# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=205 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 206 --- ## [what were the long term effects of the Crusades?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-long-term-effects-of-the-crusades/711789)
**Author:** [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2015, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-long-term-effects-of-the-crusades/711789 "2015-02-08T09:52:55Z")
It’s clear to me that the Crusades affected history in many ways. Many of them are listed here. But what isn’t clear to me is whether these same developments would have likely happened had there been no decision to lau… --- ## [The Nuremberg Trials and ex post facto justice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nuremberg-trials-and-ex-post-facto-justice/711980)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nuremberg-trials-and-ex-post-facto-justice/711980 "2015-02-08T01:42:44Z")
I have an ignorant layman question: Did the Nazis ever use the following logic/argument at the Nuremberg Trials ? “What we did technically wasn’t illegal at the time (the Holocaust was perfectly “legal” in Nazi Germany… --- ## [UK law sez: mommy and daddy and baby and donor makes 4](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-law-sez-mommy-and-daddy-and-baby-and-donor-makes-4/711809)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-law-sez-mommy-and-daddy-and-baby-and-donor-makes-4/711809 "2015-02-07T14:52:11Z")
A Bold Move, says UK public health minister: I’m not sure I can even anticipate the results. I don’t say that to indicate my opposition to the change, which I think has some very valid and beneficial effects for humani… --- ## [Should US media outlets play ISIS execution videos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-us-media-outlets-play-isis-execution-videos/711886)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-us-media-outlets-play-isis-execution-videos/711886 "2015-02-07T07:06:52Z")
Fox News recently played the video of ISIS murder-by-fire of the Jordanian pilot. One Fox News talking head says they shouldn’t have done so, while another says they should, likening it to having the opportunity during … --- ## [American dopers, what is your opinion of Americans fighting with Kurds against ISIS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-what-is-your-opinion-of-americans-fighting-with-kurds-against-isis/711847)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-what-is-your-opinion-of-americans-fighting-with-kurds-against-isis/711847 "2015-02-06T23:43:54Z")
I just saw this short clip of an American who is fighting alongside Kurdish forces against ISIS. There have been a lot of news reports about people from Europe and elsewhere joining ISIS but I hadn’t heard of non-local v… --- ## [Why in WW2 did the French scuttle their warships rather than turn them over to BritainF](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-ww2-did-the-french-scuttle-their-warships-rather-than-turn-them-over-to-britainf/711563)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-ww2-did-the-french-scuttle-their-warships-rather-than-turn-them-over-to-britainf/711563 "2015-02-06T22:32:10Z")
I saw Churchhills deadly decision a few weeks ago about how in 1940 after the French surrendered to the nazis, churchhill gave the French navy an ultimatum. Either join us, give us (or the US) your warships to hold until… --- ## [Stop using Social Security numbers for everything](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-using-social-security-numbers-for-everything/711919)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-using-social-security-numbers-for-everything/711919 "2015-02-06T20:36:13Z")
Data breaches happen every few months. Social Security numbers are one of the most common things stolen. Unless it is specifically required by law companies need to find other identifiers. My college had its own ID nu… --- ## [Syria: Is there any way this can end well?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-is-there-any-way-this-can-end-well/611919)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 180\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-is-there-any-way-this-can-end-well/611919 "2015-02-06T19:19:36Z")
That is, can the present situation end with the Assad regime gone, without any really horrible stuff along the way or after, like a really bloody civil war, or ethnic strife/ethnic cleansing? Libya was a simpler social … --- ## [Copyright Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question/711031)
**Author:** [@AdamF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdamF)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question/711031 "2015-02-06T18:57:49Z")
Can somebody help me justify protecting derivative works? So if you write a novel, you also own rights to plays or films based on that novel, and you own rights to all translations of the novel. The way I look at it, t… --- ## [Has technological progress in the last 30 years been faster than the previous 30?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-technological-progress-in-the-last-30-years-been-faster-than-the-previous-30/710988)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-technological-progress-in-the-last-30-years-been-faster-than-the-previous-30/710988 "2015-02-06T16:18:04Z")
I’ve read some claims that the rate of technological progress is accelerating, so, if the claim is true, this means that it has been faster from 1980 to 2015 than from 1945 to 1980. I’m interested to know what people th… --- ## [Handwashing regulations, optional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handwashing-regulations-optional/711871)
**Author:** [@butterfiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butterfiles)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handwashing-regulations-optional/711871 "2015-02-05T17:02:08Z")
Can anyone here in their right mind make a case supporting this? --- ## [Isn't the FDA Claim Contradictory (Re: Health Foods)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-the-fda-claim-contradictory-re-health-foods/711088)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-the-fda-claim-contradictory-re-health-foods/711088 "2015-02-05T14:03:49Z")
I hope GD is the proper place for this. Because this isn’t just an opinion or a poll. It is a legitimate question, because I am confused:confused:. Everyone is familiar with the FDA warning all health food products have… --- ## [Thinking Like a Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-like-a-conservative/711338)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 162\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-like-a-conservative/711338 "2015-02-05T03:01:41Z")
This explains a lot about how RW Americans and the rest just seem to talk past each other in different languages. It’s a series of blog posts at The Nation by Rick Perlstein, who is also the author of \*Before the Storm:… --- ## [Jesse Ventura was right to sue the estate of Chris Kyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-ventura-was-right-to-sue-the-estate-of-chris-kyle/701346)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-ventura-was-right-to-sue-the-estate-of-chris-kyle/701346 "2015-02-05T00:28:53Z")
This isn’t a topic that I imagine will garner much interest, but I’ve followed it some and a few things have stood out, two in specific: The facts unambiguously make Chris Kyle out to be a liar who enriched himself ba… --- ## [With 70 years of hindsight has nuclear deterrence worked in terms of preventing global scale wars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-70-years-of-hindsight-has-nuclear-deterrence-worked-in-terms-of-preventing-global-scale-wars/710437)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-70-years-of-hindsight-has-nuclear-deterrence-worked-in-terms-of-preventing-global-scale-wars/710437 "2015-02-04T22:34:38Z")
It’s been about 70 years since the end of WWII and the introduction of nuclear weapons. With 70 years of history to review has the proliferation of nuclear weapons helped to prevent large scale “global” wars or not in th… --- ## [Resolved: antisemitism is not directly comparable to anti-black racism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-antisemitism-is-not-directly-comparable-to-anti-black-racism/709431)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-antisemitism-is-not-directly-comparable-to-anti-black-racism/709431 "2015-02-04T14:38:14Z")
In another thread, several people have either implied or outright claimed that prejudice against and oppression of Jews is analogous to prejudice against and oppression of African Americans. I think that’s a terrible an… --- ## [How did the axis powers last so long in WW2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-axis-powers-last-so-long-in-ww2/709858)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-axis-powers-last-so-long-in-ww2/709858 "2015-02-04T13:11:41Z")
I may have asked this question in the past. I can’t find it in search though. My question is how exactly did the axis powers last for 6 years in WW2? The axis powers consisted mostly of Germany, Japan and Italy. Italy w… --- ## [So how do you feel about paid parental leave?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-feel-about-paid-parental-leave/710882)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 254\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-you-feel-about-paid-parental-leave/710882 "2015-02-03T19:57:40Z")
Prez Obama says US should have paid parental leave (The headline in the above article has “maternity leave”, but President Obama has emphasized the need for both parents to be at home with the baby.) I am not sure how… --- ## [Putin's Russia.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putins-russia/711491)
**Author:** [@pdunderhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdunderhill)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putins-russia/711491 "2015-02-03T16:16:18Z")
Hello good people, I’m curious, how may we best describe the current s/State of Russia. To whit, an Oligarchy, a Plutocracy, Kleptocracy or maybe a good old fashioned benign dictatorship. What is the current, proper d… --- ## [Ruminations on bigotry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruminations-on-bigotry/711333)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruminations-on-bigotry/711333 "2015-02-03T12:35:55Z")
Some of y’all may be aware of a minor kerfuffle involving a malcontent over in ATMB who’s got a bug up his butt about bigotry. That thread got closed, but a suggestion was made that a thread about bigotry might be better… --- ## [Democrats' latest tax proposal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-latest-tax-proposal/710075)
**Author:** [@Westward1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Westward1)\ **Replies:** 373\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-latest-tax-proposal/710075 "2015-02-03T01:57:54Z")
I have a question about the Democrats’ latest tax proposal: The proposal seems to reflect the middle-out (rather than top-down) approach to economic growth as articulated by Robert Reich and others. The proposal rais… --- ## [If we're going to adopt net neutrality rules, might as well and save Blackberry while we're at it!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-were-going-to-adopt-net-neutrality-rules-might-as-well-and-save-blackberry-while-were-at-it/710593)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-were-going-to-adopt-net-neutrality-rules-might-as-well-and-save-blackberry-while-were-at-it/710593 "2015-02-02T21:30:54Z")
John Chen, CEO of struggling Blackberry, has asked Obama in an open letter to extend the idea of net neutrality beyond the ISP’s to the mobile app developers as well, requiring that all apps be made available on all mo… --- ## [What was the worst ECONOMIC feature of the 20th century communist states?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-economic-feature-of-the-20th-century-communist-states/711362)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-economic-feature-of-the-20th-century-communist-states/711362 "2015-02-02T14:22:33Z")
Ignoring political repression, as well as the effects of communist economic policies, what was the worst economic policy implemented by the USSR, China under Mao, etc.? I am not really looking for things like Lysenkoism… --- ## [The implications of hell.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-implications-of-hell/707904)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 223\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-implications-of-hell/707904 "2015-02-01T04:44:40Z")
Not all religions teach that there is a place of eternal suffering for those who fail to maintain their moral or religious obligations. And even for religions that generally do, there are sects that do not. But there are… --- ## [Former Supreme Court Justice Convinced By Book That Texas Executed An Innocent Man in 1989](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-supreme-court-justice-convinced-by-book-that-texas-executed-an-innocent-man-in-1989/711163)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-supreme-court-justice-convinced-by-book-that-texas-executed-an-innocent-man-in-1989/711163 "2015-01-31T10:29:51Z")
Anybody read this book? Was it convincing? --- ## [Loretta Lynch -- USAG confirmation hearings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretta-lynch-usag-confirmation-hearings/711345)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretta-lynch-usag-confirmation-hearings/711345 "2015-01-30T19:59:28Z")
She’s holding her own very well so far. Against some . . . completely irrelevant witnesses, is the kindest way to put it. But, it ain’t entirely boring . . . --- ## ["... mine hour is not yet come." And yet:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mine-hour-is-not-yet-come-and-yet/711347)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mine-hour-is-not-yet-come-and-yet/711347 "2015-01-30T18:52:08Z")
How about a discussion on the subject of the implications of a Divine Will? Of course the more typical one is about how all sorts of tragedies can be part of a divine plan. Catholic theology, and presumably Orthodox as… --- ## [ISIS beheads Japanese reporter. Repurcussions in Japanese policies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isis-beheads-japanese-reporter-repurcussions-in-japanese-policies/710844)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isis-beheads-japanese-reporter-repurcussions-in-japanese-policies/710844 "2015-01-30T02:54:17Z")
ISIS recently beheaded a Japanese reporter after asking for $200 million. The Japanese reporter thought his being Japanese would somehow give him immunity to the issues involved. My question. Will this change Japan’s pa… --- ## [can vegetarians eat beef broth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001 "2015-01-28T22:21:04Z")
If not, why? Beef broth has no meat in it, it’s made from the bones. --- ## [Socialism + Rage Against the Machine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socialism-rage-against-the-machine/611288)
**Author:** [@GeddyClaypoolBurton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeddyClaypoolBurton)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socialism-rage-against-the-machine/611288 "2015-01-28T19:43:37Z")
Recently I’ve been listening to the records by the titular rap-rock group, and I have been very impressed with their musicianship, especially with the innovative guitar playing. At the heart of the band, though, lies lyr… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=204) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=206)