# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=219 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 220 --- ## [Were Biblical "miracles" knowingly manufactured or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-biblical-miracles-knowingly-manufactured-or-not/698455)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-biblical-miracles-knowingly-manufactured-or-not/698455 "2014-09-18T05:14:42Z")
In modernity we see case after case where people promoting various beliefs quite deliberately just make supernatural stuff up and somehow, over time, these claimed supernatural events get accepted as real by the groups i… --- ## [Should the US assist Matthew Miller in North Korea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-assist-matthew-miller-in-north-korea/698569)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-assist-matthew-miller-in-north-korea/698569 "2014-09-17T21:44:04Z")
Story here. Matthew Miller traveled to North Korea and promptly tore up his travel visa. According to the article, he shouted his desire to seek asylum. Additionally, he admitted in an interview that he was “prepared… --- ## [Wade Book "A Troublesome Inheritance" - science, or racism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wade-book-a-troublesome-inheritance-science-or-racism/697616)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wade-book-a-troublesome-inheritance-science-or-racism/697616 "2014-09-17T16:36:04Z")
\[A Troublesome Inheritance - Genes, Race and Human History\](A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History) has attracted a lot of hate. If you’re not familiar with it (and I haven’t read it), it was written b… --- ## [Worst political prediction](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-political-prediction/698195)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-political-prediction/698195 "2014-09-17T16:15:46Z")
With the current Scottish Independence poll and 7 years of Nationalist government in Scotland, the former NATO Secretary General George Robertson’s statement in 1995 that "devolution will kill nationalism stone dead" see… --- ## [Why exactly can't hospital price limits work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-exactly-cant-hospital-price-limits-work/697489)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-exactly-cant-hospital-price-limits-work/697489 "2014-09-17T04:21:03Z")
The usual economic argument is, “Price controls/ceilings are bad because they lead to shortages.” But: I can’t believe that a hospital can’t make ends meet unless they charge $20,000 for an appendectomy, $5,000 for s… --- ## [Can we increase the cost of acquiring hostages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-increase-the-cost-of-acquiring-hostages/698564)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-increase-the-cost-of-acquiring-hostages/698564 "2014-09-17T00:06:24Z")
is there a realistic way for the West to increase the cost of Middle Eastern terrorists acquiring hostages? My fantasy scenario involves the travel bans to all Middle Eastern countries for the purposes of journalism or … --- ## [ISIS is no worse than previous extremist groups](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isis-is-no-worse-than-previous-extremist-groups/698525)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isis-is-no-worse-than-previous-extremist-groups/698525 "2014-09-16T17:37:21Z")
The media seems to be hell bent on portraying ISIS / ISIL as some kind of terrorist super-villian group. The common trope seems to be that each successive extremist group is out doing the previous in extremism and crime… --- ## [Do protectionist policies benefit emerging economies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-protectionist-policies-benefit-emerging-economies/698544)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-protectionist-policies-benefit-emerging-economies/698544 "2014-09-16T13:03:50Z")
With my business background I’ve learned that open economies generally benefit everyone. However, finding myself in Asia, I notice that almost all the poorer countries have protectionist policies in place particularly i… --- ## [What's the chance this war succeeds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-chance-this-war-succeeds/698449)
**Author:** [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-chance-this-war-succeeds/698449 "2014-09-16T12:13:45Z")
The war with (or possibly “degradation of”) IS/ISIS/ISIL. Obama announced “America will be joined by a broad coalition of partners.” But will she? Germany has apparently no interest in participating in air strikes. B… --- ## [Can patriotism be logically justified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-patriotism-be-logically-justified/698381)
**Author:** [@MrLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrLee)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-patriotism-be-logically-justified/698381 "2014-09-15T20:39:47Z")
This business with Scotland has got me to thinking… My default position for many years has been that patriotism\*, at least as I understand the meaning of the word, is essentially a flawed way of thinking. (\*okay, let’s… --- ## [Obama's Speech About ISIL Tonight (9-10-14)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-speech-about-isil-tonight-9-10-14/698065)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-speech-about-isil-tonight-9-10-14/698065 "2014-09-14T23:32:43Z")
One day before 9/11/14, too… Anyway, Obama is speaking tonight about his plan to deal with ISIL (that’s the phrase the WH uses to describe ISIS/ISIL/IS). What should he say? What will he say? I wish he would say th… --- ## [Space migration by genetically engineered humans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-migration-by-genetically-engineered-humans/698210)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-migration-by-genetically-engineered-humans/698210 "2014-09-14T21:24:13Z")
What sort of genetic manipulation will be needed in order to colonize space ? I’m assuming that it will in the future be easier and more necessary to modify the genome than to modify the environment. How to cope with t… --- ## [Fermi Paradox](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fermi-paradox/697104)
**Author:** [@EndlessEntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EndlessEntropy)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fermi-paradox/697104 "2014-09-14T20:35:49Z")
Are we alone in the Universe? Given the size of the Universe and the countless stars, galaxies and potentially habitable planets, it seems inconceivable that there are no other life forms or civilizations out there. Howe… --- ## [What In The World Is Wrong With The UK? (Pedophilia and Child Abuse Over The Years)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-in-the-world-is-wrong-with-the-uk-pedophilia-and-child-abuse-over-the-years/696564)
**Author:** [@eman77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eman77)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-in-the-world-is-wrong-with-the-uk-pedophilia-and-child-abuse-over-the-years/696564 "2014-09-13T13:45:11Z")
This was the news story today This is of course coming shortly after the Jimmy Savile report (which is horrifying) and now there are a few more investigations similar to the Savile cases underway. What in the world … --- ## [Why didn't the Allies use the Holocaust for propaganda during the War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-allies-use-the-holocaust-for-propaganda-during-the-war/696953)
**Author:** [@1224rattusrattus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1224rattusrattus)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-allies-use-the-holocaust-for-propaganda-during-the-war/696953 "2014-09-13T01:40:21Z")
I’m not sure to what extent the Allies knew about the mass slaughtering of (mainly Jewish, Romany, Left Wing, Eastern European) civilians in the early years of the Second World War, though it seems logical that as time w… --- ## [What changed on the day the Ray Rice video went public?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-changed-on-the-day-the-ray-rice-video-went-public/698272)
**Author:** [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-changed-on-the-day-the-ray-rice-video-went-public/698272 "2014-09-12T23:08:09Z")
I don’t think this is a Game Room question, more about public perception, the nature of evidence, and logic. But Mods, feel free to move if this landed in the wrong place. Let me get this out of the way first: IMO Ray … --- ## [Questions about discrimination](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-discrimination/697763)
**Author:** [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-discrimination/697763 "2014-09-12T21:31:57Z")
I was reading about a group being discriminated against and how they wanted it to stop. Makes sense. There are fights against various forms of discrimination out there and some groups have seen great gains in this regard… --- ## [Ohio School Shooter - Moral/Legal Role of the Parents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-school-shooter-moral-legal-role-of-the-parents/614270)
**Author:** [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2014, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-school-shooter-moral-legal-role-of-the-parents/614270 "2014-09-12T07:22:40Z")
So, with another tragic school shooting in the books, I am wondering again if any official questions or blame will be directed at the shooter’s parents. So far, three kids are dead, and I have seen nothing about the kid… --- ## [What is the scientific explanation for why caucasian features are “objectively” the best looking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scientific-explanation-for-why-caucasian-features-are-objectively-the-best-looking/697145)
**Author:** [@Gorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorilla)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scientific-explanation-for-why-caucasian-features-are-objectively-the-best-looking/697145 "2014-09-12T03:01:45Z")
Coming across a webpage titled “The facial proportions of beautiful people” has made me to finally pose a question that I have often thought about but never asked. The entire tone of the article, the carefully chosen pic… --- ## [Why is the Jennifer Lawrence leak worse than the Anthony Weiner leak?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-jennifer-lawrence-leak-worse-than-the-anthony-weiner-leak/697328)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-jennifer-lawrence-leak-worse-than-the-anthony-weiner-leak/697328 "2014-09-11T04:37:03Z")
First, let me start off by saying that both acts were a gross violation of trust, and possibly illegal. That said, I don’t really get the differences in how the public is reacting to these to fairly similar incidents. … --- ## [Guys guys. I'm starting to stop thinking Jesus existed.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-guys-im-starting-to-stop-thinking-jesus-existed/672527)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 259\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-guys-im-starting-to-stop-thinking-jesus-existed/672527 "2014-09-11T00:45:58Z")
To state my claim more clearly: It is beginning to seem plausible to me that the evidence we have fails to suggest the existence of a man named Jesus and called The Christ living in the first third of the first century C… --- ## [Does Poverty Lead (Directly) to Crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-poverty-lead-directly-to-crime/698021)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-poverty-lead-directly-to-crime/698021 "2014-09-11T00:17:47Z")
A lot of people insist No. Poverty does not lead directly to crime, they say. Personally though, I believe definitely Yes, for one simple reason. You never see the Rockefellers robbing a liquor store, or stealing a loaf… --- ## ["Limitations on corporation's ability to free itself from legacy liabilities"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limitations-on-corporations-ability-to-free-itself-from-legacy-liabilities/697964)
**Author:** [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limitations-on-corporations-ability-to-free-itself-from-legacy-liabilities/697964 "2014-09-10T22:15:59Z")
Limitations on corporation’s ability to free itself from legacy liabilities Also, corporate spin-off avoided as fraudulent transfer The above give more details, but the short version is an energy and chemical company, … --- ## [Transsexual-Intersexualism The Truth Between My God And I](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transsexual-intersexualism-the-truth-between-my-god-and-i/698027)
**Author:** [@Halosweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Halosweb)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transsexual-intersexualism-the-truth-between-my-god-and-i/698027 "2014-09-10T02:04:49Z")
Why Fundamentalists Are Wrong About God in many cases, Religion (due to Inconsistencies of the Bible), and the LGBT Community. And now I will show how Evidence, Reasoning and Common Sense Will Justify These Means. Peopl… --- ## [Cyprus Dispute](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyprus-dispute/697881)
**Author:** [@Knowledgable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowledgable)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyprus-dispute/697881 "2014-09-09T21:52:22Z")
Very briefly, Cyprus has been divided for a long time, and while countries all around the world recognise Republic of Cyprus as the legitimate representative of the Cypriots and the de jure ruler of the island, the nort… --- ## [The Bible Is Full Of Shit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-is-full-of-shit/697986)
**Author:** [@Halosweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Halosweb)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-is-full-of-shit/697986 "2014-09-09T21:48:06Z")
Proves The Bible Is Wrong And Inconsistent Once Again, because the Bible said God cursed ONLY woman (He didn’t say anything about animals,) that she would give birth in pain. When God created animals, they were not alrea… --- ## [Is Using the Handicapped Stall Illegal (or Unethical)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-using-the-handicapped-stall-illegal-or-unethical/165636)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-using-the-handicapped-stall-illegal-or-unethical/165636 "2014-09-09T20:54:27Z")
I have to confess, sometimes the handicap stall of public restrooms looks tempting to use. It is spacious and comfortable. And plus, if you have alot of packages with you, and you have no one to leave them with, you can … --- ## [8 infants die in bombing of hospital in ISIS area](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-infants-die-in-bombing-of-hospital-in-isis-area/697686)
**Author:** [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-infants-die-in-bombing-of-hospital-in-isis-area/697686 "2014-09-09T18:34:12Z")
Eight newborns were among 18 civilians killed on Saturday when Iraqi warplanes hit a hospital in the northern town of Hawija, which is controlled by Islamic State militants, Iraqi media reported. At least 16 people we… --- ## [Should the government discriminate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-discriminate/696986)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-discriminate/696986 "2014-09-09T17:10:39Z")
Discrimination is a big topic that gets mentioned in a lot of debates, ranging from affirmative action to equal pay laws. I’d like to focus on a type of discrimination that gets less attention: age discrimination. Unli… --- ## [Are we at the beginning of a new arms race?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-at-the-beginning-of-a-new-arms-race/697649)
**Author:** [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-at-the-beginning-of-a-new-arms-race/697649 "2014-09-09T16:01:06Z")
Putin seems to be looking to expand the borders of Russia. NATO has lessened forces to be seemingly only a defense force. Is the NATO’s fear of Putin expanding his borders and Putin’s fear of a stronger NATO a catal… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=218) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=220)