# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=31 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 32 --- ## [Gun owner's liability when it comes mishaps involving their children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-owners-liability-when-it-comes-mishaps-involving-their-children/939975)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 186\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-owners-liability-when-it-comes-mishaps-involving-their-children/939975 "2022-01-14T20:16:42Z")
If a child is able to get ahold of a parent’s gun and something tragic happens, is “OMG! That poor parent is suffering enough-Anything more would just be piling it on” the proper response, or should there be a consistent… --- ## [Conspiracy Theories and MLK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-and-mlk/957645)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2022, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-and-mlk/957645 "2022-01-14T07:57:01Z")
As evidenced by my involvement in the JFK thread, I enjoy conspiracy theories, even though I don’t subscribe to them. It’s interesting to comb through facts and evidence to reconstruct the events of a crime, and to addr… --- ## [Is It Ethical To 'Correct' Religious Folks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ethical-to-correct-religious-folks/956483)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ethical-to-correct-religious-folks/956483 "2022-01-13T16:40:10Z")
Because until I got on the internet, I assumed faith was a private thing. So I never debated it. But recently, I have been getting into some pretty hot debates. (I guess I can tell you. It is on Facebook.) I don’t know… --- ## [Maximum Punishment for Juvenile Crimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-punishment-for-juvenile-crimes/955298)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-punishment-for-juvenile-crimes/955298 "2022-01-12T20:48:04Z")
A number of years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that life without the possibility of parole was too harsh a punishment to be imposed on a juvenile. About that time, the Washington Post published an op-ed by two congresscr… --- ## ["The takeover of the environmental movement by capitalism is now complete."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-takeover-of-the-environmental-movement-by-capitalism-is-now-complete/852648)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-takeover-of-the-environmental-movement-by-capitalism-is-now-complete/852648 "2022-01-12T20:31:44Z")
“It’s not the carbon dioxide molecule destroying the planet; it’s us.” That’s one of many provocative claims from a new documentary, Planet of the Humans, which claims, with vivid and compelling imagery, that green ener… --- ## [Is 'Pharisee' an antisemitic slur?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pharisee-an-antisemitic-slur/953699)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pharisee-an-antisemitic-slur/953699 "2022-01-12T20:20:57Z")
I ran across the following tweet: The Pharisees were the progenitors of modern Judaism, and the maligning of them in the NT is an antisemitic mischaracterization I replied: Wait, the synoptic Gospel writers were su… --- ## [In Praise of Ray Dalio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ray-dalio/955898)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ray-dalio/955898 "2022-01-12T20:06:00Z")
I have read several business and economics books in the last few years. Many are of very limited use. Some are exercises in jargon or try to stretch an acronym into a hundred pages. Others are by successful entreprene… --- ## [The War is Over - No Country Needs a Military Presence Anymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-is-over-no-country-needs-a-military-presence-anymore/957482)
**Author:** [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-is-over-no-country-needs-a-military-presence-anymore/957482 "2022-01-11T16:49:33Z")
For some unspecified reason, all the countries in the world have agreed to a non-aggression pact and to run down all of their militaries. Obviously, it’s not going to happen overnight - let’s say a decade to close down … --- ## [The Black Box: US Military & Law Enforcement Support for a Coup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-black-box-us-military-law-enforcement-support-for-a-coup/956253)
**Author:** [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-black-box-us-military-law-enforcement-support-for-a-coup/956253 "2022-01-10T23:53:40Z")
Today the Washington Post published an opinion piece by three retired US Army generals, about the likelihood, in their view, of a 2024 insurrection to install a right-wing government. They fully expect “lethal chaos,” an… --- ## [SCOTUS has to decide another "religious liberty" case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-has-to-decide-another-religious-liberty-case/955859)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-has-to-decide-another-religious-liberty-case/955859 "2022-01-10T23:15:20Z")
Oral arguments are scheduled to be held at SCOTUS the week of 13 December 2021 in an appeal of Carson v. Makin with a decision probably by June 2022. …a potentially landmark case challenging a Maine law that bans famil… --- ## ["Japan was willing to surrender throughout all of 1945, but only with the gurantee their Emperor would remain"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-was-willing-to-surrender-throughout-all-of-1945-but-only-with-the-gurantee-their-emperor-would-remain/956267)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2022, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-was-willing-to-surrender-throughout-all-of-1945-but-only-with-the-gurantee-their-emperor-would-remain/956267 "2022-01-09T08:12:34Z")
I’ve head the above statement at various points in my life (including from my College History Professor) but it’s also one of those things I can’t find any attribution for. It’s generally used as part of the “Anti-Atomic… --- ## [Regarding Critical Race Theory and Intentional Racist Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-critical-race-theory-and-intentional-racist-laws/944782)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-critical-race-theory-and-intentional-racist-laws/944782 "2022-01-08T14:10:48Z")
Continuing the discussion from Critical Race Theory Boogeyman: I respectfully abided by the OP in that thread’s direction that I not hijack his thread. My question remains as to a solution to the issue he raised. Were… --- ## [Arbery Shooting in Georgia and Citizen's Arrest \[& similar shootings\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 612\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815 "2022-01-07T22:03:08Z")
I’m trying to understand this case and make sure that I’ve gotten it right before I join with the pitchfork carrying crowd. Everything online is either filled with vitriol or otherwise biased. Here is the GA law on citi… --- ## [Nord Stream 2 Sanctions and "leverage"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nord-stream-2-sanctions-and-leverage/957342)
**Author:** [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nord-stream-2-sanctions-and-leverage/957342 "2022-01-07T16:51:14Z")
Dems shift gears on Russian pipeline, backing Biden against Cruz’s gambit - POLITICO Top Senate Democrats have long opposed a Russian natural gas pipeline that’s set to enrich Vladimir Putin. But those lawmakers are pu… --- ## [How would you describe something that isn’t immoral but is still harmful to people and society?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-describe-something-that-isn-t-immoral-but-is-still-harmful-to-people-and-society/952163)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-describe-something-that-isn-t-immoral-but-is-still-harmful-to-people-and-society/952163 "2022-01-07T13:51:36Z")
What’s the best way to describe traits, behaviors and trends that don’t hurt other people (so they’re not immoral) but are nevertheless wrong, harmful and reprehensible for the individual and/or society as a whole? As o… --- ## [Pussy Riot will topple Putin; mark my words!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pussy-riot-will-topple-putin-mark-my-words/630826)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pussy-riot-will-topple-putin-mark-my-words/630826 "2022-01-04T19:03:22Z")
Haven’t seen any discussion of the Pussy Riot “trial” here, and it’s prolly gonna wrap up tomorrow (8 August, Wednesday). Pussy Riot is the name of an all-female punk rock band/performance group in Russia. Three of the… --- ## [Should people be forced to work by the government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-forced-to-work-by-the-government/956325)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 213\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-forced-to-work-by-the-government/956325 "2022-01-02T00:46:15Z")
AP story here: Can the government force people to work? Should the government force people to work? Are flesh & blood citizens merely servants to the non-corporeal persons who exist amongst us, via state control? W… --- ## [The ethics of imposing immortality upon a dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-imposing-immortality-upon-a-dog/953513)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-imposing-immortality-upon-a-dog/953513 "2022-01-01T21:54:59Z")
I had a weird dream last night, in which I was escaping on foot and via improvised vehicles built from junk, from terrorists, or maybe an invading army, who may or may not have been zombies, through a ruined city that al… --- ## [Project Veritas v New York Times](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-veritas-v-new-york-times/956633)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-veritas-v-new-york-times/956633 "2021-12-29T19:03:48Z")
Two days ago Judge Charles D. Wood in Westchester County, New York issued a ruling in this case. Project Veritas (PV) had sued the New York Times (NYT) to prevent them from publishing and retaining memos they had obtain… --- ## [How should a person accused of racism respond?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-person-accused-of-racism-respond/955942)
**Author:** [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Replies:** 337\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-person-accused-of-racism-respond/955942 "2021-12-23T21:19:30Z")
Inspired in part by this recent incident: Although the headline is your typical NY Post outrage clickbait, the article at least strongly implies that what got him fired wasn’t his mixing up two black students, but his … --- ## [Texas Law is unenforceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-law-is-unenforceable/949994)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 253\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-law-is-unenforceable/949994 "2021-12-20T18:48:24Z")
Even if the SCOTUS tosses Roe, the Texas law would still be unenforceable. No one but a Mother or her fetus would have standing to file a suit in court. A person would need to meet the rule that, “at an irreducible min… --- ## [2002 Krauthammer article: "Liberals are stupid and conservatives are evil" - have the roles reversed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2002-krauthammer-article-liberals-are-stupid-and-conservatives-are-evil-have-the-roles-reversed/955725)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2002-krauthammer-article-liberals-are-stupid-and-conservatives-are-evil-have-the-roles-reversed/955725 "2021-12-19T02:05:20Z")
Nearly 20 years ago, Charles Krauthammer wrote an op-ed for the WashPost where he said “Conservatives think liberals are stupid; liberals think conservatives are evil.” I get the impression that today the roles have rev… --- ## [Vaccine mandates...are you for, or against, and why do you have the stance you have?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccine-mandates-are-you-for-or-against-and-why-do-you-have-the-stance-you-have/953329)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 189\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vaccine-mandates-are-you-for-or-against-and-why-do-you-have-the-stance-you-have/953329 "2021-12-18T13:31:26Z")
This one can be a bit of a touchy subject for some, so I’m hoping to have a civil debate here. Basically, should the government force a vaccine mandate, i.e. force people, with the threat of loss of job, to get a vaccin… --- ## [Smallest but Most Influential Battle in History](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-but-most-influential-battle-in-history/955586)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-but-most-influential-battle-in-history/955586 "2021-12-16T20:26:57Z")
I was watching The Guns of Navarone over the weekend and had a thought (I know a dangerous pastime). In the fictional movie, a small squad destroys a somewhat important strategic target. Now, it is obvious that many of t… --- ## [US - Whither States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-whither-states/956059)
**Author:** [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-whither-states/956059 "2021-12-16T17:03:34Z")
This subject has been percolating in my noggin for quite some time and I would be interested in a broad discussion here in the SDMB. It is inspired by a lot of different discussions that seem to boil down, for me, to th… --- ## [If China had been more open at the beginning of the pandemic, how would it have mattered?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-china-had-been-more-open-at-the-beginning-of-the-pandemic-how-would-it-have-mattered/954054)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-china-had-been-more-open-at-the-beginning-of-the-pandemic-how-would-it-have-mattered/954054 "2021-12-14T13:42:19Z")
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw many in the administration complaining that China was not being open with the world. AFAIK, this is still the case. My question is, if China had opened up the doors to t… --- ## [Why do we value infants (and hypothetical future ones) over adults?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-infants-and-hypothetical-future-ones-over-adults/955910)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-infants-and-hypothetical-future-ones-over-adults/955910 "2021-12-13T21:13:14Z")
Infants are nonsapient, and some of them don’t even have the ability yet to recognize their own toes. They can’t speak, and they’re not learned. Fetuses don’t even have that much going for them. At least infants can l… --- ## [Thompson's Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thompsons-lamp/955473)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2021, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thompsons-lamp/955473 "2021-12-13T09:28:05Z")
Continuing the discussion from Lack of Freewill doesn't mean lack of choice: Here is a dedicated topic for this tangent. ~originally posted by Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit --- ## [Ethical And Legal Implications Of The 'Metaverse"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-and-legal-implications-of-the-metaverse/955912)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-and-legal-implications-of-the-metaverse/955912 "2021-12-12T14:46:00Z")
The Metaverse. In Science Fiction, one could argue the idea has been around for quite some time. But now that technology is advancing rapidly each year, people are beginning to be quite serious when they bring up the sub… --- ## [State and Federal Supreme Courts should be able to conduct judicial review with no underlying case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-and-federal-supreme-courts-should-be-able-to-conduct-judicial-review-with-no-underlying-case/955332)
**Author:** [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-and-federal-supreme-courts-should-be-able-to-conduct-judicial-review-with-no-underlying-case/955332 "2021-12-12T00:46:17Z")
I think that for situations like Mississippi’s abortion law, State and/or Federal Supreme Courts should be able to conduct judicial review without an underlying case or the necessity to prove standing. My reasons for th… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=32)