# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=34 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 35 --- ## [Someone explain Kent Hovind](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-explain-kent-hovind/543723)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-explain-kent-hovind/543723 "2021-10-07T01:24:58Z")
This question is directed towards people familiar with Kent Hovind ,the famous anti-evolution evangelist. (currently in jail btw) Have just been watching his “lectures” and debates. This man is obviously not stupid and … --- ## [Was George W Bush Worse than Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-george-w-bush-worse-than-trump/951126)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-george-w-bush-worse-than-trump/951126 "2021-10-05T19:23:10Z")
I’m reading Michael Moore’s Dude, Where’s My Country and while I think Michael Moore has an agenda to push, I think the book is probably an accurate, if satirical piece. I’m sort of changing my mind about rating the pre… --- ## [What made/makes the Germans so good at what they do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-made-makes-the-germans-so-good-at-what-they-do/951560)
**Author:** [@PozhanPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PozhanPop)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-made-makes-the-germans-so-good-at-what-they-do/951560 "2021-10-04T07:00:42Z")
I have always wondered at this. Almost anything you look at, music, math, chemistry, physics, autos the trail invariably leads back to Germany. Technology like Magnetic Tape Recording that took the world by storm The … --- ## [UK Green party peer suggests 6 pm curfew for men](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-green-party-peer-suggests-6-pm-curfew-for-men/937953)
**Author:** [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Replies:** 333\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-green-party-peer-suggests-6-pm-curfew-for-men/937953 "2021-10-01T14:52:29Z")
After the murder of Sarah Everard in London a debate has broken out on how to keep women safe. A woman in the Green party–I assume somewhat tongue-in-cheek–that women would be safest if London instituted a man-only curf… --- ## [WWII: Battle of Midway...why couldn't the Japanese have pressed on and captured the island?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-battle-of-midway-why-couldnt-the-japanese-have-pressed-on-and-captured-the-island/917029)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 592\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-battle-of-midway-why-couldnt-the-japanese-have-pressed-on-and-captured-the-island/917029 "2021-09-30T14:09:35Z")
In World War II the Battle of Midway is seen as the turning point in the war against the Japanese. They lost four aircraft carriers in the space of a few hours. No doubt that was a massive loss. That said, why couldn’t… --- ## [Is Quantum Physics Proof of God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-quantum-physics-proof-of-god/950490)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2021, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-quantum-physics-proof-of-god/950490 "2021-09-29T10:18:39Z")
I don’t have a cite, because I don’t even remember where I first heard it. But it goes something like this. Quantum Physics says in order for something to exist it first has to be observed (?—or ‘measured’?). In the be… --- ## [How \*should\* college admissions work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-college-admissions-work/942479)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2021, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-college-admissions-work/942479 "2021-09-29T06:59:31Z")
Continuing the discussion from Kids have too much homework! Hasn’t this argument been around forever?: I think it’s obvious that the current system of college admissions is broken. It’s created a vicious-circle escalat… --- ## [Is Tuskegee really a reason for black Americans to not get the Covid vaccine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuskegee-really-a-reason-for-black-americans-to-not-get-the-covid-vaccine/950195)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2021, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tuskegee-really-a-reason-for-black-americans-to-not-get-the-covid-vaccine/950195 "2021-09-28T08:35:03Z")
I’ve seen the Tuskugee Syphilis Experiment cited in numerous articles as a reason for black American distrust of the U.S. government and the Covid vaccines (and the relatively low vaccination rate of African-Americans - … --- ## [A response to Richard Dawkins' argument against the existence of God.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-response-to-richard-dawkins-argument-against-the-existence-of-god/514544)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 287\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-response-to-richard-dawkins-argument-against-the-existence-of-god/514544 "2021-09-27T14:18:04Z")
Our latest Dawkins thread began with an atheist worrying about Dawkins’ tone distracting religious readers away from his arguments. It does exactly that. But even if someone rewrote the book in a polite manner, the arg… --- ## [Space Force!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-force/845176)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2021, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-force/845176 "2021-09-26T04:47:04Z")
Seems it’s gonna be a thing, sorta: Space Force will start small but let Trump claim a big win The crux of the biscuit is this: I don’t believe that this will remain it’s own entity for very long at all. I doubt that… --- ## [Popular culture stagnation since mid-1990s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-culture-stagnation-since-mid-1990s/949625)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-culture-stagnation-since-mid-1990s/949625 "2021-09-25T20:26:38Z")
So after reading a bunch of threads over the past few years about music, TV, etc… it seems to me that there’s some kind of cultural stagnation going on that wasn’t the case in the 20th century. Cultural trends used to … --- ## [Uneducated Voters Are Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uneducated-voters-are-republican/950894)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uneducated-voters-are-republican/950894 "2021-09-25T14:41:40Z")
This thread is prompted by the current Twitter trend about the 'diploma divide" in the California recall and how much more pronounced it is compared to the original gubernatorial race only a few years ago. But this is… --- ## [Cold War: Realpolitik or Idealogical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-war-realpolitik-or-idealogical/951294)
**Author:** [@Somethingwitty1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Somethingwitty1)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-war-realpolitik-or-idealogical/951294 "2021-09-25T03:13:59Z")
Did the Soviet Union (Communist Party, Stalin, or however you define it) ever really believe they were going to “free the world” from capitalism? Or did they just get tired of being invaded so they set up a buffer zone … --- ## [General Milley promising to tip off China in advance if America planned to attack: OPSEC violation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-milley-promising-to-tip-off-china-in-advance-if-america-planned-to-attack-opsec-violation/950665)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-milley-promising-to-tip-off-china-in-advance-if-america-planned-to-attack-opsec-violation/950665 "2021-09-24T04:17:24Z")
This is more of a GQ question, but I suspect mods will shift it over to Great Debates sooner or later, so I might as well put it here: In January, during Trump’s last days, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Mark Mi… --- ## [What is or isn't a war crime? Why might a nuclear strike be unlawful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-or-isnt-a-war-crime-why-might-a-nuclear-strike-be-unlawful/951089)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2021, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-or-isnt-a-war-crime-why-might-a-nuclear-strike-be-unlawful/951089 "2021-09-21T23:51:14Z")
RickJay shut down the tangent in “General Milley promising to tip off China in advance if America planned to attack: OPSEC violation?” so here is a dedicated topic. People just joining the conversation, it starts at pos… --- ## [The Vinland Map-Is It a fake?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-vinland-map-is-it-a-fake/127655)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-vinland-map-is-it-a-fake/127655 "2021-09-21T07:36:51Z")
A recent article in the BOSTON GLOBE, relates that the Yale University-owned “Vinland” Map has been radio-carbon dated to ca. 1430. I belive that the late Dr. Walter McCrone analyzed themap. and decided that it was a fak… --- ## [Climate change Collaboration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-collaboration/950937)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-collaboration/950937 "2021-09-19T18:05:23Z")
I decided to put this topic in great debates because I think this is the best way to arrive at the feasibility of something I believe possible and extremely important. I am of the view that Climate Change and all of the … --- ## [What do anti-Covid-protocol people think the "true" motive of maskers, vaxxers, distancers is?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-anti-covid-protocol-people-think-the-true-motive-of-maskers-vaxxers-distancers-is/949925)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-anti-covid-protocol-people-think-the-true-motive-of-maskers-vaxxers-distancers-is/949925 "2021-09-16T21:05:44Z")
More of a GD thread than Quarantine, so I’m putting it here, but mods can move if they want: Throughout this pandemic, we’ve seen anti-restriction people (wish there were a simple term for them; I don’t want “Covidiots”… --- ## [The World Is On Fire and In Extreme Drought: When And Where WIll The Future Water Wars Be Fought?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-on-fire-and-in-extreme-drought-when-and-where-will-the-future-water-wars-be-fought/948398)
**Author:** [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Replies:** 163\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-on-fire-and-in-extreme-drought-when-and-where-will-the-future-water-wars-be-fought/948398 "2021-09-13T15:25:23Z")
Title says it all. I have to imagine with ever increasing populations of people worldwide coupled with climate change driven water extremes that water scarcity will create conflicts and wars. And probably already has. I… --- ## [Why do conservatives take some diseases seriously, but not others?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-conservatives-take-some-diseases-seriously-but-not-others/947012)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-conservatives-take-some-diseases-seriously-but-not-others/947012 "2021-09-13T15:07:41Z")
Although coronavirus-related, this isn’t really a Covid thread, so I’m not putting it in Quarantine Zone: Conservatives are plenty capable of taking a disease seriously. When there was the (tiny, tiny) risk of Ebola in … --- ## [Who won the Battle of Jutland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-won-the-battle-of-jutland/950022)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-won-the-battle-of-jutland/950022 "2021-09-09T14:32:50Z")
While this thread is title as a question it is not one for which there is a factual answer–military historians and the public has disputed the outcome of the Battle of Jutland for over 100 years. From 31 May to 1 Jun 19… --- ## [Horrifically bad title replaced](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifically-bad-title-replaced/950267)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifically-bad-title-replaced/950267 "2021-09-08T00:25:43Z")
Continuing the discussion from Do sexual preferences make one a bigot?: Here’s a sick hypothetical. In the aftermath of global thermonuclear war, everybody is dead except you and one other person who is of the opposite … --- ## [Why can't the US win any wars anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-the-us-win-any-wars-anymore/948205)
**Author:** [@Somethingwitty1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Somethingwitty1)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-the-us-win-any-wars-anymore/948205 "2021-09-07T22:20:28Z")
WWII was the last slam dunk. Korea: Maybe you could call it a draw. South Korea is probably better off today due to our involvement. North Korea still exist though. Vietnam: We lost Gulf War I: Kicked ass initiall… --- ## [What's the "lesson" of each modern war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-lesson-of-each-modern-war/948959)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2021, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-lesson-of-each-modern-war/948959 "2021-09-07T02:12:58Z")
World War I: Machine guns can make territorial advance virtually impossible. World War II: Airpower is highly effective. Also, if you are an invader, don’t overstretch yourself (Japan and Germany both conquered too mu… --- ## [How did Enlightenment thinkers defend liberty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-enlightenment-thinkers-defend-liberty/950117)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2021, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-enlightenment-thinkers-defend-liberty/950117 "2021-09-05T07:29:26Z")
Since they disputed the Hobbesian concept of the government as Leviathan, yet acknowledged that anarchy was not a desirable situation, how did they answer this question, as it might have been phrased at the time: “What i… --- ## [Eviction moratorium and unpaid rents, are people doomed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eviction-moratorium-and-unpaid-rents-are-people-doomed/947253)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2021, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eviction-moratorium-and-unpaid-rents-are-people-doomed/947253 "2021-09-04T02:01:47Z")
In general, I think the eviction freeze was a bad idea, although well intended. Most people will have dig themselves a hole that they just won’t be able to get out of. Unlike a car payment or mortgage, you can’t just p… --- ## [Why did blockbuster video fail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-blockbuster-video-fail/931051)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-blockbuster-video-fail/931051 "2021-09-03T19:04:59Z")
I know the obvious answer is brick and mortar video stores were on their way out. But I remember a decade ago Blockbuster had kiosks like redbox everywhere. Blockbuster also had a streaming service and they had a DVD by… --- ## [Why are we still in Afghanistan and Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-still-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/845985)
**Author:** [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2021, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-still-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/845985 "2021-09-03T08:58:24Z")
My grand-daughter posed that question to me the other day. She’s aware of the initial reason to invade Afghanistan after 9/11. She’s aware of the unilateral decision by Bush 43 to invade Iraq. What’s she’s finding har… --- ## [Phenomenon where pastime/discipline becomes more baroquely complex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phenomenon-where-pastime-discipline-becomes-more-baroquely-complex/948033)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phenomenon-where-pastime-discipline-becomes-more-baroquely-complex/948033 "2021-09-02T00:05:50Z")
I’ve noticed over the years that there are multiple disciplines/pastimes where the classic examples are relatively simple, but the modern practitioners seem to be more interested in ever more arcane and complicated rendi… --- ## [What if politicians were required to live like their constituents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-politicians-were-required-to-live-like-their-constituents/949781)
**Author:** [@Mnemnosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnemnosyne)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-politicians-were-required-to-live-like-their-constituents/949781 "2021-08-31T18:51:33Z")
For a while, I’ve been pondering if a good way to fix politics would be to require those in charge of policy to live like those they create that policy for. Sadly I can’t imagine a way to get there from where we are, bu… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=35)