# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=33 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 34 --- ## [Is there a paradigm shift going on with China...or am I in a bubble?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-paradigm-shift-going-on-with-china-or-am-i-in-a-bubble/855307)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2021, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-paradigm-shift-going-on-with-china-or-am-i-in-a-bubble/855307 "2021-10-29T00:02:45Z")
I wanted to see what other 'dopers feel about recent events happening that revolve around China, and see if anyone else is thinking that there has been a shift in attitude towards China…or if this is basically me being i… --- ## [Are We Just A Computer Simulation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-just-a-computer-simulation/952375)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-just-a-computer-simulation/952375 "2021-10-28T21:09:14Z")
This article got me to thinking about this. Are we just a complicated computer simulation? How plausible is that possibility? In this article, Neil Degrasse Tyson says it’s 50-50. Really? Is joking? Or at least just spe… --- ## [A debate on where America was before Trump. Were we really in decline?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-debate-on-where-america-was-before-trump-were-we-really-in-decline/928648)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 319\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2021, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-debate-on-where-america-was-before-trump-were-we-really-in-decline/928648 "2021-10-28T12:52:56Z")
The threads on Trump and a potential coup / martial law have me thinking about some of the posts, especially about the state of America in the future and where we were before Trump. Here’s how I see things. These obser… --- ## [Is there a such thing as too PC and/or woke?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-such-thing-as-too-pc-and-or-woke/952507)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-such-thing-as-too-pc-and-or-woke/952507 "2021-10-27T20:25:54Z")
So I was sort of surfing around, and ran across this article about the new movie adaptation of the book Dune. Dune should’ve been less Dune-y | The Week And the author’s essential contention is that the movie isn’t PC … --- ## [Can Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany be Compared?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-stalins-russia-and-hitlers-germany-be-compared/951773)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-stalins-russia-and-hitlers-germany-be-compared/951773 "2021-10-26T21:13:44Z")
On a lesser part of the Internet, I have been led into argument with a Finn on the subject of his nation’s decisions during WWII. He has said that Germany of that era was morally preferable to Russia. I would, if asked,… --- ## [Are all Confederate Monuments and Memorials Offensive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-confederate-monuments-and-memorials-offensive/946168)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-confederate-monuments-and-memorials-offensive/946168 "2021-10-26T15:26:05Z")
I can understand why people might be offended by statues of Confederate generals on horseback with inscriptions describing them as great heroes. On the other hand, what about monuments and memorials such as the followin… --- ## [There are 4 Americas. Agree or Disagree?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-4-americas-agree-or-disagree/944193)
**Author:** [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2021, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-4-americas-agree-or-disagree/944193 "2021-10-26T05:59:33Z")
It’s a long read, but worth it, as it makes you think. Packer’s thesis is that there are 4 distinct Americas. “Free America” - They believe that society advances only by the unencumbered individual, and need to be fr… --- ## [Without answers, why religion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-answers-why-religion/943909)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 181\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-answers-why-religion/943909 "2021-10-25T19:58:59Z")
I was looking at this revived thread by @JohnT, Is it possible to lie to oneselves so much that you can get sent to Hell for it?. It’s true that the theoretical question was poorly formed, but accepting the theoretical, … --- ## [Richard Nixon's "foreign policy" chops?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-nixons-foreign-policy-chops/951811)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-nixons-foreign-policy-chops/951811 "2021-10-25T16:30:54Z")
It appears to me that Nixon is generally credited with being a foreign policy wizard, an expert on foreign affairs, a genius who was eagerly consulted by Democratic Presidents (Clinton) and GOPers (Reagan, Bush) alike, a… --- ## [French Revolution: Was Robespierre a tragic figure? A misunderstood figure? A tyrant? Something else?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-revolution-was-robespierre-a-tragic-figure-a-misunderstood-figure-a-tyrant-something-else/952511)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-revolution-was-robespierre-a-tragic-figure-a-misunderstood-figure-a-tyrant-something-else/952511 "2021-10-20T14:33:53Z")
My limited understanding of Maximilien Robespierre is he started out as not a bad guy at all. Indeed, he was very liberal for his day and wanted to get more rights to the populace. He even argued against the death pena… --- ## [The “tone” of English history in the 17th and early 19th century](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tone-of-english-history-in-the-17th-and-early-19th-century/952785)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tone-of-english-history-in-the-17th-and-early-19th-century/952785 "2021-10-20T14:25:18Z")
It’s actually interesting to think about because in many ways the “tone” of English history in the 17th and early 19th century is that the Charles I, II and James II series, along with the various pretenders and Jacobite… --- ## [What would it take to make pro-lifers become OK with abortion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-to-make-pro-lifers-become-ok-with-abortion/951520)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-to-make-pro-lifers-become-ok-with-abortion/951520 "2021-10-19T13:17:12Z")
Preemptive plea in advance: Let’s not have this turn into yet another generic abortion thread A variety of arguments have been used against pro-lifers over the decades: “If you don’t like abortion, then don’t get one” (… --- ## [How do you feel about people that murdered as children and their guilt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-people-that-murdered-as-children-and-their-guilt/952707)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-people-that-murdered-as-children-and-their-guilt/952707 "2021-10-18T23:16:07Z")
I was just reading some discussions on Reddit about Eric Smith getting released. I can understand that people believe there is something permanently wrong with him and that he cannot be rehabilitated. But what do you f… --- ## [The metric system: Make your case for it and why we should switch to it. (As if we haven't already)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-make-your-case-for-it-and-why-we-should-switch-to-it-as-if-we-havent-already/943932)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 279\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-make-your-case-for-it-and-why-we-should-switch-to-it-as-if-we-havent-already/943932 "2021-10-17T00:47:10Z")
Before I start here is a very informative video, complete with interview from Dr Steven Mihm of the University of Georgia. A historian specializing in standards. First off, I’d argue the American unit is m… --- ## [Questions regarding Hitler’s Speeches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-regarding-hitler-s-speeches/952275)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-regarding-hitler-s-speeches/952275 "2021-10-15T17:32:26Z")
Did/Do native German speakers have trouble understanding Hitler’s speeches, given his Austrian/Bavarian accent ? Were transcripts of these speeches (which I have never read) based on the original written speeches or tran… --- ## [What's the strategy to prevent Covid-type denial when the climate change fight gets serious?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-strategy-to-prevent-covid-type-denial-when-the-climate-change-fight-gets-serious/950925)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-strategy-to-prevent-covid-type-denial-when-the-climate-change-fight-gets-serious/950925 "2021-10-15T13:50:23Z")
The upcoming fight over climate change is going to be far tougher than Covid. With Covid, the results were at least obvious: millions of deaths, including 700,000 in America, and many millions sickened - and yet even the… --- ## [Restoring public faith in the U.S. mainstream media again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-public-faith-in-the-u-s-mainstream-media-again/938487)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2021, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-public-faith-in-the-u-s-mainstream-media-again/938487 "2021-10-14T05:00:12Z")
IMHO, one of the biggest reasons Trump was able to win in 2016, and lose by a narrower margin than expected last year, was because U.S. public trust and faith in mainstream media has cratered to an all-time low. Lon… --- ## [Elon Musk will save the world!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-will-save-the-world/947401)
**Author:** [@GeneralTang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeneralTang)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-will-save-the-world/947401 "2021-10-13T21:42:09Z")
Okay, the title is a bit click-baity What I mean is that spaceX is building a space launching platform that is orders-of-magnitude more advanced then any other system (starship), and it looks like they will succeed. No… --- ## [Is this a fair and reasonable prediction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-fair-and-reasonable-prediction/952318)
**Author:** [@Mdm.President](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdm.President)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-fair-and-reasonable-prediction/952318 "2021-10-13T19:23:59Z")
The gist is that for the foreseeable future, the kind of problems we’ve been seeing from COVID, mainly shortages, will become worse because of climate change. Developed countries will begin to function more like 3rd worl… --- ## [Abortion, Mandatory Vaccination, and Bodily Autonomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-mandatory-vaccination-and-bodily-autonomy/949518)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-mandatory-vaccination-and-bodily-autonomy/949518 "2021-10-13T17:49:00Z")
I’m personally very pro-choice, but my beliefs have a lot to do with humility (I don’t have much stake in the issue so I should maybe listen to those that do) coupled with my beliefs about moral philosophy (rights accrue… --- ## [Let's pretend for a moment that Peak Oil(tm) happens...what could be done, today, in 2020?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pretend-for-a-moment-that-peak-oil-tm-happens-what-could-be-done-today-in-2020/916922)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pretend-for-a-moment-that-peak-oil-tm-happens-what-could-be-done-today-in-2020/916922 "2021-10-12T16:40:51Z")
So, I was in a discussion this weekend with a Peak Oil™ advocate who was, again, touting that we are in the end game of Peak Oil™ and soon, the entire world, economy, society, culture, etc was going to collapse. Apparen… --- ## [A few questions about the separate but equal and the integration movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-separate-but-equal-and-the-integration-movement/952045)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-separate-but-equal-and-the-integration-movement/952045 "2021-10-11T20:00:47Z")
Ok I was in various foster homes in the 80s that were African American and since I was into history I often asked about black history and since most of the couples were grandparent types they could vividly remember… --- ## [Does persecution strengthen or weaken the thing being persecuted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-persecution-strengthen-or-weaken-the-thing-being-persecuted/951793)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-persecution-strengthen-or-weaken-the-thing-being-persecuted/951793 "2021-10-03T18:05:05Z")
I attended a fairly conservative Christian college and one of the history professors made a point of challenging what he regarded as a “romantic myth:” He pointed out that, contrary to the belief that persecution makes C… --- ## [Role of pimps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/role-of-pimps/952272)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2021, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/role-of-pimps/952272 "2021-10-11T11:18:49Z")
What, in purely socioeconomic terms of an illegal or underground economy, is the role of pimps? At first glance they would appear to be as pure a parasite class as could be imagined, simply taxing the earnings of prostit… --- ## ['300 Messiahs' Executed That Year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-messiahs-executed-that-year/951342)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2021, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-messiahs-executed-that-year/951342 "2021-10-10T03:22:47Z")
(I thought about this question for a while. And I decided to put it in GD. Because someone will argue, at one point it’ll turn into a debate :slight\_smile: .) My head is still reeling from what I just heard on the Scien… --- ## [Unmatched actors and roles - what is the cutoff for race, sexual orientation, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmatched-actors-and-roles-what-is-the-cutoff-for-race-sexual-orientation-etc/951953)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmatched-actors-and-roles-what-is-the-cutoff-for-race-sexual-orientation-etc/951953 "2021-10-09T01:54:29Z")
We’ve all seen the various controversies over the years, both contemporary and retrospectively, about an actor cast in a role that does not match their personal reality, e.g. Fisher Stevens (self-described “White Jewish … --- ## [Use of the Word 'False' in Ethical Nihilism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-false-in-ethical-nihilism/952173)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-false-in-ethical-nihilism/952173 "2021-10-08T21:10:16Z")
I try to understand all I can about science and philosophy. And as I understand it, many philosophers are moral nihilists. (I once assumed most were. But someone on these boards once pointed out actually most philosopher… --- ## [Racial segregation at universities--a growing, and legitimate trend?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-segregation-at-universities-a-growing-and-legitimate-trend/951334)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 214\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-segregation-at-universities-a-growing-and-legitimate-trend/951334 "2021-10-08T04:08:33Z")
Bill Maher is an astute and well-informed political comedian. He’s a liberal, but is also featured on Fox news ,because he is very opposed to the extreme left,“woke” side of the progressive movement. In this clip, he c… --- ## [Why weren't Syrian Refugees accepted any other Islamic countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-syrian-refugees-accepted-any-other-islamic-countries/951957)
**Author:** [@PozhanPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PozhanPop)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-werent-syrian-refugees-accepted-any-other-islamic-countries/951957 "2021-10-07T20:11:22Z")
My heart goes out for refugees as a whole. But I had no answer to this question posed by a friend at work. He was asking why the very rich Arab Emirates, Saudi or Kuwait who are right next door did not lift a finger to… --- ## [Too intelligent to be a law enforcement officer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-intelligent-to-be-a-law-enforcement-officer/951331)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-intelligent-to-be-a-law-enforcement-officer/951331 "2021-10-07T17:33:43Z")
I recently re-watched the movie “Breach”, about Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent who committed espionage for the Soviet Union and Russia. Hanssen had been a Chicago police officer before joining the FBI, and there is a bri… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=34)