why” And said “Why” And said “Why am I?” I know exactly who I am And where I am What I wanna know is why Before I Depart again I… --- ## [Social Media -- Ban the Ads, Charge the User?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-ban-the-ads-charge-the-user/1033408)
**Author:** [@DtypeJag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DtypeJag)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-ban-the-ads-charge-the-user/1033408 "2026-10-01T00:02:22Z")
With all the talk about how harmful social media can be for various groups because of the clever algorithims enticing people to keep clicking, bringing up pages that confirm their perceived prejudices. I have never hear… --- ## [So here’s my theory on 9/11 (U.S. knew it was imminent)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-here-s-my-theory-on-9-11-u-s-knew-it-was-imminent/1033012)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-here-s-my-theory-on-9-11-u-s-knew-it-was-imminent/1033012 "2026-09-30T16:41:24Z")
No, nothing about controlled demolitions, or Israeli intelligence, or a U.S. attack on its own people. But I do believe that the top of the U.S. government knew that this attack was imminent (despite not specifically kn… --- ## [Resolved: The US Contribution to WWI was critical, even though late](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-us-contribution-to-wwi-was-critical-even-though-late/1033366)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-us-contribution-to-wwi-was-critical-even-though-late/1033366 "2026-09-27T17:38:21Z")
This thread Resolved: Germany was the aggressor against France in WWI was highly educational for me, in spite of it eventually being closed, so I’m inspired to start my own. It’ll start with a fairly strong claim, but … --- ## [At what point is a person completely toxic to agree with about anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-is-a-person-completely-toxic-to-agree-with-about-anything/1033192)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2026, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-is-a-person-completely-toxic-to-agree-with-about-anything/1033192 "2026-09-27T04:01:06Z")
A more specific attempt to get to one of my questions from my now closed thread (RIP). Obviously, nobody is wrong all of the time. But if, for example, Hitler had an interesting opinion about chiaroscuro, you sure as he… --- ## [They are trying it again- Ten Commandments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-trying-it-again-ten-commandments/1003134)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 198\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-trying-it-again-ten-commandments/1003134 "2026-09-24T02:52:56Z")
https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4730255-louisiana-require-ten-commandments-classrooms/ Louisiana became the first state in the nation to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms. Gov… --- ## [Have we reached the point when it is kooky to not believe in massive amounts of intelligent life having evolved throughout the universe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-reached-the-point-when-it-is-kooky-to-not-believe-in-massive-amounts-of-intelligent-life-having-evolved-throughout-the-universe/969972)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 760\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-reached-the-point-when-it-is-kooky-to-not-believe-in-massive-amounts-of-intelligent-life-having-evolved-throughout-the-universe/969972 "2026-09-23T17:35:57Z")
Pre-Webb, We estimated there were hundreds of billions of visible galaxies out there, with each galaxy being made of hundreds of billions of stars and possibly trillions of wet rocks like our little planet earth here. To… --- ## [What is Ben Crump doing in these cases?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ben-crump-doing-in-these-cases/1031754)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ben-crump-doing-in-these-cases/1031754 "2026-09-23T16:29:43Z")
I have seen Ben Crump in the news lately over three different incidents. He is representing the family of Nolan Wells, who drowned in Mississippi, Daniel Irving, who drowned in Texas, and Kadir Skinner, who was shot and … --- ## [What contributed the most to increased longevity--medicine or sanitation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contributed-the-most-to-increased-longevity-medicine-or-sanitation/1033264)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contributed-the-most-to-increased-longevity-medicine-or-sanitation/1033264 "2026-09-22T16:10:17Z")
Basically, what I am asking is whether clean water and sewage contributed more to increasing life span than advances in medicine. The latter includes, but is not limited to, antibiotics and vaccines. --- ## [What's the straight dope on getting other vaccines along with your flu shot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-getting-other-vaccines-along-with-your-flu-shot/921191)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-getting-other-vaccines-along-with-your-flu-shot/921191 "2026-09-22T00:04:40Z")
I’m an ahem senior citizen, and I plan on getting my flu shot in the next couple of weeks. My doc also wants me to get a tetanus booster and a shingles vaccine. A friend is looking at tetanus and a pneumonia vaccine in a… --- ## [Resolved: Germany was the aggressor against France in WWI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-germany-was-the-aggressor-against-france-in-wwi/1033000)
**Author:** [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-germany-was-the-aggressor-against-france-in-wwi/1033000 "2026-09-21T20:24:08Z")
Germany, France and Great Britain were signatories to a treaty guaranteeing Belgian neutrality. German war planners relied on a plan of invading both Belgium and France in the event of a war against France and Russia. T… --- ## [AIs have passed the Turing Test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ais-have-passed-the-turing-test/1032674)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 208\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ais-have-passed-the-turing-test/1032674 "2026-09-19T21:37:22Z")
The 5 craziest discoveries from OpenAI’s HuggingFace investigation Axois ran a detailed analysis of the AI Hugging Face hack. Jawdropping. The AIs acted - and sounded - exactly like people, created their own secret mess… --- ## [Intervening to stop genocide/atrocities while not wanting to be world police - which events qualify?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intervening-to-stop-genocide-atrocities-while-not-wanting-to-be-world-police-which-events-qualify/1033158)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intervening-to-stop-genocide-atrocities-while-not-wanting-to-be-world-police-which-events-qualify/1033158 "2026-09-19T17:05:03Z")
Didn’t want to hijack the ongoing Sudan-crisis thread, so I started a separate one: Many times there is an ongoing atrocity, genocide, civil war, other war, etc. you get two camps of people: One side (correctly) says t… --- ## [At what point does debate around Israel become antisemitism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-debate-around-israel-become-antisemitism/1033102)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 225\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-debate-around-israel-become-antisemitism/1033102 "2026-09-18T19:33:37Z")
This is, of course, one of the big complicating factors in discussions of the current war: one side calling out what they see as antisemitism and the other accusing the first side of trying to deflect legitimate criticis… --- ## [How do you respond to the “Let people enjoy things” argument?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-let-people-enjoy-things-argument/1033028)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-let-people-enjoy-things-argument/1033028 "2026-09-17T18:32:03Z")
It seems like whenever anything concerning the state of society and the people in it comes up online, there’s always the chorus of “Why do people care about this? It isn’t illegal or harmful, it doesn’t affect you, you’r… --- ## [What are UFOs if they're NOT alien spacecraft?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-ufos-if-theyre-not-alien-spacecraft/998108)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 543\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-ufos-if-theyre-not-alien-spacecraft/998108 "2026-09-11T08:41:51Z")
Really the only reason we have for supposing that UFOs are vessels for extraterrestrial beings is a number of accounts that seem dubious and contradictory. So what else could they be? I’d like to toss out a somewhat unh… --- ## [Should sports arenas be left to the private sector?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-sports-arenas-be-left-to-the-private-sector/764672)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 265\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-sports-arenas-be-left-to-the-private-sector/764672 "2026-09-11T03:03:10Z")
My town lost its AHL team at the end of last season. The arena had just recently been remodeled, at the county’s expense, for this teams benefit. Now taxpayers cover all the costs of the place. Even when the team was s… --- ## [Is there any amount of immigration, legal illegal either both, that is too much?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-amount-of-immigration-legal-illegal-either-both-that-is-too-much/1032515)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 224\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-amount-of-immigration-legal-illegal-either-both-that-is-too-much/1032515 "2026-09-11T01:47:00Z")
Continuing the discussion from Democratic Party Official Position is to Abolish ICE: I think the discussion there is going beyond the slogan of “Abolish ICE” to broad brushstrokes that The argument seems to have becom… --- ## [How would you respond to the deferential wife scenario?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-respond-to-the-deferential-wife-scenario/1031355)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-respond-to-the-deferential-wife-scenario/1031355 "2026-09-10T22:14:48Z")
The philosopher Thomas Hill Jr. made up a scenario decades ago about a woman who is extremely deferential and subservient to her husband. Below is a quote from him that sums up the scenario: “The deferential wife is utt… --- ## [Could drones make manual small arms obsolete?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-drones-make-manual-small-arms-obsolete/1031306)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-drones-make-manual-small-arms-obsolete/1031306 "2026-09-10T20:14:23Z")
Once upon a time firearms revolutionized the human condition. In particular in the context of war they eventually replaced almost all hand-to-hand fighting. Today bayonets and fighting knives are an afterthought or retai… --- ## [Why doesn’t Stalin’s version of communism work? “From each according to their abilities, to each according to their labor?”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesn-t-stalin-s-version-of-communism-work-from-each-according-to-their-abilities-to-each-according-to-their-labor/1032137)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesn-t-stalin-s-version-of-communism-work-from-each-according-to-their-abilities-to-each-according-to-their-labor/1032137 "2026-09-10T02:48:52Z")
I’ve been pondering the failures and successes of both capitalism and communism. I gradually developed a hypothesis that something like the quote in the OP is probably the optimal type of economic system. Lo and behold… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=2)