# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=270 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 271 --- ## [Why no Black or Asian UK royals ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-black-or-asian-uk-royals/663935)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-black-or-asian-uk-royals/663935 "2013-07-21T14:17:01Z")
Is there still the assumption, as there was just a few short years ago when the British Empire was still an active force, that dark foreigners are inherently inferior, and therefore have no place within the royal family … --- ## [What would happen if a country was suddenly vacant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-country-was-suddenly-vacant/663930)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-country-was-suddenly-vacant/663930 "2013-07-21T12:19:59Z")
Pick whichever you like-China, the US and so on would be the most seismic in the effects I’d think, but in general what would happen if one day, all of the people in a country just vanished. No zombies, no aliens, not Ra… --- ## [If Barack Obama really was from Kenya...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-barack-obama-really-was-from-kenya/662860)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-barack-obama-really-was-from-kenya/662860 "2013-07-21T03:07:39Z")
I was reading a humour piece elsewhere on the internet the other day which made reference to the whole “Barack Obama is really from Kenya!” nonsense. Since I’m not American, the fact people apparently took the notion se… --- ## [The more intelligent an animal is, the more wrong is it to eat it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-intelligent-an-animal-is-the-more-wrong-is-it-to-eat-it/580194)
**Author:** [@SyuRi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SyuRi)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-intelligent-an-animal-is-the-more-wrong-is-it-to-eat-it/580194 "2013-07-20T12:33:03Z")
I watched a documentary yesterday, The Cove, about a massacre of dolphins that was happenning in Taiji. Even though their method of killing was absurdly horrific, i wondered myself if it would still be wrong to eat dolph… --- ## [Sequel to Egypt: Now What? Civil War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequel-to-egypt-now-what-civil-war/663112)
**Author:** [@David\_H\_Singanas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_H_Singanas)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2013, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequel-to-egypt-now-what-civil-war/663112 "2013-07-20T09:59:04Z")
In yesterday’s N.Y. Times, the letters column showed strong reactions to David Brooks’ essay “Defending the Coup.” \[N.Y.T. 7-5-13\] Well the military claims it is not a coup, that President Mohammed Morsi is under … --- ## [Where are the upper and lower boundaries of the American middle class?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-upper-and-lower-boundaries-of-the-american-middle-class/663888)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-upper-and-lower-boundaries-of-the-american-middle-class/663888 "2013-07-20T06:24:15Z")
This thread is getting a little mired in the question. Who is middle-class in America and who is not? Are you middle-class if you are an adult with an income of $50,000? $150,000? $250,000? What about $25,000? $15,… --- ## [North Korea - Why aren't we focused on helping them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-why-arent-we-focused-on-helping-them/663467)
**Author:** [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-why-arent-we-focused-on-helping-them/663467 "2013-07-20T06:16:41Z")
North Korea is a horrible dystopia. It is basically a slave state, ruled by a mad family. Except with slaves, the masters at least mostly feed them. With the propaganda, the concentration camps, etc, it is not incomparab… --- ## [Report says 7% of US households paid a bribe within the last year. Valid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-says-7-of-us-households-paid-a-bribe-within-the-last-year-valid/663819)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-says-7-of-us-households-paid-a-bribe-within-the-last-year-valid/663819 "2013-07-20T05:28:56Z")
This is a continuation of this GQ thread. Transparency International (TI) reported that 7% of US households claim they paid a bribe within the past year. This is less corrupt than most countries and more corrupt than mos… --- ## [Mermaids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaids/663391)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaids/663391 "2013-07-19T22:22:54Z")
I think I know how this is going to go, but… A friend of mine, at dinner, was telling me all about mermaids, from some tv show. Discovery Channel? History Channel? Science Channel? Anyway… Photographic evidence, fi… --- ## [Anthropology, archaeology, history, psychology, and religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropology-archaeology-history-psychology-and-religion/663771)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropology-archaeology-history-psychology-and-religion/663771 "2013-07-19T21:54:26Z")
I know people who are very intelligent, very knowledgeable, and very religious, so I don’t doubt that it’s possible to have all these qualities at the same time. But I wonder how they do it. And for Dopers who have all… --- ## [Should extended family give stepchildren the same gifts as their biological kin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-extended-family-give-stepchildren-the-same-gifts-as-their-biological-kin/663182)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-extended-family-give-stepchildren-the-same-gifts-as-their-biological-kin/663182 "2013-07-19T20:43:35Z")
My initial opinion was vehemently in favor of that proposition, meaning that I was rather irked when my wife’s grandmother continued to send gifts to the two younger children we have had together, but not my kids from a … --- ## [Mental illness is exaggerated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522)
**Author:** [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Replies:** 511\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522 "2013-07-19T16:09:02Z")
I believe psychiatry tries to take every little human quirk that makes humans, humans and tries to call it a mental illnesses. They do this because most psychiatrists are mentally ill themselves and it makes them feel b… --- ## [Rule Changes In Great Debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-in-great-debates/526517)
**Author:** [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-in-great-debates/526517 "2013-07-18T16:38:44Z")
There is currently an open discussion regarding changes or additions to rules regarding Great Debates in the ATMB forum. What rule changes would you propose to strengthen/improve GD? Everyone is welcome to participate. … --- ## [Prediciting the result by the end of Arab Summer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediciting-the-result-by-the-end-of-arab-summer/663511)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediciting-the-result-by-the-end-of-arab-summer/663511 "2013-07-18T15:27:05Z")
Weather is tough to predict in Spring and Arab Springs are perhaps not much different. But longer term, like climate, may be a different beast. Some factors to consider - Arab Oil as a vital resource is winding down, e… --- ## [Science: How many advancements have been made because someone doubted the bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-how-many-advancements-have-been-made-because-someone-doubted-the-bible/663734)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-how-many-advancements-have-been-made-because-someone-doubted-the-bible/663734 "2013-07-18T04:01:10Z")
I’m not trying to imply that all the worlds famous scientist were Atheist. But clearly, they never considered the bible to be the absolute truth. Is it a fair statement to say that all the greatest advancements in scien… --- ## [The F.E.D. Psychohistorical Equations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-e-d-psychohistorical-equations/663520)
**Author:** [@MiguelDetonacciones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MiguelDetonacciones)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-e-d-psychohistorical-equations/663520 "2013-07-18T02:36:29Z")
Eight of the core rules of the F.E.D. “rules-system”, or “axioms-system”, for their “First Psychohistorical Algebra”, which answer your questions, were given in a letter dd. 09 June 2009, by Aoristos Dyosphainthos – ht… --- ## [What, exactly, is pleasure and pain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-pleasure-and-pain/662260)
**Author:** [@confission](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/confission)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-pleasure-and-pain/662260 "2013-07-17T18:46:44Z")
This is somewhat of a continuation of the thread I created in 2009 (what does a sperm feel? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board). Sorry for the late response. I did spend some more time thinking about this al… --- ## [In Defense of an Independent Judiciary in Egypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-an-independent-judiciary-in-egypt/663732)
**Author:** [@David\_H\_Singanas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_H_Singanas)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2013, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defense-of-an-independent-judiciary-in-egypt/663732 "2013-07-17T06:38:38Z")
According to the Kirkpatrick/Fahim report \[N.Y. Times 7-16-13\] the Army plan is for a committee of 10 select jurists to emend the Morsi Constitution which will then be submitted to an appointed constituent assembly f… --- ## [Does "recreational" rioting exist outside Northern Ireland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-recreational-rioting-exist-outside-northern-ireland/663426)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-recreational-rioting-exist-outside-northern-ireland/663426 "2013-07-17T02:31:54Z")
I’m putting this in GD as it is at heart a political question but there may well be a GQ answer. In Northern Ireland, dotted on the yearly calendar are days of events wherein “recreational” rioting often occurs. During M… --- ## [Did Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle Murder Virginia Rappe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-roscoe-fatty-arbuckle-murder-virginia-rappe/62904)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-roscoe-fatty-arbuckle-murder-virginia-rappe/62904 "2013-07-16T20:02:33Z")
Ahh, the rarity. A planned debate amongst Dopers. Since this is my one thousandth Posting here, I’ll throw down the glove and let the Debate begin. I hereby assert that Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle did NOT murder Virgina Rap… --- ## [Religious fads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-fads/663076)
**Author:** [@Longshanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longshanks)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-fads/663076 "2013-07-16T17:38:20Z")
Are religions fads just like certain hairstyles and clothes but instead of lasting a couple of years they usually last centuries or even millenniums. I mean they always change and maybe that’s why some people are finally… --- ## [Vaccines, parte une mille](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-parte-une-mille/663335)
**Author:** [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccines-parte-une-mille/663335 "2013-07-16T02:42:40Z")
So, some “alternative medicine” focused people on Facebook are linking to articles which link back to this 2011 paper by Lucija Tomljenovic, Ph.D. The short version is that governments have been covering up the dangers o… --- ## [Peoples hang ups with science, what gives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peoples-hang-ups-with-science-what-gives/661721)
**Author:** [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peoples-hang-ups-with-science-what-gives/661721 "2013-07-16T02:01:08Z")
The world we live in is dominated by science at essentially every level imaginable. Ignore the cars, roads, computers, coffee makers, medicine and all the other obvious advances in technology for now. Every single bite … --- ## [Red Pill vs. Blue Pill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-pill-vs-blue-pill/663578)
**Author:** [@yottaflop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yottaflop)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-pill-vs-blue-pill/663578 "2013-07-15T18:49:51Z")
Which pill would you prefer to take? Please indicate your response here: \[\[LINK DELETED\]\] I will post my thoughts on the topic after I have gathered more responses. --- ## [Generalizations/-isms: grey area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generalizations-isms-grey-area/663523)
**Author:** [@MissWarbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissWarbler)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generalizations-isms-grey-area/663523 "2013-07-15T18:47:21Z")
I’ve been thinking a lot recently, in light of this current infamous case that I won’t discuss, about stereotypes/generalizations/and -isms. I think, for instance, that generalizations people make are often labeled as an… --- ## [meaning of levitation in eastern mysticism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824 "2013-07-15T18:34:06Z")
In various Eastern religions/philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism that mention levitation, what do these belief systems claim is happening when levitation occurs? I don’t know if eastern religions traditionally had … --- ## [Should suicide be a human right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-suicide-be-a-human-right/662010)
**Author:** [@lankyBlonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lankyBlonde)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-suicide-be-a-human-right/662010 "2013-07-15T15:26:06Z")
Let me begin by first saying that I am in no way depressed or suicidal, I actually really enjoy life. But I was recently thinking about human rights (and the lack thereof in many parts of the world) and I feel like a cer… --- ## [Astoundingly poor judgement: The curious case of psychic police tipster Presley “Rhonda” Gridley](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astoundingly-poor-judgement-the-curious-case-of-psychic-police-tipster-presley-rhonda-gridley/661015)
**Author:** [@trabajabamos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabajabamos)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astoundingly-poor-judgement-the-curious-case-of-psychic-police-tipster-presley-rhonda-gridley/661015 "2013-07-15T13:30:35Z")
Unfortunately, things this stupid happen with surprisingly frequency: An excerpt from a 911 call Gridley made contains this gem: \[QUOTE=Gridley\] I’m a reverend and a psychic. Souls and spirits talked to me an there … --- ## [Mandatory condom use on all porn films: not just a good idea, it's the law!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-condom-use-on-all-porn-films-not-just-a-good-idea-its-the-law/663411)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-condom-use-on-all-porn-films-not-just-a-good-idea-its-the-law/663411 "2013-07-15T12:08:49Z")
If you film porn in Los Angeles County, the law now requires performers to wear condoms for all vaginal and anal scenes. Many porn stars have spoken out against the measure, saying that they should decide for themselves… --- ## [toward being a free man on the land](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toward-being-a-free-man-on-the-land/661826)
**Author:** [@marcmcroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marcmcroy)\ **Replies:** 636\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toward-being-a-free-man-on-the-land/661826 "2013-07-15T02:28:22Z")
I am really feeling drawn toward the free man on the land movement, the more i read and know about my sovereign rights the more natural it feels. How can I be accountable to state statutes that i don’t want to be party t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=269) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=271)