# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=15 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 16 --- ## [Why does everything have to be so polarized these days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everything-have-to-be-so-polarized-these-days/998918)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 219\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everything-have-to-be-so-polarized-these-days/998918 "2024-04-21T20:35:01Z")
I’ve noticed in recent years that everything seems to be becoming dramatically more polarized, and I’m being expected to “pick a side” more and more. I mean, it’s not like someone can have a middle of the road position … --- ## [Can we induce morality in sea monkeys?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-induce-morality-in-sea-monkeys/59604)
**Author:** [@Wabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wabbit)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-induce-morality-in-sea-monkeys/59604 "2024-04-17T16:33:06Z")
The question of whether or not morality can be induced in another species has troubled me for some time. In an attempt to answer this question, I performed an experiment on some sea monkey’s I happened to aquire (note: I… --- ## [How far does the “My life or theirs” argument go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-does-the-my-life-or-theirs-argument-go/1000211)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-does-the-my-life-or-theirs-argument-go/1000211 "2024-04-15T14:24:08Z")
Most people believe it would be morally right and justified to kill someone to save yourself or someone else because it’s basic self defense whether the person you’re killing did anything or not. What about the moral pe… --- ## [Have political purges ever succeeded for a society?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-political-purges-ever-succeeded-for-a-society/999195)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-political-purges-ever-succeeded-for-a-society/999195 "2024-04-11T05:52:41Z")
To start, I am NOT advocating for purges of any sort. I was wondering if a political purge has ever achieved the goals they set out to do? Certainly, they are often a means to keep power for those few at the top. But,… --- ## [It's "almost impossible to go near the sun"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-almost-impossible-to-go-near-the-sun/1000095)
**Author:** [@BorealisCooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorealisCooper)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-almost-impossible-to-go-near-the-sun/1000095 "2024-04-10T14:43:02Z")
So how possible is it, and how near can I get in my Plymouth Satellite ? At least it’s not going to tip over like the Island of Quam. --- ## [The Panama Papers - Mossack Fonseca leak](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-panama-papers-mossack-fonseca-leak/751136)
**Author:** [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-panama-papers-mossack-fonseca-leak/751136 "2024-04-09T13:21:06Z")
A German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung, just released the “Panama Papers”. A 2.6 terabyte document dump exposing over two hundred thousand of offshore shell companies. USA Today is also reporting on this story. A mu… --- ## [Nuclear-fusion power plants](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-fusion-power-plants/933368)
**Author:** [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Replies:** 148\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-fusion-power-plants/933368 "2024-04-08T17:39:07Z")
How far away are we from building functional fusion power plants? When we do, what will happen to the current big energy suppliers (e.g. oil, natural gas, coal)? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/02/road-map-us-fusio… --- ## [Novel Concept for Sharing Land in Israel/Palestine\`](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novel-concept-for-sharing-land-in-israel-palestine/999802)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novel-concept-for-sharing-land-in-israel-palestine/999802 "2024-04-05T14:11:35Z")
First things first. I put Israel first because it’s first alphabetically in English. I may have floated this idea on the SDMB before but don’t recall and really don’t feel like searching for it, mainly because I’m sure … --- ## [Money for peace - proposal for peace in the Middle East](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-for-peace-proposal-for-peace-in-the-middle-east/999638)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-for-peace-proposal-for-peace-in-the-middle-east/999638 "2024-04-03T00:30:11Z")
This all obviously couldn’t even start until the current war ends, but let’s assume (and hope) that it ends soon. Let’s pay for peace. For a nice round number, let’s assume there are ten million Israelis and five millio… --- ## [How long will life on this planet be possible for in your estimation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-life-on-this-planet-be-possible-for-in-your-estimation/996808)
**Author:** [@philipdalton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/philipdalton)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-life-on-this-planet-be-possible-for-in-your-estimation/996808 "2024-04-02T16:49:46Z")
How long will it be before everything just gets burnt to a frazzle? --- ## [Viability of a two state Israel Palestine solution in the moderate term](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-a-two-state-israel-palestine-solution-in-the-moderate-term/996923)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 215\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viability-of-a-two-state-israel-palestine-solution-in-the-moderate-term/996923 "2024-03-29T20:15:44Z")
Pulling out from here. Let’s, I hope start out agreeing that it should be the goal, assuming security for all involved is adequately assure. Gaza is going to be hard pressed to rebuild and the mutual security trust tha… --- ## [Parliamentary dormitories in Sweden?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parliamentary-dormitories-in-sweden/999207)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parliamentary-dormitories-in-sweden/999207 "2024-03-25T22:37:01Z")
Last night I came across this video on YouTube and fell down a rabbit hole. So Sweden gives MPs free flats if they don’t already live in Stockholm, but it’s basically student housing. Some flats are even in the Riksdag i… --- ## [Alabama declares frozen embryos to be children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-declares-frozen-embryos-to-be-children/997883)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 195\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-declares-frozen-embryos-to-be-children/997883 "2024-03-22T17:01:28Z")
I’d like to discuss the implication of the Alabama court ruling that frozen embryos are children. I’m also interested if Dopers know whether this is appealable. Some implications, off the top of my head: IVF is dead … --- ## [Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award-Has it been corrupted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-award-has-it-been-corrupted/998972)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-award-has-it-been-corrupted/998972 "2024-03-22T03:08:09Z")
An award originally intended to honor women that have accomplish great things when it comes to human rights is going this year to Musk, Murdoch, Milken, Stallone and Martha Stewart. Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch among RBG A… --- ## [Why do so many people still believe in God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965)
**Author:** [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Replies:** 703\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965 "2024-03-21T20:03:16Z")
I’m sure this has been discussed many times here, but I just got back from a weekend in the mountains of North Carolina and was reminded of just how many people believe in the Jesus story (and other versions by culture/r… --- ## [Consensual incest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-incest/463709)
**Author:** [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-incest/463709 "2024-03-20T19:41:57Z")
\[Hope this is the right forum; mods, please move if not. Thanks.\] Read this in the Sunday Times yesterday, about a girl who had sex with her brother several times in their teens. Responses seem to be divided between ‘… --- ## [Towards a New (at this point, alternative) Conservatism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towards-a-new-at-this-point-alternative-conservatism/999018)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towards-a-new-at-this-point-alternative-conservatism/999018 "2024-03-19T05:10:48Z")
We, the (hypothetical) EvenNewer conservatives, ascribe to the following: • That compassion for our neighbor and fellow-traveler is ideally volitional and actively participatory; and that taxing and redistributing takes… --- ## [Resolved: The United States should significantly reduce the number and severity of laws against recreational drugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-united-states-should-significantly-reduce-the-number-and-severity-of-laws-against-recreational-drugs/920360)
**Author:** [@Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada_Jr)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-united-states-should-significantly-reduce-the-number-and-severity-of-laws-against-recreational-drugs/920360 "2024-03-18T13:58:35Z")
The Black Lives Matters movement has generated a call to action: Defund Police. This seems to me a bad slogan, because it does not really capture what the movement leaders want to happen, and it stiffens resistance in … --- ## [Why does everything have to be so polarized now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everything-have-to-be-so-polarized-now/998881)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everything-have-to-be-so-polarized-now/998881 "2024-03-15T19:37:18Z")
I’ve noticed in recent years that everything seems to be becoming dramatically more polarized, and I’m being expected to “pick a side” more and more. I mean, it’s not like someone can have a middle of the road position … --- ## [Why is wasting entire days on shows or sports fine, but too much video gaming is stigmatized?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-wasting-entire-days-on-shows-or-sports-fine-but-too-much-video-gaming-is-stigmatized/997999)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-wasting-entire-days-on-shows-or-sports-fine-but-too-much-video-gaming-is-stigmatized/997999 "2024-03-15T16:57:28Z")
As someone who tries to limit time wasting activities and be more productive, have more motivation and so on, I decided to drastically lower my video game time. From a few hours every day, to maybe an hour or two every f… --- ## [What happen to Brazil and Argentina why is there so much poverty and class struggle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happen-to-brazil-and-argentina-why-is-there-so-much-poverty-and-class-struggle/997777)
**Author:** [@Jackson99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackson99)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happen-to-brazil-and-argentina-why-is-there-so-much-poverty-and-class-struggle/997777 "2024-03-14T18:00:34Z")
I hear there is lot of corruption in Brazil and Argentina could that be why there is a lot of poverty and social inequality. What happen to Brazil and Argentina that they not like Sweden or Denmark and other first world… --- ## [Roman Polanski Redux](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-polanski-redux/788618)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-polanski-redux/788618 "2024-03-13T23:46:48Z")
Samantha Geimer, the victim, is pleading for the court to end the sex assault case against Roman Polanski. She is asking the judge to either sentence him to the six weeks he already served, or just dismiss it outright. … --- ## [Economic Wargames](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-wargames/24483)
**Author:** [@dal\_timgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dal_timgar)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-wargames/24483 "2024-03-13T18:01:42Z")
How many economists with PhDs does it take to do grammar school algebra? Unknown, we don’t have enough yet. Economic Wargames The following essay is about the economic system of the world today. One of … --- ## [AI Generated Art Is No Different Than Photography](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-generated-art-is-no-different-than-photography/998444)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-generated-art-is-no-different-than-photography/998444 "2024-03-11T15:13:06Z")
AI Generated Art is a hot button issue in the cyber spaces I frequent. The argument goes AI is trained on the artistic styles of real people which then can generate art like that person but isn’t copyrighted. A human a… --- ## [Help me refine my definition of dumb](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-refine-my-definition-of-dumb/997518)
**Author:** [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2024, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-refine-my-definition-of-dumb/997518 "2024-03-11T05:47:11Z")
I wasn’t sure if this was the proper forum, but I assure you I don’t consider this frivolous. Let me start with my hypothesis: Most people are dumb. As in a large majority. It’s a major reason Trump gets tens of mill… --- ## [If being short meant being a minority, and having minority status](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-being-short-meant-being-a-minority-and-having-minority-status/995674)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-being-short-meant-being-a-minority-and-having-minority-status/995674 "2024-03-10T14:20:21Z")
So I’m reading this book called Slay, and so far I’m riveted. It’s about a teenage Black girl, who creates an MMORPG exclusively for Black\* players. A lot of stuff happens, but what I’m on about is when the main characte… --- ## [Historical debate : did Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to mecca in 1324 eventually lead to the annexation of Africa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-debate-did-mansa-musas-pilgrimage-to-mecca-in-1324-eventually-lead-to-the-annexation-of-africa/998475)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-debate-did-mansa-musas-pilgrimage-to-mecca-in-1324-eventually-lead-to-the-annexation-of-africa/998475 "2024-03-09T12:30:27Z")
Ok in 1324 the emperor of Mali Mansa Musa who was considered a devout Moslem and historically the richest ruler of the world went on a hajj to Mecca that was so financially legendary it made history and is still disc… --- ## [Is self-immolation an effective means of protest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-self-immolation-an-effective-means-of-protest/998117)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-self-immolation-an-effective-means-of-protest/998117 "2024-03-03T23:14:18Z")
An active US Air Force member set himself on fire and perished this morning outside the Isreali Embassy in DC. He died. His protest was against Isreal’s attacks on Gaza and the Palestenians there. The practice goes … --- ## [I've developed an algorithm that predicts the future of mankind...and it doesn't look good](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-developed-an-algorithm-that-predicts-the-future-of-mankind-and-it-doesnt-look-good/997730)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-developed-an-algorithm-that-predicts-the-future-of-mankind-and-it-doesnt-look-good/997730 "2024-02-27T16:06:33Z")
Ok, not really. But I’ve started watching Apple TV’s “Foundation” series based off of the classic Isaac Asimov books where mathematician Hari Seldon develops his “psychohistory” (a sort of mishmash of chaos theory, pred… --- ## [The Census and the Definition of Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-and-the-definition-of-human/964062)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-and-the-definition-of-human/964062 "2024-02-21T04:32:07Z")
The Census is used to decide political power. It does this by counting all humans inside the different states. Human is undefined. We have, for example, the proposed law in Louisiana that would make it a homicide to en… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=16)