# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=271 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 272 --- ## [Matthew 5: 38-40 and today's "Conservative Christians"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-5-38-40-and-todays-conservative-christians/660407)
**Author:** [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2013, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-5-38-40-and-todays-conservative-christians/660407 "2013-07-14T11:22:45Z")
Today’s “conservative Christians” are generally big on law and order, the right of private citizens to shoot burglars, etc. How exactly does that jibe with Matthew 5: 38-40? “You have heard that it has been said, An eye… --- ## [In what way is Edward Snowden a "human rights defender"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-edward-snowden-a-human-rights-defender/663370)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-edward-snowden-a-human-rights-defender/663370 "2013-07-14T00:42:38Z")
In this article from the New York Times, one learns that Human Rights Watch representative Tanya Lokshina believes he is a human rights defender. Further, “Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Righ… --- ## [Will/should the House approve the immigration bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-should-the-house-approve-the-immigration-bill/662308)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-should-the-house-approve-the-immigration-bill/662308 "2013-07-13T23:36:49Z")
The Senate has. Apart from the cost, I don’t see any real downside. Sen. Charles Schumer (D) predicts the House will pass it. --- ## [Is there a gene for tameness ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-gene-for-tameness/663165)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-gene-for-tameness/663165 "2013-07-13T14:44:51Z")
I got a National Geographic here because it had some stuff on the Russian fox experiment. Is it possible to breed humans for tameness in the same way as foxes have been bred ? Has anything similar already happened ? I… --- ## [Iowa Court upholds employer's right to fire hot chicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-court-upholds-employers-right-to-fire-hot-chicks/644848)
**Author:** [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iowa-court-upholds-employers-right-to-fire-hot-chicks/644848 "2013-07-13T08:15:39Z")
We interrupt your regularly scheduled gun debate to bring you this: At first blush, this seemed irredeemably stupid and unfair, especially given the facts of this particular case (the woman worked for the dentist for 1… --- ## [Waxer fired for refusing to get waxed: reasonable or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waxer-fired-for-refusing-to-get-waxed-reasonable-or-not/662512)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waxer-fired-for-refusing-to-get-waxed-reasonable-or-not/662512 "2013-07-12T17:06:39Z")
Interesting issue arose in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania. Jennifer Finley had been hired for a new job and was being trained for it. And she was told that part of the training would be getting a b… --- ## [Palestinian Children Tortured, Used As Shields By Israel, UN Says](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palestinian-children-tortured-used-as-shields-by-israel-un-says/661512)
**Author:** [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Replies:** 357\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palestinian-children-tortured-used-as-shields-by-israel-un-says/661512 "2013-07-12T15:26:44Z")
Why do we take sides in this fight? Why do we support Israel over Palestine? --- ## [What if Davis hadn't been elected CSA President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-davis-hadnt-been-elected-csa-president/663101)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-davis-hadnt-been-elected-csa-president/663101 "2013-07-11T22:20:39Z")
I’ll admit on paper Jefferson Davis had all the credentials. If I had been a delegate in Montgomery, I’d have voted for him. But obviously things didn’t work out. Some have made the argument that Davis himself was part… --- ## [Finity is nonsense ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finity-is-nonsense/662821)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finity-is-nonsense/662821 "2013-07-11T20:35:03Z")
We live in an unknown and unknowable universe, we don’t know where the boundaries are, we don’t know whether it will end or not, or even if it ever really started - although there are many theories. Everything we study … --- ## [One simple rule for living an awesome life (Witnessing)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-simple-rule-for-living-an-awesome-life-witnessing/660779)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-simple-rule-for-living-an-awesome-life-witnessing/660779 "2013-07-11T19:54:24Z")
I tried an experiment a year ago and just realised it might help someone. Basically my whole life has been a frantic search for the meaning of life, and right now I am at the first time at a point where I think “Hey… thi… --- ## [Internet Poker v. Brick & Mortar Casinos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-poker-v-brick-mortar-casinos/662529)
**Author:** [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-poker-v-brick-mortar-casinos/662529 "2013-07-11T14:02:57Z")
I used to play poker online. Not for high stakes, and not stupendously well, but I made more than I lost. I don’t any more, because it is effectively gone from the US for the present. There are a number of pieces of legi… --- ## [How does the brain create straight lines from wiggly stuff ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-brain-create-straight-lines-from-wiggly-stuff/662990)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-brain-create-straight-lines-from-wiggly-stuff/662990 "2013-07-11T11:40:57Z")
My graphics card has anti-aliasing to make rough edges look smooth, does the brain have a similar thing ? And seeing as maths is still using straight lines when the microscope has shown that there aren’t any, isn’t math… --- ## [What did European observers learn from the American Civil War? Why didn't they learn more?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-european-observers-learn-from-the-american-civil-war-why-didnt-they-learn-more/662492)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-european-observers-learn-from-the-american-civil-war-why-didnt-they-learn-more/662492 "2013-07-11T00:38:32Z")
The Killer Angels and Gettysburg feature Lt Col Fremantle, of the Coldstream Guards, who had a jaunty vacation traveling for a few months with Lee, but wasn’t acting as an official observer. Lee also had a Prussian and … --- ## [What does being "gay" even mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-being-gay-even-mean/662819)
**Author:** [@The\_Sheikh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Sheikh)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-being-gay-even-mean/662819 "2013-07-10T22:09:39Z")
I was listening to Sociology of Sexuality by The Teaching Company when this excerpt struck me as very true. I have never really understood what “being gay” really meant. Now that a professor agrees with my view of sexual… --- ## [Discretion should override legal technicalities in American Judicial System](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discretion-should-override-legal-technicalities-in-american-judicial-system/662015)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Musarra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Musarra)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discretion-should-override-legal-technicalities-in-american-judicial-system/662015 "2013-07-10T15:26:32Z")
I’m boggled at how a law like “wait till after weekend” to begin searching for a missing person is actually still enforced? By 48 hours its a known fact that majority of missing victims are usually killed. Firstly, how h… --- ## [DUI Laws--Unconstitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dui-laws-unconstitutional/515590)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2013, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dui-laws-unconstitutional/515590 "2013-07-10T11:15:04Z")
Inspired by this thread: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11711963#post11711963 Has this question ever been asked in court? How can I reasonably know if I am violating a .08 BAC limit? Can a reason… --- ## [Will solar system colonization be feasible/worth the cost in the foreseeable future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-solar-system-colonization-be-feasible-worth-the-cost-in-the-foreseeable-future/661908)
**Author:** [@tralfamidor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tralfamidor)\ **Replies:** 149\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2013, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-solar-system-colonization-be-feasible-worth-the-cost-in-the-foreseeable-future/661908 "2013-07-10T08:32:38Z")
I read recently about NASA proposing Mars and asteroid belt manned missions within the next twenty years. This got me to wondering about whether we can or should undertake such ventures. I am well aware of the offshoot … --- ## [Infinity is nonsense ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinity-is-nonsense/662709)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinity-is-nonsense/662709 "2013-07-10T04:18:55Z")
Proposition - our concepts are the result of brain activity Proposition - brain activity requires metabolic fuel Proposition - any idea of infinity requires infinite brain fuel Proposition - there is no infinite suppl… --- ## [Egypt: Now what? Civil war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egypt-now-what-civil-war/662550)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egypt-now-what-civil-war/662550 "2013-07-10T02:20:34Z")
Mass protests against President Morsi have been going on since June 30. Hmm . . . Already the protesters are “rebels.” And that’s just Wikipedia. The Army gave Morsi 48 hours to resolve the crisis, and now that deadl… --- ## [Is a monitor with a Post-It stuck to it a new object, or just two objects stuck together ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-monitor-with-a-post-it-stuck-to-it-a-new-object-or-just-two-objects-stuck-together/662942)
**Author:** [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-monitor-with-a-post-it-stuck-to-it-a-new-object-or-just-two-objects-stuck-together/662942 "2013-07-09T22:30:19Z")
(By post I meant post-it note) Why isn’t it a moninote? --- ## [Can Presidents now cancel taxes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-presidents-now-cancel-taxes/663025)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-presidents-now-cancel-taxes/663025 "2013-07-09T21:05:01Z")
In regards to the President postponing enforcement of the employer mandate, if this is allowed to happen, doesn’t it mean that a future GOP President could suspend enforcement of any tax or regulation he doesn’t like? I… --- ## [People complain about big government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-complain-about-big-government/661850)
**Author:** [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-complain-about-big-government/661850 "2013-07-09T13:31:38Z")
I have talk to some people and they complain about big government. And some even say big government today is ideas from communism and socialism. I will like to know if that is true and where the idea big government c… --- ## [Liberal Christians: Genealogies in the Bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-christians-genealogies-in-the-bible/662507)
**Author:** [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-christians-genealogies-in-the-bible/662507 "2013-07-09T12:10:40Z")
I initially asked this in Christians: Why are scientists more likely to be non-believers? Since I didn’t seem to get any replies from Christians and since that thread is full up of non-Christian arguments I thought I’d … --- ## [What is Obama's strategy in Egypt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obamas-strategy-in-egypt/662789)
**Author:** [@Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lion)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obamas-strategy-in-egypt/662789 "2013-07-09T10:38:14Z")
With Morsi overthrown and Egypt teetering on the brink of civil war, I have to wonder what our strategy is in Egypt and in the Middle East as a whole. Articles like these seem to suggest a level of sympathy from the adm… --- ## [Arguments against SSM not in any way based on faith or tradition?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-against-ssm-not-in-any-way-based-on-faith-or-tradition/662488)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-against-ssm-not-in-any-way-based-on-faith-or-tradition/662488 "2013-07-09T06:17:42Z")
Are there any? I have yet to encounter one here or anywhere. --- ## [What if Custer had waited before Little Bighorn?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-custer-had-waited-before-little-bighorn/662768)
**Author:** [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-custer-had-waited-before-little-bighorn/662768 "2013-07-09T01:47:09Z")
I’m about to visit the Little Bighorn battlefield this summer. I’m pretty familiar with the battle itself, but have yet to read up on a what-if scenario. The original plan was to have 3 columns converge on the Indian cam… --- ## [Did the ideas Hofstader presented in "Godel Escher Bach" actually pan out scientifically?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-ideas-hofstader-presented-in-godel-escher-bach-actually-pan-out-scientifically/662955)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-ideas-hofstader-presented-in-godel-escher-bach-actually-pan-out-scientifically/662955 "2013-07-08T22:05:58Z")
While it’s about a book the question (IMO) is more appropriate for GD. Re a GEB theme Were his ideas of how human consciousness / cognition emerges accepted by the larger scientific community? The wiki does not really … --- ## [Any catastrophes from the sequester yet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-catastrophes-from-the-sequester-yet/662394)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-catastrophes-from-the-sequester-yet/662394 "2013-07-08T21:51:10Z")
Four months ago, something called “the sequester” took place. In case anyone has forgotten, it was an across-the-board cut to discretionary federal spending, the result of a budget deal in August of 2011. Democrats gen… --- ## [Is the IMF really a predatory lender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-imf-really-a-predatory-lender/648978)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-imf-really-a-predatory-lender/648978 "2013-07-08T20:29:09Z")
Don’t have a dog in this fight, just want the StraightDope on this. Here’s how the conspiracy goes based on a few videos I’ve seen on Netflix: the International Monetary Fund will conditionally agree to help struggling … --- ## [Bolivian President Shakedown: US Descends to Dubya Administration Levels of Stupidity, Arrogance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivian-president-shakedown-us-descends-to-dubya-administration-levels-of-stupidity-arrogance/662726)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivian-president-shakedown-us-descends-to-dubya-administration-levels-of-stupidity-arrogance/662726 "2013-07-08T15:27:09Z")
Ecuadorian President Evo Morales was in Russia for some trade talks recently. Leaving the conference on July 2 (the report was posted on July 2, it was breaking news but it may have been July 1) the plan was to fly to Po… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=270) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=272)