# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=100 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 101 --- ## [Let a Tragedy be a Tragedy, what are your thoughts on this statement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-a-tragedy-be-a-tragedy-what-are-your-thoughts-on-this-statement/809526)
**Author:** [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-a-tragedy-be-a-tragedy-what-are-your-thoughts-on-this-statement/809526 "2018-02-26T20:24:49Z")
So I was debating with someone on the recent shooting and here is what they said: "As a resident of Florida, I have jurisdiction to say this; Let a tragedy be a tragedy. Stop trying to make a tragedy become a political… --- ## [Are Mormons Protestant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-protestant/808087)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-protestant/808087 "2018-02-26T20:10:25Z")
This is spinning off from a thread about evangelical Christians over on GQ. Are Mormons Protestant? Do they consider themselves Protestant? I’m neither Protestant nor Mormon and may not understand the theological issue… --- ## [An idiot told me why he doesn't support BLM](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiot-told-me-why-he-doesnt-support-blm/809622)
**Author:** [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiot-told-me-why-he-doesnt-support-blm/809622 "2018-02-26T20:09:52Z")
Here are his statements: I mock BLM for two things; they are trying to stop racism- even though they are acting more racist than the people they claim to be against- which appears to be complete hypocrisy, and they see… --- ## [Firearm Related Studies Vol 1: Gun Ownership as a Risk Factor for Homicide in the Home](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearm-related-studies-vol-1-gun-ownership-as-a-risk-factor-for-homicide-in-the-home/809213)
**Author:** [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearm-related-studies-vol-1-gun-ownership-as-a-risk-factor-for-homicide-in-the-home/809213 "2018-02-26T02:40:58Z")
The idea behind this thread is to discuss one specific firearm related study. Often threads about firearms meander a bit but for the purpose of this thread I’d like to focus on one specific study. There are many differ… --- ## [NRA letter: Intimidation, or politics as usual?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-letter-intimidation-or-politics-as-usual/809300)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-letter-intimidation-or-politics-as-usual/809300 "2018-02-25T23:22:12Z")
Here is a letter that the NRA sent to Wisconsin judicial candidates. It asks about their position on 2nd Amendment issues, then So, if you refuse to \[del\]testify before our Committee\[/del\]fill out our form, you can be… --- ## [Oregon first state to pass new guns laws after Florida shooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oregon-first-state-to-pass-new-guns-laws-after-florida-shooting/809452)
**Author:** [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oregon-first-state-to-pass-new-guns-laws-after-florida-shooting/809452 "2018-02-25T13:18:05Z")
Oregon has just passed legislation aimed at closing the “boyfriend” loophole in state laws. This legislation was submitted for consideration prior to the shooting in Florida, but the governor stated tonight on the Rachel… --- ## [Can someone break down this whole Nunes Memo thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308)
**Author:** [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Replies:** 559\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308 "2018-02-24T21:21:30Z")
Because all I’m hearing is the noise. Can someone lay out the basics of this for me? So, Nunes has a memo. (Um, I’ve got a whole stack of memos on my desk.) Start from the who what when where, please? The noise is a… --- ## [CNN Media, Can we Trust CNN?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-media-can-we-trust-cnn/809421)
**Author:** [@Hiero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiero)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-media-can-we-trust-cnn/809421 "2018-02-24T20:11:01Z")
CNN isn’t a reliable source in my opinion. My main issues with them “gun experts”. “• In Florida, you don’t need a permit to conceal carry a rifle or shotgun, although you do need it to conceal carry a handgun” http://… --- ## [The 2017/2018 Trump/GOP tax plan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2017-2018-trump-gop-tax-plan/797442)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 1302\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2017-2018-trump-gop-tax-plan/797442 "2018-02-24T20:02:24Z")
Well, they want to rewrite the tax laws. There are some details tho, or at least directions for details to go: I know that was a large quote, but I was trying to get as many details that had numbers as succinctly as… --- ## [Is mental health the real problem when it comes to mass shootings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mental-health-the-real-problem-when-it-comes-to-mass-shootings/808933)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mental-health-the-real-problem-when-it-comes-to-mass-shootings/808933 "2018-02-24T18:02:39Z")
I’ve seen numerous attempts on this board, on the internet in general, on the radio and on television to shift the blame from firearms to mental health and I would like to discuss that chain of thought in this thread. If… --- ## [Why do the bigwigs talk to the FBI?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-bigwigs-talk-to-the-fbi/807446)
**Author:** [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-bigwigs-talk-to-the-fbi/807446 "2018-02-23T20:44:52Z")
I don’t want this thread to get derailed into political squabbling. But in general, why don’t wealthy/powerful figures just plead the fifth when approached by the FBI for questioning? There is after all the phrase “perju… --- ## [How likely is it that all this was created by something evil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-all-this-was-created-by-something-evil/809000)
**Author:** [@Marcus\_Flavius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Flavius)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-all-this-was-created-by-something-evil/809000 "2018-02-23T18:49:11Z")
I look at this world from the viewpoint of wisdom; I see all the death, predation, pain, disease, filth, untold amounts of completely pointless suffering and so on. I do not believe that all this is the product of blind … --- ## [What to do about the Deepfake technology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-the-deepfake-technology/808108)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-the-deepfake-technology/808108 "2018-02-22T05:35:21Z")
The BBC have an article on Deepfake here. I’ve not seen any, so can’t comment on the quality or lack thereof, but I do remember the furore over the bad superposition of Lena Hedley’s face on top of a body double in GoT… --- ## [Trump money laundering thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-money-laundering-thread/808703)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-money-laundering-thread/808703 "2018-02-21T16:38:04Z")
I’ve spun this off of the Clusterfuck thread. I start this thread not in defense of Trump, but to put my own mind at ease. Trump’s sale of a Palm Beach estate for $100 million in 2008 to a Russian businessman has recen… --- ## [SNAP Budget Proposal - Is Individual Delivery of Food Packages Really Going to Save Money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snap-budget-proposal-is-individual-delivery-of-food-packages-really-going-to-save-money/808794)
**Author:** [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Replies:** 322\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snap-budget-proposal-is-individual-delivery-of-food-packages-really-going-to-save-money/808794 "2018-02-21T07:20:18Z")
The President’s budget, has this (from here) This seems like a good modification to the program if it will save ~12.9 billion a year as promised, but I feel like the analysis of the cost of deliveries must be faulty. O… --- ## [Suing the USA for gross negligence in ensuring our inalienable rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suing-the-usa-for-gross-negligence-in-ensuring-our-inalienable-rights/809126)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suing-the-usa-for-gross-negligence-in-ensuring-our-inalienable-rights/809126 "2018-02-21T04:18:39Z")
To start: IMNAL. Here in the US, we have “inalienable rights.” These “rights” may be more of just a “spirit of America” kind of thing, but they may have some legal foundation as well due to precedent. According to the D… --- ## [Donald Trump is a Punk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-a-punk/809139)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-a-punk/809139 "2018-02-20T23:17:24Z")
In the mid-1970s, a thitherto ignored genre of rock bands with a primitive, rowdy, rebellious bent struck a chord with their target audiences and gained worldwide exposure. By and large the musical perpetrators of “punk… --- ## [The Democratic party is changing on the issue of mistreatment of women; the Republican party is not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-party-is-changing-on-the-issue-of-mistreatment-of-women-the-republican-party-is-not/808442)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-party-is-changing-on-the-issue-of-mistreatment-of-women-the-republican-party-is-not/808442 "2018-02-20T12:10:42Z")
I recognize that as someone who favors the Democratic party, I may not be looking at this objectively. But there are a series of recent events that have lead me to the conclusion that, until recently, both parties routi… --- ## [Gender Segregation and the Olympics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-segregation-and-the-olympics/808719)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 129\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2018, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-segregation-and-the-olympics/808719 "2018-02-20T05:15:48Z")
Does anyone think it’s a bit archaic / old-fashioned / oppressive / untoward to still maintain separate gendered events (e.g. men’s and women’s snowboarding / alpine skiing / hockey) in the Olympics? I watched a bit of m… --- ## [Can firearms be classified and scheduled like drugs? (Or are they already?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-firearms-be-classified-and-scheduled-like-drugs-or-are-they-already/809145)
**Author:** [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2018, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-firearms-be-classified-and-scheduled-like-drugs-or-are-they-already/809145 "2018-02-20T04:15:48Z")
If all the guns disappeared tomorrow, I probably wouldn’t notice. They’re just not a big enough part of my life. But I am sensitive to people’s concern about the government interfering with what they consider important r… --- ## [Does living in a high density area cause people to vote Democratic? Or...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-living-in-a-high-density-area-cause-people-to-vote-democratic-or/808880)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-living-in-a-high-density-area-cause-people-to-vote-democratic-or/808880 "2018-02-19T22:30:08Z")
I think this may be better as a debate topic, although I’d like to think there’s some facts that would help answer the question, hence I post it here. It seems as if there’s a fairly strong positive correlation between… --- ## [Gate's Lawyer Problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gates-lawyer-problems/808983)
**Author:** [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gates-lawyer-problems/808983 "2018-02-19T14:18:05Z")
What is up with Rick Gates having problems with his lawyers? Dies it mean they found out he lied to them? That he won’t accept their advice to plead? That they are part of the deep state, pizza parlor, killed Vincent Fos… --- ## [Would "free college" work in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-free-college-work-in-the-us/808614)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-free-college-work-in-the-us/808614 "2018-02-17T04:08:18Z")
So what do you all think? What if anyone in the US who wants to go to college, and has the requirements like good grades, could get free tuition to college? Also how does this all work in other countries? Personally w… --- ## [Should we target ammo sales instead of gun sales for a solution to mass shootings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-target-ammo-sales-instead-of-gun-sales-for-a-solution-to-mass-shootings/808895)
**Author:** [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-target-ammo-sales-instead-of-gun-sales-for-a-solution-to-mass-shootings/808895 "2018-02-17T02:32:00Z")
I’m sure the push back would be comparable, but doesn’t it make more send to target ammo sales (as well as ammo component sales) to curb gun violence? By target, I mean creating an insane tax on the sale of ammo that mak… --- ## [Serious idea: survivors/families of mass shooting victims get same benefits and honors as veterans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-idea-survivors-families-of-mass-shooting-victims-get-same-benefits-and-honors-as-veterans/808873)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-idea-survivors-families-of-mass-shooting-victims-get-same-benefits-and-honors-as-veterans/808873 "2018-02-17T01:02:34Z")
This was RTFirefly’s idea, but I thought it was so good it deserved its own GD thread. If we’re not going to do anything to stop these sorts of tragedies, we may as well honor and materially support those most harmed by… --- ## [Praying in public, ashes, etc. and Matthew 6](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-in-public-ashes-etc-and-matthew-6/808850)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-in-public-ashes-etc-and-matthew-6/808850 "2018-02-16T23:20:42Z")
Seeing people with ashes on their heads today for Ash Wednesday reminded me of a question I have for observant Christians regarding that and other public displays of piety, prayers, etc. I read the four Gospels a while … --- ## [White Privilage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-privilage/808511)
**Author:** [@thatbpguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatbpguy)\ **Replies:** 329\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-privilage/808511 "2018-02-16T17:51:16Z")
I took wifey and a friend of hers to the Oregon Literary Arts presentation for an evening with poet Claudia Rankine. http://claudiarankine.com/ $80 each. Her talk came in 4 sections. The first was that we still live in… --- ## [Would you want to send your kid to a "Public School Social Justice Factory"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-send-your-kid-to-a-public-school-social-justice-factory/807982)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 343\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2018, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-send-your-kid-to-a-public-school-social-justice-factory/807982 "2018-02-15T09:25:53Z")
The above headline is from Drudge and itlinks to an article about the Edina Minnesota Public School system. Well its pretty charged and basically states: "The shift began in 2013, when Edina school leaders adopted the “… --- ## ["In Praise of Intolerance" (Slate article)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-intolerance-slate-article/808538)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2018, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-intolerance-slate-article/808538 "2018-02-15T01:21:44Z")
Not sure if a Doper already threaded this article or not: Almost a year ago, a Slate author (presumably a liberal,) penned an article “In Praise of Intolerance.” It’s long, so I’ll bullet-point the gist of it: \[ul\] \[l… --- ## [How About This To "End" Welfare](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-this-to-end-welfare/808612)
**Author:** [@thatbpguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatbpguy)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-this-to-end-welfare/808612 "2018-02-14T18:46:14Z")
This is certainly not a new idea and is being practiced in various ways around the world. The idea is to take all the money spent on every form of “welfare” and disperse it monthly to every person in the country. But th… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=99) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=101)