# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=215 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 216 --- ## [Do global warming "skeptics" honestly see us as a benign species?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-global-warming-skeptics-honestly-see-us-as-a-benign-species/677984)
**Author:** [@eg8576736](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eg8576736)\ **Replies:** 775\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-global-warming-skeptics-honestly-see-us-as-a-benign-species/677984 "2014-10-25T00:05:00Z")
In the context of modern industrial life, does anyone claim that these problems are primarily caused by an agent other than Man? air pollution aka smog water pollution, plus damming and diversion of rivers deforestati… --- ## [Should the US officially recognize itself as a bilingual state?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-officially-recognize-itself-as-a-bilingual-state/702250)
**Author:** [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-officially-recognize-itself-as-a-bilingual-state/702250 "2014-10-24T21:03:00Z")
I was born in NYC, to a multilingual family. My grandparents spoke Slovak, and my aunt’s family (my father’s brother’s wife, who took care of me when my mother was either teaching or working on her doctorate) spoke Yiddi… --- ## [How will robotics transform the Army?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-robotics-transform-the-army/701405)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-robotics-transform-the-army/701405 "2014-10-24T18:46:40Z")
Earlier this year news articles mentioned that the Army plans to replace about a quarter of its people with robots. U.S. Army general says robots could replace one-fourth of combat soldiers by 2030 - CBS News My questio… --- ## [Why didn't Congress call Obama out on his violation of the War Powers Act in Libya?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-congress-call-obama-out-on-his-violation-of-the-war-powers-act-in-libya/702078)
**Author:** [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-congress-call-obama-out-on-his-violation-of-the-war-powers-act-in-libya/702078 "2014-10-24T04:46:18Z")
Why didn’t they? --- ## [Pharmaceutical companies are holding back cures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmaceutical-companies-are-holding-back-cures/701848)
**Author:** [@exile3D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exile3D)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmaceutical-companies-are-holding-back-cures/701848 "2014-10-24T00:18:50Z")
We all know that the big 3 “bad” companies in the world are pharmaceutical companies, oil companies and arms manufactures its common knowledge that those 3 profit the most from ongoing wars all over the world so just f… --- ## [How concerned should we be about Ebola now that it is in the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214 "2014-10-23T23:41:48Z")
And what steps should we take to prevent it’s spread? This is an a really nasty virus, and extremely deadly. Incubation periods, as I understand it, can be weeks, with no signs of infection. The Powers that Be (I’m not … --- ## [Is distilled true evil existent in today's society?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-distilled-true-evil-existent-in-todays-society/701978)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-distilled-true-evil-existent-in-todays-society/701978 "2014-10-23T12:08:20Z")
So I’ve been mulling over this question and there’s not anything empirical I can think to search for to answer it besides something that would sound like “this part of the brain lights up when X happens,” and I figured I… --- ## [How to deal with sexual assault on campus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-sexual-assault-on-campus/701565)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-sexual-assault-on-campus/701565 "2014-10-23T04:44:21Z")
A few months back I started this thread to discuss the new policies concerning rape and sexual assault that the Obama Administration and some state legislatures are forcing colleges and universities to adopt. I started … --- ## [Does the point in time when life emerged suggest it as a common occurrence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-point-in-time-when-life-emerged-suggest-it-as-a-common-occurrence/701818)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-point-in-time-when-life-emerged-suggest-it-as-a-common-occurrence/701818 "2014-10-22T21:11:17Z")
I’ve heard that life emerged on the earth about 1 billion years after it was formed and began cooling. Based on the circumstances of that time, as well as the timing of the event itself, do we have any hypothesis on wh… --- ## [Blackwater should be shut down and prosecuted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-should-be-shut-down-and-prosecuted/472760)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackwater-should-be-shut-down-and-prosecuted/472760 "2014-10-22T19:37:21Z")
cite I have long thought that this organization was nothing but a glorified attempt to pass of killing and mayhem as a legitimate capitolist enterprise, and we’ve certainly seen other Blackwater incidents in the past t… --- ## [Child support amounts are grossly unfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-support-amounts-are-grossly-unfair/690478)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 247\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-support-amounts-are-grossly-unfair/690478 "2014-10-22T14:20:17Z")
This popped up in my news feed yesterday. Its an article detailing how Halle Berry was ordered to pay her ex-husband, a Canadian model, the sum of $16000 per month for their 6 year old daughter Nahla\*. The cost of rais… --- ## [Fellow atheists: help me explain to believers that our morality is NOT faith based.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-atheists-help-me-explain-to-believers-that-our-morality-is-not-faith-based/700684)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-atheists-help-me-explain-to-believers-that-our-morality-is-not-faith-based/700684 "2014-10-22T03:49:24Z")
In a thread I started yesterday about an atheist at a Christian funeral, it has been asserted that atheists’ morality (or ethics, if you prefer) is as faith-based as that of Christians. This is a … vexing … assertion whi… --- ## [Review finds no mention of Christ in ancient texts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-finds-no-mention-of-christ-in-ancient-texts/700003)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-finds-no-mention-of-christ-in-ancient-texts/700003 "2014-10-21T17:10:59Z")
Basically, this guy combed through ancient texts from around the time Christ allegedly lived and found no evidence supporting the claim that this person existed, deity or not. Now, I’m no expert when it comes to hist… --- ## [The concept of a philosophical zombie makes no sense to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-a-philosophical-zombie-makes-no-sense-to-me/700348)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 269\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-a-philosophical-zombie-makes-no-sense-to-me/700348 "2014-10-21T16:45:52Z")
It is defined as a thought experiment in that it is a being that appears for all purposes to have a “soul” or consciousness, but it really doesn’t. It seems like saying that rock might appear to be a rock under the stri… --- ## [There will be another ice age. True? (Yes, true...but when?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-another-ice-age-true-yes-true-but-when/701561)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-another-ice-age-true-yes-true-but-when/701561 "2014-10-21T05:40:35Z")
Was watching a show on the Science Channel tonight and one of the people on the show said something like ‘one thing is true…there will be another ice age sometime in the Earth’s future’. It got me wondering…what affect,… --- ## [What is "nothing"? Is it "something"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nothing-is-it-something/701825)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-nothing-is-it-something/701825 "2014-10-20T18:10:24Z")
I put this in GD because it has to do with the beginning of our universe. I was watching ‘The Unbelievers’ on Netflix, and \*\*I’m pretty sure \*\*there was a brief clip of Lawrence Krauss on ‘The Colbert Report’ claiming t… --- ## [Why are chemical weapons worse than explosives or guns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chemical-weapons-worse-than-explosives-or-guns/701323)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chemical-weapons-worse-than-explosives-or-guns/701323 "2014-10-20T17:00:39Z")
Nuclear weapons can kill millions. So can biological weapons, if they start an epidemic. But let’s just address chemical weapons alone in and of themselves, for a moment. Why was it a big deal when Saddam gassed the Kur… --- ## [I find parts of Africa cultural practices annoying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-find-parts-of-africa-cultural-practices-annoying/701397)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-find-parts-of-africa-cultural-practices-annoying/701397 "2014-10-20T16:23:31Z")
http://online.wsj.com/articles/some-ebola-stricken-african-families-pay-bribes-for-fake-death-records-1413153854 :smack: Look I don’t care if I grew up in a culture that says unless every family member including toddle… --- ## [Why the US left Iraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-us-left-iraq/690750)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-us-left-iraq/690750 "2014-10-20T06:32:16Z")
Obama is getting criticized for the situation in Iraq from several quarters. Not interested in what the US should or could do in the present situation. Some criticism is about “Obama withdrew American troops from Iraq, n… --- ## [Why are religions more stable and long-lasting than other human created institutions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-religions-more-stable-and-long-lasting-than-other-human-created-institutions/701635)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-religions-more-stable-and-long-lasting-than-other-human-created-institutions/701635 "2014-10-20T02:06:55Z")
It seems as human institutions go, religions last a long time. Longer than companies, political parties, even nations. Why is this? Why isn’t there a greater turnover of religions? --- ## [Does political clout for black people correlate to worse quality of life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-political-clout-for-black-people-correlate-to-worse-quality-of-life/701508)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2014, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-political-clout-for-black-people-correlate-to-worse-quality-of-life/701508 "2014-10-19T06:21:39Z")
Here’s an article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/10/15/black-politics-an-excerpt-from-please-stop-helping-us-by-jason-l-riley/ It argues that a focus on political power is misplaced, because historically (si… --- ## [City subpoenas pastors' sermons in equal rights ordinance case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-subpoenas-pastors-sermons-in-equal-rights-ordinance-case/701347)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-subpoenas-pastors-sermons-in-equal-rights-ordinance-case/701347 "2014-10-19T05:13:22Z")
I find it deeply troubling that this even occurred in America. It’s such a flagrant violation of the 1st amendment. I guess it’s a reminder just how easily what some take for granted can be lost. http://www.chron.com/ne… --- ## [Why are young black men in the US 21X more likely to be killed by police than young white men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-young-black-men-in-the-us-21x-more-likely-to-be-killed-by-police-than-young-white-men/701156)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 439\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-young-black-men-in-the-us-21x-more-likely-to-be-killed-by-police-than-young-white-men/701156 "2014-10-18T16:06:26Z")
I’ve brought up the statisticsin various threads about possible excessive police force towards young black men. This disparity is huge – far larger than the differences in crime statistics. Are there any possible expla… --- ## [Book Review - "Your God Is Too Small"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-review-your-god-is-too-small/701031)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-review-your-god-is-too-small/701031 "2014-10-18T13:51:54Z")
I was poking around in a Salvation Army store (I had to get a pair of overalls for a costume, dammit, and they had a pair), when I came across this book sitting on the counter by the checkout stand. “Your God Is Too Sma… --- ## [Why do conservatives run the government better than every other group?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-conservatives-run-the-government-better-than-every-other-group/701632)
**Author:** [@Cardboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardboard)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-conservatives-run-the-government-better-than-every-other-group/701632 "2014-10-18T00:46:39Z")
Not saying I agree with the above. But such one-sided claims are great fodder for debate. I like watching people debate. Have at it. --- ## [Greenwald: "Endless war is official US policy"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greenwald-endless-war-is-official-us-policy/701209)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greenwald-endless-war-is-official-us-policy/701209 "2014-10-17T18:52:59Z")
"In May, 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on whether it should revise the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF). A committee member asked a senior Pentagon official, Assistant Secretary … --- ## [If it really wanted to could the US take over the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-it-really-wanted-to-could-the-us-take-over-the-world/651092)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-it-really-wanted-to-could-the-us-take-over-the-world/651092 "2014-10-17T17:23:54Z")
Assuming the following counter factual conditions, The US government decides it really wants to take over the world. This change in US policy is instantaneous and is not visible to the world at large until concrete ste… --- ## [Why is the DEA trying to override my doctor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-dea-trying-to-override-my-doctor/701459)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-dea-trying-to-override-my-doctor/701459 "2014-10-17T14:58:41Z")
Hello Everyone, This might turn out to be more of a rant than I intend, but the SD had always been a good place to vent. As some of you know I’m a chronic pain patient. Over the last ten years I’ve been on every pain… --- ## [Should the United Negro College Fund turn down the gift from the Koch brothers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-united-negro-college-fund-turn-down-the-gift-from-the-koch-brothers/690199)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 229\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-united-negro-college-fund-turn-down-the-gift-from-the-koch-brothers/690199 "2014-10-17T13:28:58Z")
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/262109971.html If I recall, there was a call for Catholic University of America to reject a $1 million donation they made last year. Should universities not accept students… --- ## [Hitler's practical reason for killing the Jews](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitlers-practical-reason-for-killing-the-jews/700168)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitlers-practical-reason-for-killing-the-jews/700168 "2014-10-17T06:57:29Z")
Growing up in the US, I learned that Hitler killed the Jews and other minorities because he was an evil person and needed a scapegoat. However recently I got to talk to a German guy who made a more practical case for Hi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=214) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=216)