# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=261 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 262 --- ## [DATELINE: Has Catching Perverts Gone too far? \[ed. title\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dateline-has-catching-perverts-gone-too-far-ed-title/427615)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 329\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dateline-has-catching-perverts-gone-too-far-ed-title/427615 "2013-09-13T02:56:58Z")
I was watching the Frontline sting operation, which has snagged over 21 creeps. The method is simple-a decoy pretends to be a 14 year old girl, and sets up an entry on MYSPACE. She pretents to be curious about sex, and (… --- ## [GOP Platform Officially Endorses Banning All Porn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-platform-officially-endorses-banning-all-porn/668313)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-platform-officially-endorses-banning-all-porn/668313 "2013-09-13T02:30:45Z")
The GOP official party platform on pornography has been altered this year. According to this article in Buzzfeed, it’s been altered to call for a ban on ALL pornography, instead of just child pornography. It was only a … --- ## [Are doctors at odds with dietitians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-at-odds-with-dietitians/668184)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-at-odds-with-dietitians/668184 "2013-09-13T01:42:36Z")
I was listening to the Dean Edell on the radio one day who was stating that a calorie is a calorie as far as weight loss is concerned and I recently read on Quora a comment from someone claiming to be a registered dietit… --- ## [Another 9/11 Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-9-11-question/668527)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-9-11-question/668527 "2013-09-12T16:28:55Z")
There have been a lot of news stories recently about the 9/11 attack. Each September there is a flurry of stories that come out trying to look at it from a different angle. From reading the stories and watching the TV … --- ## [Would telepathy save us or destroy us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-telepathy-save-us-or-destroy-us/667804)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-telepathy-save-us-or-destroy-us/667804 "2013-09-12T05:28:26Z")
Limited telepathy-You have to be able to physically see the person, you can only read their mind if you choose to do so, and you cannot block anyone from reading your mind. Would the loss of secrets and the revealing of… --- ## [The 3 decade US war on the middle east](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-3-decade-us-war-on-the-middle-east/668550)
**Author:** [@Gack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gack)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-3-decade-us-war-on-the-middle-east/668550 "2013-09-12T03:30:49Z")
We live in a world turned upside down, where for a nation that has gone half-way around the world to attack defenseless countries and has killed over a million people is now threatening to attack yet another country to … --- ## [I'm a Libby Lib who is starting to feel markedly different when it comes to foreign policy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-libby-lib-who-is-starting-to-feel-markedly-different-when-it-comes-to-foreign-policy/668401)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-libby-lib-who-is-starting-to-feel-markedly-different-when-it-comes-to-foreign-policy/668401 "2013-09-12T03:15:04Z")
No, it’s not just this Syria kerfuffle but that does sort of help clarify things for me. It started a long time ago when a few things occurred to me: As much as I loved being an American and I did feel that we, as a … --- ## [Are people who commit heinous crimes "evil"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-who-commit-heinous-crimes-evil/667570)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-who-commit-heinous-crimes-evil/667570 "2013-09-11T22:42:44Z")
I read that Ted Bundy (infamous serial killer) lacked a brain connection that nomrally enables people to create morality instincts. And when I think of child molesters, I wonder if they have their own mis-wiring that cre… --- ## [How did faith healers in ancient days do what they do](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-faith-healers-in-ancient-days-do-what-they-do/668447)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-faith-healers-in-ancient-days-do-what-they-do/668447 "2013-09-11T22:04:47Z")
I’m reading the book Zealot by Reza Aslan, in it he claims a lot of faith healers were walking around and operating in the Jerusalem area during Roman occupation around the time of Jesus. He claims people claiming to be … --- ## [Convince me I should believe in your god](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-i-should-believe-in-your-god/667033)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 220\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-i-should-believe-in-your-god/667033 "2013-09-11T12:16:30Z")
I invite any and all believers to put forth compelling reasons for me to believe in god. I am a hard case, but I will not be combative (just annoyingly passive-aggressive with my questions). Bear in mind that I have som… --- ## [Proselytizing.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proselytizing/668198)
**Author:** [@Longshanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longshanks)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proselytizing/668198 "2013-09-11T03:31:33Z")
Why do two of the three abrahamic religions give so many shits about converting others to their cause? CMIIAW but Judaism doesn’t try the whole convert the infidel thing by force if necessary, neither do the religions of… --- ## [A message to all atheists, unbelievers, and lukewarm christians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-all-atheists-unbelievers-and-lukewarm-christians/667164)
**Author:** [@jesusguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesusguy)\ **Replies:** 353\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-all-atheists-unbelievers-and-lukewarm-christians/667164 "2013-09-10T23:07:37Z")
Jesus is coming back someday and he’ll back like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2) We need to examine our lives and get serious. For those who haven’t you need to accept jesus as your savior and repent for your… --- ## [Ideology Affects Numeracy Skills (or Honesty)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideology-affects-numeracy-skills-or-honesty/668428)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideology-affects-numeracy-skills-or-honesty/668428 "2013-09-10T14:25:13Z")
Hat tip to Bryan Caplan, blogger for the Library of Economics and Liberty, for this story. In a nutshell, even people good with number and analytical skills seem to either lose those skills, or shade the results, when f… --- ## [Criticisims of Obama re: Syria.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criticisims-of-obama-re-syria/667810)
**Author:** [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criticisims-of-obama-re-syria/667810 "2013-09-10T12:27:13Z")
Which of these criticisms of Obama’s handling of Syria has not been made at some point? \[ul\] \[li\]Not speaking out soon enough about the atrocities\[/li\]\[li\]Speaking out to soon about the atrocities\[/li\]\[li\]Not taking mi… --- ## [NSA Undermines Internet Security](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-undermines-internet-security/668166)
**Author:** [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2013, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-undermines-internet-security/668166 "2013-09-10T11:10:38Z")
The latest in the string of dirty secrets oozing out of the agency: Remember all the buzz about the possibility of an “electronic Pearl Harbor”? Well, it turns out that the NSA has been clipping random wires in the rad… --- ## [If Consciousness is just a chemical reaction do you think we got Gypped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-consciousness-is-just-a-chemical-reaction-do-you-think-we-got-gypped/417993)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-consciousness-is-just-a-chemical-reaction-do-you-think-we-got-gypped/417993 "2007-09-07T04:10:40Z")
We agnostics, heck even we atheists have to wonder about consciousness from time to time. If I am sitting here in my Hobbit hole, looking out into the world - interpreting the weather the interactions between peoples and… --- ## [Are bans on gay conversion therapy constitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bans-on-gay-conversion-therapy-constitutional/667925)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bans-on-gay-conversion-therapy-constitutional/667925 "2013-09-09T23:55:47Z")
At least two states have enacted legal restrictions on gay conversion therapy. These aren’t complete bans but they are significant limitations. Supporters of gay conversion therapy argue that current practices are verba… --- ## [Is Russia/Iran/china bluffing about US military action in Syria?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russia-iran-china-bluffing-about-us-military-action-in-syria/668380)
**Author:** [@FarmerChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChuck)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russia-iran-china-bluffing-about-us-military-action-in-syria/668380 "2013-09-09T20:48:46Z")
Russia, Iran and china ( a little) have all said that if the us attacks Syrian chemical weapons, and delivery systems. That they will retaliate. I personally am 50/50 on this. It’s been a long time coming for a world war… --- ## [Excellent WaPo blog primer on the Syrian mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-wapo-blog-primer-on-the-syrian-mess/667743)
**Author:** [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2013, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-wapo-blog-primer-on-the-syrian-mess/667743 "2013-09-09T10:08:48Z")
With this blog post, Max Fisher has written an excellent non-partisan primer on the Syrian quandary for the average American reader. Explains why Russia and Iran Support Assad, why the civil war got so very much out … --- ## [Economic myths and fallacies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-myths-and-fallacies/667140)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 251\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-myths-and-fallacies/667140 "2013-09-08T21:32:16Z")
Muth: When you buy stocks, you put money in the stock market. This one is one that’s easily proven wrong, but that lots of people seem to believe implicity anyway. For example: When Stock Market Prices Drop , Where’s th… --- ## [3 deaths that would cause the most chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-deaths-that-would-cause-the-most-chaos/668195)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-deaths-that-would-cause-the-most-chaos/668195 "2013-09-08T14:15:31Z")
Say you’re an evil Bond villain, whose only goal is creating the maximum possible amount of death an destruction. In your skull-shaped moon base you’ve invented a device that can target and simultaneously terminate any t… --- ## [U.S. Navy should do more to fight high-seas piracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-should-do-more-to-fight-high-seas-piracy/348926)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-should-do-more-to-fight-high-seas-piracy/348926 "2013-09-07T04:45:42Z")
See this article: http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060318125209990004&\_ccc=3&cid=842 With the Navy virtually unchallenged on the high seas nowadays, this is just what I’d like to see it doing more of.… --- ## [Resolved: The US should bomb Syria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-us-should-bomb-syria/667695)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-us-should-bomb-syria/667695 "2013-09-07T04:08:37Z")
There are a number of terrible arguments for US military action IMHO, but I maintain that Assad’s use of chemical weapon presents a security challenge that requires a high level response. I am, however, open to diplomati… --- ## [How will we pay for the Syria quagmire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-we-pay-for-the-syria-quagmire/667972)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-we-pay-for-the-syria-quagmire/667972 "2013-09-07T03:21:58Z")
If there is to be war, there will be bills. Note the US is scheduled to hit its controversial debt ceiling sometime in October. How can the US pay for even ‘limited strikes’? I’d rather not cut anything to bomb Syria- I… --- ## [Why don't people believe in God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766)
**Author:** [@Timo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timo)\ **Replies:** 849\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766 "2013-09-07T00:09:23Z")
Just out of curiosity, why don’t people believe in God? I’m interested in your personal experiences or just events that prevents your belief. The reason I’m asking is because why wouldn’t people want to have a relations… --- ## [Brit Dopers: Is your country really that uptight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dopers-is-your-country-really-that-uptight/664221)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dopers-is-your-country-really-that-uptight/664221 "2013-09-06T21:07:47Z")
Regarding David Cameron’s plan to block all pornography by default. I thought that the whole English uptight, repressed thing was just an antiquated stereotype. You’re the country with Page 3 girls, for god’s sake! Has … --- ## [Evolution (uh-oh)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-uh-oh/667512)
**Author:** [@Reziark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reziark)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-uh-oh/667512 "2013-09-06T19:37:52Z")
After watching many videos of Richard Dawkins using laymen’s terms to describe the evolutionary process, I decided it was time to turn to a more… informative side of the inter-webs. Most of those videos end with the fam… --- ## [Are US leaders hypocritical wanting to bomb Syria to save the children, contd, in thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-leaders-hypocritical-wanting-to-bomb-syria-to-save-the-children-contd-in-thread/667976)
**Author:** [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-leaders-hypocritical-wanting-to-bomb-syria-to-save-the-children-contd-in-thread/667976 "2013-09-06T15:10:44Z")
Are US leaders hypocritical wanting to bomb Syria to “save the children”, when they did nothing to stop the Rawanda genocide, the mass slaughter in Darfur, the war in Sudan, carried out an illegal war in Iraq justified b… --- ## [Why is belief so important in Christianity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-belief-so-important-in-christianity/668025)
**Author:** [@madmelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmelon)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-belief-so-important-in-christianity/668025 "2013-09-06T14:53:03Z")
Why is there so much importance placed on the positive \*\*belief \*\*in Jesus as a divine being and that he died for our sins? Why won’t someone be “saved” if they are open to the idea but would just like some hard evidence… --- ## [What's up with the DoJ suit re: Louisiana school vouchers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-doj-suit-re-louisiana-school-vouchers/668173)
**Author:** [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-doj-suit-re-louisiana-school-vouchers/668173 "2013-09-06T14:41:18Z")
My understanding is that private school vouchers are being made available mostly to black students in largely white, in some cases “failing,” public schools in Louisiana. The reason they’re mostly available to black kids… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=260) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=262)