# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=288 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 289 --- ## [So. Are humans apes or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-humans-apes-or-not/650526)
**Author:** [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-humans-apes-or-not/650526 "2013-02-23T04:13:04Z")
I was all smug in my apeness. I loved to get the opportunity to outsmug the next smugnuts… Dummy: “If we are evolved from apes, how come there are still apes?!” Smugnuts: “Well, actually, we aren’t evolved from apes…… --- ## [Eminent domain and patents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eminent-domain-and-patents/650907)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eminent-domain-and-patents/650907 "2013-02-22T20:30:42Z")
I was reading an article that was highlighted on /. about how certain patents were a threat to the nascent 3D-printing industry. The exact patents are merely a jumping-off point for this thread, as is 3D printing itself.… --- ## [Statute of Limitations: time to rethink in view of Catholic molestation situation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statute-of-limitations-time-to-rethink-in-view-of-catholic-molestation-situation/650475)
**Author:** [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statute-of-limitations-time-to-rethink-in-view-of-catholic-molestation-situation/650475 "2013-02-22T19:48:08Z")
From here. We have a guy here in LA, Roger Mahony, who, according to the Church’s own documents was hip deep in enabling and covering up the kiddy diddlers. Yet it looks like he will get away scot free due to the limit… --- ## [Guns and the defense of liberty.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-the-defense-of-liberty/647002)
**Author:** [@Crepitus\_Fremitus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crepitus_Fremitus)\ **Replies:** 460\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-the-defense-of-liberty/647002 "2013-02-22T03:18:17Z")
One of the major arguments put forth in favor of gun ownership - and conversely against restrictions on gun ownership - is what I would call the defense of liberty (DOL) argument - that it is essential for citizens to ow… --- ## [Resolved: "Mind" Includes the Nervous System](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-mind-includes-the-nervous-system/650721)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-mind-includes-the-nervous-system/650721 "2013-02-22T03:16:22Z")
Some neuroscientists recently claimed that free will is an illusion, partly because injecting an impulse into a nerve (say, along a test subject’s arm) can cause a subject to move (say, a finger), and subsequently report… --- ## [Dorner—Murderer, Martyr, or Both?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dorner-murderer-martyr-or-both/650150)
**Author:** [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Replies:** 175\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dorner-murderer-martyr-or-both/650150 "2013-02-21T14:05:36Z")
GQ thread would have gone off the rails if I had provoked it the way I wanted to, so I trotted the (now charbroiled) calf over here. I’m kind of on the fence with this one. While I don’t categorically denounce revenge, t… --- ## [The new proposed ban on "assault weapons"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-proposed-ban-on-assault-weapons/648423)
**Author:** [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Replies:** 437\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-proposed-ban-on-assault-weapons/648423 "2013-02-21T04:00:42Z")
In the wake of the massacre in Newtown, Senator Feinstein of Califorinia has introduced a bill that would permanently ban new sales of “assault weapons”. (Existing weapons would be “grandfathered” but would be subject to… --- ## [Did Benedict resign because of involvement in the priestly child molestation coverup?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-benedict-resign-because-of-involvement-in-the-priestly-child-molestation-coverup/650078)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-benedict-resign-because-of-involvement-in-the-priestly-child-molestation-coverup/650078 "2013-02-20T00:02:50Z")
The enormous document dump that was part of the legal settlement in the case against Cardinal (and former Los Angeles archbishop) Roger Mahony has apparently yielded some interesting tidbits: Then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzi… --- ## [How much should we control sexual expression in teenage girls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-we-control-sexual-expression-in-teenage-girls/650569)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-we-control-sexual-expression-in-teenage-girls/650569 "2013-02-19T13:07:58Z")
It starts with this article in The Atlantic: A Dress-Code Enforcer’s Struggle for the Soul of the Middle-School Girl. It’s written by a teacher complaining about how teenage girls show too much skin/underwear. More inte… --- ## [Can You Believe That Atheism Is Proud That It Has Nothing To Offer.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-believe-that-atheism-is-proud-that-it-has-nothing-to-offer/650786)
**Author:** [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-believe-that-atheism-is-proud-that-it-has-nothing-to-offer/650786 "2013-02-19T12:14:26Z")
Atheists say that they are not a religion, an organization, and don’t have an agenda. What do they have? They have absolutely nothing to offer. G.K. Chesterton said,“Without God, there would be no atheists.” True or … --- ## [Are Are any "Western" or Christian countries more conservative than the USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-are-any-western-or-christian-countries-more-conservative-than-the-usa/123073)
**Author:** [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2013, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-are-any-western-or-christian-countries-more-conservative-than-the-usa/123073 "2013-02-19T08:43:50Z")
By conservative I mean not only politically but more in terms of cultural and social attitudes toward sexuality, religion, and the like. I get the impression, especially here, that in terms of acceptance of various feat… --- ## [Ultimate Reality TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-reality-tv/650245)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-reality-tv/650245 "2013-02-19T04:52:03Z")
There was this helicopter crash recently that killed a camera crew, and it got me to thinking: what would a “soul” really be? In practical terms, you die, your thoughts end. There is no longer a power source for your br… --- ## [It's time to pare down U.S. military spending](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-pare-down-u-s-military-spending/650409)
**Author:** [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-pare-down-u-s-military-spending/650409 "2013-02-18T22:45:49Z")
I’m in favor of a strong, flexible military that can handle many types of operations. That said, when the U.S. national debt stands at $16 trillion, and the U.S. is spending $711 billion on its military annually, and 41… --- ## [so what is redeeming about this drone strike stuff??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-redeeming-about-this-drone-strike-stuff/650151)
**Author:** [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Replies:** 162\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-redeeming-about-this-drone-strike-stuff/650151 "2013-02-18T22:11:49Z")
i’m kind of livid with this whole drone strike thing. …and i can’t find any liberals who care. so what am i missing? what exactly is the redeeming aspect of our current clandestine drone war? what aspect of this makes… --- ## [What pct. of US people actually earn the minimum wage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pct-of-us-people-actually-earn-the-minimum-wage/650425)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pct-of-us-people-actually-earn-the-minimum-wage/650425 "2013-02-18T21:50:55Z")
After reading this thread, I got to wondering a few things about the minimum wage, primarily having to do with how prevalent making the minimum (or very near) actually is. Turns out that it’s roughly 5% of the workforce… --- ## [Theological questions about the Pope resigning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theological-questions-about-the-pope-resigning/649993)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theological-questions-about-the-pope-resigning/649993 "2013-02-18T21:23:15Z")
I looked through some of the other pope threads and thought this was different enough to warrant its own topic. If a mod disagrees, please feel free to merge it. So our current Pope is pooped and will be resigning at t… --- ## [Statute of Limitations for Being Pissed Off](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statute-of-limitations-for-being-pissed-off/649320)
**Author:** [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statute-of-limitations-for-being-pissed-off/649320 "2013-02-18T19:42:30Z")
This is branching off of another thread in GD to avoid a hijack. Anyway: I often see people (on the internet and elsewhere) that express strong opinions about things that happened in the past. The argument usually goe… --- ## [Are scientists going to far when the read out thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scientists-going-to-far-when-the-read-out-thoughts/650678)
**Author:** [@getitrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/getitrite)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scientists-going-to-far-when-the-read-out-thoughts/650678 "2013-02-18T15:28:43Z")
Just found this while checking out the science news, and have to wonder where is the boundries in life and should we have any? Should our thoughts be considered private? There are muscians that say they are. When Nobe… --- ## [Do Joe Biden's Recent Comments On Gun Control Bother You?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-joe-bidens-recent-comments-on-gun-control-bother-you/649186)
**Author:** [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Replies:** 214\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-joe-bidens-recent-comments-on-gun-control-bother-you/649186 "2013-02-18T12:52:52Z")
From this article, in which there is a GQ thread, I found some language from Joe Biden that is somewhat disturbing. Here’s the linked article, which shows Obama shooting a shotgun apparently skeet shooting, and what Bid… --- ## [Is this acceptable to libertarians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-acceptable-to-libertarians/648528)
**Author:** [@cultivar07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cultivar07)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-acceptable-to-libertarians/648528 "2013-02-17T21:44:42Z")
A is dying in a desert, B sees him and offers him a deal, he writes down a deal, which would require A to give him all his property and money in return for getting out of the desert alive. Is this acceptable to libertar… --- ## [Economy after Civil War (prediction)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economy-after-civil-war-prediction/650516)
**Author:** [@mandybea20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandybea20)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economy-after-civil-war-prediction/650516 "2013-02-17T19:56:48Z")
How would the economy of the United States would have been if the outcome of the Civil War had been different?:dubious: --- ## [The LBJ-CIA Assassination of JFK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lbj-cia-assassination-of-jfk/650568)
**Author:** [@Robert\_Morrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert_Morrow)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lbj-cia-assassination-of-jfk/650568 "2013-02-17T03:08:04Z")
Here is my current take on the “LBJ-CIA Assassination of JFK.” link removed Feel free to agree, disagree or add interesting, informative comments. --- ## [Middle Out Economics: The Trickle Down Killer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-out-economics-the-trickle-down-killer/649985)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-out-economics-the-trickle-down-killer/649985 "2013-02-17T02:35:53Z")
For a long time I and other progressives have been advocating the idea that the economic growth and well being of the middle class is the key to general economic prosperity. This seemingly simple and obvious notion has b… --- ## [Should we be educating kids in logical fallacies and biases in middle/high schools?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-educating-kids-in-logical-fallacies-and-biases-in-middle-high-schools/649732)
**Author:** [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-educating-kids-in-logical-fallacies-and-biases-in-middle-high-schools/649732 "2013-02-16T23:53:15Z")
Or the less descriptive title “We are all born with a brain, why the hell are we not passing out owners manuals?” The essence of my argument is pretty simple. We have the knowledge of how flawed our brains are, How badl… --- ## [Freedom of religion in Israel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-religion-in-israel/649995)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-religion-in-israel/649995 "2013-02-16T17:29:57Z")
A group of Jewish women were detained in Israel for praying at the Western Wall outfitted in religious garb traditionally worn by men. This offends Orthodox Jews, and a court-order has barred the women from praying at t… --- ## [How has Mormonism survived modern scrutiny?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-mormonism-survived-modern-scrutiny/546841)
**Author:** [@peledre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peledre)\ **Replies:** 321\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-mormonism-survived-modern-scrutiny/546841 "2013-02-16T15:27:09Z")
I just re-read Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven (highly recommend it by the way). I didn’t know too much about LDS before reading the book but Krakauer presents several curiosities about their dogma that are easily… --- ## [Ron Paul Wants RonPaul.com so badly he's going to the UN](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-wants-ronpaul-com-so-badly-hes-going-to-the-un/649854)
**Author:** [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-wants-ronpaul-com-so-badly-hes-going-to-the-un/649854 "2013-02-16T01:35:27Z")
I think Ron Paul is an early contender for the Chutzpah of the Year Award. Ron Paul apparently just realized that he’d never secured either RonPaul.com or RonPaul.org and he’s now trying to wrest away control of those d… --- ## [Go on the offensive \[against North Korea\]... agree or disagree and why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-on-the-offensive-against-north-korea-agree-or-disagree-and-why/648236)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-on-the-offensive-against-north-korea-agree-or-disagree-and-why/648236 "2013-02-16T01:25:49Z")
From CNN cite North Korea said Thursday that it plans to carry out a new nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches, all of which it said are a part of a new phase of confrontation with the United States. The Nor… --- ## [Is the economy governed by Chaos Theory and if so what to do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-economy-governed-by-chaos-theory-and-if-so-what-to-do/649968)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-economy-governed-by-chaos-theory-and-if-so-what-to-do/649968 "2013-02-15T15:24:09Z")
The weather is the prime example of a system governed by Chaos Theory which means it becomes increasingly difficult to predict as one looks to the long term. Any forecaster who tells you they can predict the weather on a… --- ## [How did GRID effect gay rights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-grid-effect-gay-rights/650081)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-grid-effect-gay-rights/650081 "2013-02-15T04:40:12Z")
In the post war environment and especially in the 1960’s society in much of the West became far more tolerant of homosexuals. The Wolfensden report in the UK which resulted in the legilsature taking measures which decrim… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=287) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=289)