# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=10 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 11 --- ## [We need to get far more serious about organized cyber-crime scamming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-get-far-more-serious-about-organized-cyber-crime-scamming/1014274)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-get-far-more-serious-about-organized-cyber-crime-scamming/1014274 "2025-03-12T05:24:21Z")
The Economist Magazine had a cover story on 8 Feb 2025 entitled Scam Inc. Organized crime associated with cyberscams extracts $50 billion per year from American citizens. Cybercrime rivals the illegal drug industry in si… --- ## [Is "Murc's Law" real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-murcs-law-real/1014974)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-murcs-law-real/1014974 "2025-03-11T04:53:18Z")
Mentioned here: You’ve Probably Never Heard of “Murc’s Law”, But You’ve Seen It in Action Lots of Times | Whereof One Can Speak :ukraine: “Murc’s Law is “the widespread assumption that only Democrats have any agency or… --- ## [How do we get humanity to sacrifice for the greater good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-get-humanity-to-sacrifice-for-the-greater-good/1013736)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-get-humanity-to-sacrifice-for-the-greater-good/1013736 "2025-03-06T01:57:57Z")
This Tumblr post (and the comments and tags in its reblogs) got me thinking about this. Obviously, we saw during the pandemic that there was a lot of reluctance to give up luxuries in order to help others people, perhap… --- ## [What would a modern left/right American Civil War look like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-modern-left-right-american-civil-war-look-like/1014207)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-modern-left-right-american-civil-war-look-like/1014207 "2025-03-02T21:39:26Z")
We tend to think of the US as being comprised of red states and blue states, but in truth, this perception is created from a winner-take-all election process. It’s more accurate to think of it as a “purple America” — the… --- ## [If Trump ignores judges and Congress remains supine, should we consider the Constitution a dead letter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-ignores-judges-and-congress-remains-supine-should-we-consider-the-constitution-a-dead-letter/1014249)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2025, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-ignores-judges-and-congress-remains-supine-should-we-consider-the-constitution-a-dead-letter/1014249 "2025-03-01T07:41:43Z")
For myself, I think so. If the president just ignores the checks and balances placed on the executive by the courts, then the only remedy is impeachment. If the congress refuses to act, then what? I think this would s… --- ## [An argument against DEI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-argument-against-dei/1013954)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 434\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-argument-against-dei/1013954 "2025-02-28T20:13:03Z")
This term is used by the right as something to oppose, an acronymed boogyman to rally against. My proposal is that when they use the term, we insist that they use the actual words, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and a… --- ## [Are we ready to fully automate air traffic control](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-ready-to-fully-automate-air-traffic-control/1013685)
**Author:** [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-ready-to-fully-automate-air-traffic-control/1013685 "2025-02-25T21:15:19Z")
Is technology now good enough to fully automate the US air traffic control system? I strongly doubt it, but I wanted to give better informed Dopers a place to chime in. I didn’t want this topic to distract from the threa… --- ## [Should Canada Quit the Five Eyes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-canada-quit-the-five-eyes/1013323)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-canada-quit-the-five-eyes/1013323 "2025-02-25T21:08:29Z")
The Five Eyes is an intel-sharing group: Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Why should Canada be sharing national security intel with the United States, the country that now poses the greates… --- ## [Are teenagers who claim to be trans just acting out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teenagers-who-claim-to-be-trans-just-acting-out/1006960)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 230\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teenagers-who-claim-to-be-trans-just-acting-out/1006960 "2025-02-10T20:15:14Z")
From I disagree. I would like examples of what you see as attention seeking or getting away with misbehavior. I’m far from the most read up on the current youth perspective on sexuality and sexual identity. But I do … --- ## [How well integrated is the Palestinian population in Chile](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-integrated-is-the-palestinian-population-in-chile/1013996)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-integrated-is-the-palestinian-population-in-chile/1013996 "2025-02-08T20:51:35Z")
Chile has a half million Palestinians living there. My understanding is that when Palestinians live in other middle eastern nations they tend to live as second class citizens and there are issues with terrorism and viole… --- ## [Is there a downside to legalized sports betting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-downside-to-legalized-sports-betting/1007310)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-downside-to-legalized-sports-betting/1007310 "2025-02-08T18:24:45Z")
Missouri voters are voting on a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting this November. I’m not sure what the BFD here is. Missourians have been quasi-legally betting on sports for as long as there have been … --- ## [Will effective weight loss drugs change beauty standards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-effective-weight-loss-drugs-change-beauty-standards/1012025)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-effective-weight-loss-drugs-change-beauty-standards/1012025 "2025-02-06T18:48:41Z")
Part of beauty is objective and is based on signals of health and fertility. Those aren’t going to change anytime soon. Handsome men have better health and better genes than ugly men, while young and attractive women are… --- ## [So, what is the way forward on the Health Care front in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-way-forward-on-the-health-care-front-in-the-us/1009874)
**Author:** [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-way-forward-on-the-health-care-front-in-the-us/1009874 "2025-02-05T20:13:26Z")
With Trump coming into power, I think Biden’s temporary increase of ACA subsidies will expire after 2025. This will make a lot of people drop out of the exchanges, and will increase the ranks of the uninsured. Trump’s … --- ## [Have any governments transitioned from democracy to authoritarianism via the judiciary or legislative branch, not the executive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-governments-transitioned-from-democracy-to-authoritarianism-via-the-judiciary-or-legislative-branch-not-the-executive/1013850)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-governments-transitioned-from-democracy-to-authoritarianism-via-the-judiciary-or-legislative-branch-not-the-executive/1013850 "2025-02-04T04:10:11Z")
A lot of nations are currently or in the past have undergone democratic backsliding where the nation becomes more and more authoritarian and inhumane. But from what I can tell, pretty much every example is spearheaded b… --- ## [Why only 10% on China and 25% against Canada and Mexico?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-10-on-china-and-25-against-canada-and-mexico/1013783)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-10-on-china-and-25-against-canada-and-mexico/1013783 "2025-02-02T22:13:32Z")
Is it because Canada and Mexico is seen as weak and can be easily preyed upon? And China can put up a fight and maybe has (COVID 1.2 million US deaths, more US corps offshoring then in any time in US history after Turmp… --- ## [Can someone explain the hype around China's deepseek?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-hype-around-chinas-deepseek/1013498)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-hype-around-chinas-deepseek/1013498 "2025-01-31T23:37:48Z")
So my understanding is DeepSeek is comparable to maybe OpenAIs o1. Does it have reasoning skills or is it more like GPT-4? My understanding is they trained it with far less money, less computation and less hardware than… --- ## [Is it Time to Tone Down the Wokeness, Especially about the Past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-tone-down-the-wokeness-especially-about-the-past/1010287)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 1060\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-tone-down-the-wokeness-especially-about-the-past/1010287 "2025-01-27T17:06:50Z")
Now, don’t freak out on me. I know that racism and sexism are bad, and we need to stand up to it, and keep fighting. I understand that. Anyone who saw the election unfold knows that. I know that Maga people, for the … --- ## [Why is a newspaper is protected by the 1st amendment but an app is not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-newspaper-is-protected-by-the-1st-amendment-but-an-app-is-not/1013089)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-newspaper-is-protected-by-the-1st-amendment-but-an-app-is-not/1013089 "2025-01-26T15:09:03Z")
So keeping this somewhat generic as it’s obviously triggered by the TikTok ban, but don’t want it to be discussion of TokTok and whether it deserves a ban… It’s pretty clear that publications such as newspapers and book… --- ## [How can Trump get around the 14th Amendment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trump-get-around-the-14th-amendment/1011368)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 269\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trump-get-around-the-14th-amendment/1011368 "2025-01-24T22:58:53Z")
On “Meet The Press” this morning Trump said that “birthright citizenship” will most definitely end, despite the fact that it is constitutionally guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/08/… --- ## [Does the Texas Sovereignty Act claim to render the U.S. Supreme Court moot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-texas-sovereignty-act-claim-to-render-the-u-s-supreme-court-moot/1012118)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-texas-sovereignty-act-claim-to-render-the-u-s-supreme-court-moot/1012118 "2025-01-24T21:08:00Z")
Reported on here: Texas Sovereignty Act would allow Texas to declare federal actions unconstitutional Under Texas Senate Bill 80, the Texas Sovereignty Act, “The bill would create a bi-partisan joint committee to review… --- ## [Russian/Chinese trolls, or what? (economic criticisms on other internet sources)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-chinese-trolls-or-what-economic-criticisms-on-other-internet-sources/1013296)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-chinese-trolls-or-what-economic-criticisms-on-other-internet-sources/1013296 "2025-01-24T20:20:47Z")
So in the last few years, I’ve seen some thoughts that are springing up on Reddit with respect to economic issues. They generally take two forms: Capitalism is failing (“late stage capitalism”) , and corporations/CEOs… --- ## [Is it inevitable one of these freed J6ers attacks a Democratic politician?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-inevitable-one-of-these-freed-j6ers-attacks-a-democratic-politician/1013214)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-inevitable-one-of-these-freed-j6ers-attacks-a-democratic-politician/1013214 "2025-01-24T17:49:53Z")
By freeing even the ones convicted of violent offenses hasn’t he just told a radical group of people they are free to commit violence in his name with no repercussions? It seems inevitable they or someone inspired by the… --- ## [Are Department Stores Dinosaurs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-department-stores-dinosaurs/293078)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-department-stores-dinosaurs/293078 "2025-01-23T22:52:01Z")
Reecently, MACY’s (Federated Department Stores) has announced its intention to acquire the MAY Co. chain (including FILENE’s Dept. stores. This seems to me to be evidence that the decline of the department store is accel… --- ## [British law enforcement, Peelian Principles and the underclasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-law-enforcement-peelian-principles-and-the-underclasses/1011895)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2025, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-law-enforcement-peelian-principles-and-the-underclasses/1011895 "2025-01-23T10:09:35Z")
When Sir Robert Peel founded what is considered to be the first modern municipal police force in London, he had to overcome a historical aversion towards standing law enforcement– an aversion so strong that originally pr… --- ## [Would it be justified to remove the negative aspects of human nature entirely through fantastical means?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-justified-to-remove-the-negative-aspects-of-human-nature-entirely-through-fantastical-means/1011273)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-justified-to-remove-the-negative-aspects-of-human-nature-entirely-through-fantastical-means/1011273 "2025-01-22T23:46:55Z")
In my ideal post scarcity utopia mental and physical disease wouldn’t exist and people would be prevented from harming others or breaking whatever laws still exist by superhuman robots that can intervene anywhere within … --- ## [Is there any benefit to employing someone who's in National Guard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-benefit-to-employing-someone-whos-in-national-guard/1012869)
**Author:** [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-benefit-to-employing-someone-whos-in-national-guard/1012869 "2025-01-20T18:08:25Z")
When I think of all the instances of states employing NG–distributing food, border patrol, riots, fires, etc. why would any employer hire them, knowing they would have to pay them without them doing their job for extend… --- ## ["The American Civil War wasn't about slavery because slavery didn't actually exist in the South"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-civil-war-wasnt-about-slavery-because-slavery-didnt-actually-exist-in-the-south/1013037)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-civil-war-wasnt-about-slavery-because-slavery-didnt-actually-exist-in-the-south/1013037 "2025-01-17T19:36:08Z")
I remember seeing this quote a year ago in one of those “In defense of the Confederacy” books but I didn’t bother to actually read what they meant. I know even on the SDMB I’ve seen people semantically argue that slaver… --- ## [Why \*would\* an actual meritocracy be bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-an-actual-meritocracy-be-bad/990291)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 213\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-an-actual-meritocracy-be-bad/990291 "2025-01-15T16:10:31Z")
In this thread: @LSLGuy says: A meritocracy sounds nice until you realize how few people have great merit. Or more accurately, given the uneven distribution of inherent merit (brains, ambition, wisdom, ethics) acros… --- ## [Do we even know what consciousness is at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-even-know-what-consciousness-is-at-all/1011812)
**Author:** [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Replies:** 328\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2025, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-even-know-what-consciousness-is-at-all/1011812 "2025-01-09T06:01:32Z")
Continuing the discussion from Do you have an inner voice?: I disagree with this. Consciousness is no more mysterious (or misty) than the square root of negative one. It is complicated and a little difficult to suss, b… --- ## [CRM in the Operating Room](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crm-in-the-operating-room/1005944)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2025, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crm-in-the-operating-room/1005944 "2025-01-08T04:27:53Z")
Over in the Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread (Part 2), @Llama\_Llogophile posted: That strikes me as a very interesting discussion to be had. Given the comment about frustration and power dynamics, I think this s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=11)