# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=44 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 45 --- ## [Armenians torch their homes on land ceded to Azerbaijan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armenians-torch-their-homes-on-land-ceded-to-azerbaijan/925577)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armenians-torch-their-homes-on-land-ceded-to-azerbaijan/925577 "2020-11-21T20:07:00Z")
As reported here: Do you think this is justified legally, ethically or morally? I also wonder if Putin knew all along that this would happen, since I can’t find any evidence that he has spoken out against the practice. … --- ## [What do you consider clearest evidence of ongoing US racism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-clearest-evidence-of-ongoing-us-racism/919067)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 161\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-clearest-evidence-of-ongoing-us-racism/919067 "2020-11-20T01:57:17Z")
Apologies if you feel this an ignorant question, but I intend it sincerely. And I’m a little embarrassed to be asking hte questing. I recently had a discussion w/ someone who questioned how much ongoing racism existed … --- ## [Is Fuzzy Logic dead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fuzzy-logic-dead/658287)
**Author:** [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fuzzy-logic-dead/658287 "2020-11-19T20:06:46Z")
What ever happened to “fuzzy logic.” It was all the rage in the early 1990’s. Japanese companies were building washing machines and bullet trains controlled by fuzzy logic. How much of this was hype? Are people still usi… --- ## [What issue most divides you from others who share your general political ideology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-issue-most-divides-you-from-others-who-share-your-general-political-ideology/923865)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-issue-most-divides-you-from-others-who-share-your-general-political-ideology/923865 "2020-11-17T17:20:10Z")
We may be liberal, conservative, libertarian, or something else. But many of us find ourselves sharply at odds with the vast majority of otherwise like-minded people on at least one issue. What’s that issue for you? --- ## [Was the Girl Scouts right to delete a post honoring Amy Barrett's appointment to the supreme court?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-girl-scouts-right-to-delete-a-post-honoring-amy-barretts-appointment-to-the-supreme-court/924238)
**Author:** [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-girl-scouts-right-to-delete-a-post-honoring-amy-barretts-appointment-to-the-supreme-court/924238 "2020-11-15T01:12:18Z")
Story HERE. and HERE Apparently someone made a post honoring Amy Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme court and pointing out she was only the 5th woman ever to do so. You can see the post at the links above. It includes… --- ## [Is James Lindsay's description of Wokeness accurate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-james-lindsays-description-of-wokeness-accurate/925177)
**Author:** [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Replies:** 287\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-james-lindsays-description-of-wokeness-accurate/925177 "2020-11-14T21:34:06Z")
In the linked video, James Lindsay presents an overview of Wokeness, or Critical Social Justice, or what we might call Critical Theory of the post-post-modernism era. Lindsay is opposed to this movement bu… --- ## [Were slaves ever allowed to “retire”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-slaves-ever-allowed-to-retire/922647)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-slaves-ever-allowed-to-retire/922647 "2020-11-14T20:43:43Z")
The life of an American slaves was undoubtedly brutal, even if the abuse wasn’t considered. Field work must have been exhausting, and I imagine that stress fractures or pulled muscles were common. Even house work offer… --- ## [Why did the Germans build Scharnhorst class?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-germans-build-scharnhorst-class/924392)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2020, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-germans-build-scharnhorst-class/924392 "2020-11-14T05:11:07Z")
And the Deutschland class as well (don’t want to make the title unwieldy). Both ships were in a weird place, too big to be considered heavy or battlecruisers but not strong enough to be part of a battle line They freak… --- ## [If the US Lost the Revolutionary War - Better Off Now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-lost-the-revolutionary-war-better-off-now/924861)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-lost-the-revolutionary-war-better-off-now/924861 "2020-11-13T18:57:04Z")
I have no great knowledge of American history, but recently my husband commented that the US would be a better country if we had lost the Revolutionary War. It sounded like a cool idea for a GD thread. What do you think… --- ## [How should California v. Texas be decided?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-california-v-texas-be-decided/924930)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-california-v-texas-be-decided/924930 "2020-11-11T11:31:39Z")
The case is docketed as No. 19-840. From the petition for a writ of certiorati: QUESTIONS PRESENTED As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Congress adopted 26 U.S.C. § 5000A. Section 5000A p… --- ## [Confronting Urban vs. Rural Prejudices](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confronting-urban-vs-rural-prejudices/924916)
**Author:** [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confronting-urban-vs-rural-prejudices/924916 "2020-11-09T23:18:34Z")
Not wanting to derail a different topic, I pulled out these two comments to start a new one. Just because some talking head says something about their own group, or disparages some other group, that does not make it s… --- ## [\[not accurate\] Democrats proposing extending school day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-accurate-democrats-proposing-extending-school-day/925116)
**Author:** [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2020, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-accurate-democrats-proposing-extending-school-day/925116 "2020-11-09T12:02:26Z")
Kamala Harris is proposing a new law which would add 3 hours to the school day. The idea is to align the school day, currently roughly 7-3 pm to the workday which is closer to 7-6 pm. Now I get her point and it does mak… --- ## [Biden shouldn't have a crowded inauguration party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-shouldnt-have-a-crowded-inauguration-party/925054)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-shouldnt-have-a-crowded-inauguration-party/925054 "2020-11-09T03:12:42Z")
On the one hand, there would be no better, and perhaps necessary, rebuke to Trump and Trumpism than having a real jam-packed inauguration. On the other hand there’s, y’know, a deadly uncontrolled pandemic raging in the … --- ## [France and the cartoons of Mohammed; what's your take?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/france-and-the-cartoons-of-mohammed-whats-your-take/924221)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 617\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/france-and-the-cartoons-of-mohammed-whats-your-take/924221 "2020-11-08T02:02:08Z")
I’ve been thinking about this topic for days and still don’t know what to make of it. On the one hand, Islamic murder of teachers and cartoonists (beheading of Samuel Paty recently; attack on Charlie Hebdo years ago) is … --- ## [So What Bad Things Is the USA Up To Today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-bad-things-is-the-usa-up-to-today/921219)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2020, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-bad-things-is-the-usa-up-to-today/921219 "2020-11-07T03:29:55Z")
As I already said here, the US has done some pretty nasty things in the past. But was it only in the past? I know people often talk about American fascism in past tense terms. Like it is a nightmare we would all like to… --- ## [Proposed constitutional amendment: Overruling SCOTUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-constitutional-amendment-overruling-scotus/924059)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-constitutional-amendment-overruling-scotus/924059 "2020-11-07T00:46:32Z")
I propose (without having given it near enough thought–I am counting on the Dope to do that) an amendment that would automatically put it up to the voters at large to overrule the court whenever it declared an act of con… --- ## [Should fines be based on wealth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fines-be-based-on-wealth/923439)
**Author:** [@JBlackstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBlackstone)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fines-be-based-on-wealth/923439 "2020-11-06T14:19:30Z")
If a poor person gets a $100 parking fine that can ruin their whole month but if a guy on a million a year gets a $100 fine then that’s the same as no fine at all. I think the richer you are the more you should pay and t… --- ## [California Proposition 13](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-proposition-13/924120)
**Author:** [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-proposition-13/924120 "2020-11-05T17:33:31Z")
Mods, if this is the wrong forum, please move it but I suspect a debate may break out. I was reading an article today that mentioned that Howard Jarvis framed his campaign to pass Proposition 13 as a way to make the pr… --- ## [Resolved: Police is effectively abolished](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-police-is-effectively-abolished/855408)
**Author:** [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2020, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-police-is-effectively-abolished/855408 "2020-11-04T04:06:18Z")
I’ve not yet heard a precise definition of what people mean by “abolish” when they talk about abolishing the police. For the sake of this discussion, let us assume the dictionary definition: Abolish (verb): formally pu… --- ## [Why require registration to vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-require-registration-to-vote/924656)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-require-registration-to-vote/924656 "2020-11-03T23:25:41Z")
For what reasons was voter registration instituted in the US? For what reasons is it retained? My uneducated hunch is that it was originally required back in the olden days of where information travelled at the pace of… --- ## ['Dry Drunk' and the Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-drunk-and-the-law/923169)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-drunk-and-the-law/923169 "2020-10-30T20:52:02Z")
About 30 years ago, a registered nurse was telling me about this. It’s been so long, I don’t even know the context. Alcoholics, even if they haven’t had a drop to drink, might suffer from a phenomenon called dry drunk. … --- ## [Hypothetical: Man raped, wife and child stabbed, rapist becomes pregnant, faces death penalty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-man-raped-wife-and-child-stabbed-rapist-becomes-pregnant-faces-death-penalty/923355)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-man-raped-wife-and-child-stabbed-rapist-becomes-pregnant-faces-death-penalty/923355 "2020-10-29T18:19:46Z")
I’ve conjured a horrible, horrible scenario, in the hopes of drawing out some moral and/or legal analysis. Details of the hypothetical caseLet’s pretend John Doe is married with a young daughter. He is very religious an… --- ## [Renewable Reparations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renewable-reparations/920594)
**Author:** [@damuriajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damuriajashi)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renewable-reparations/920594 "2020-10-27T01:03:13Z")
The conversation on racial justice has moved from “equality of opportunity” when i was younger towards “there is no such thing of equality of opportunity so we must have equality of outcome” One of the primary drivers b… --- ## [An asteroid killed the dinosaur’s, Bennu will kill us all](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-asteroid-killed-the-dinosaur-s-bennu-will-kill-us-all/923842)
**Author:** [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-asteroid-killed-the-dinosaur-s-bennu-will-kill-us-all/923842 "2020-10-25T18:47:03Z")
An asteroid killed the dinosaur’s, Bennu will kill us all 101955 Bennu (provisional designation 1999 RQ36)\[9\] is a carbonaceous asteroid in the Apollo group discovered by the LINEAR Project on 11 September 1999. It is… --- ## [Snowden now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowden-now/835859)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2020, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowden-now/835859 "2020-10-25T02:46:01Z")
I for one have changed my opinion of Edward Snowden over the years, especially over the last three. In fact I’m pretty sure I stated here on this board that I thought he was a traitor and should suffer for it (and I kno… --- ## [Is the lack of black fathers the true reason for racial disparity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-lack-of-black-fathers-the-true-reason-for-racial-disparity/923010)
**Author:** [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-lack-of-black-fathers-the-true-reason-for-racial-disparity/923010 "2020-10-24T21:42:20Z")
THIS article talks about this issue. Basically if more black children were raised by a married Dad and Mom they would turn out better. They would stay out of trouble with the law and do better in school. Now personally… --- ## [Google Antitrust Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-antitrust-case/923534)
**Author:** [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-antitrust-case/923534 "2020-10-22T22:53:52Z")
The DOJ has filed an antitrust suit against Google. I have not read the whole complaint, but my initial impression is that this seems like a weak case. Unlike with Microsoft 20 years ago, it’s really easy to change the… --- ## [In the World Wars (I & II) should battleships have been used more aggressively?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-world-wars-i-ii-should-battleships-have-been-used-more-aggressively/912230)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 224\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-world-wars-i-ii-should-battleships-have-been-used-more-aggressively/912230 "2020-10-19T23:49:21Z")
When looking at both WWI and WWII we see that battleships were usually kept well back from danger and rarely used to do what, presumably, they were meant to do…beat the crap out of the opposing navy. Certainly in WWII t… --- ## [Would the US Allow a State to Secede Today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-us-allow-a-state-to-secede-today/923107)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2020, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-us-allow-a-state-to-secede-today/923107 "2020-10-19T07:28:04Z")
Back when the Brexit mess was first brewing, I posted a thread asking why the EU wouldn’t consider military means to stop Britain from withdrawing. After all, if the EU is like a United States of Europe, secession would… --- ## [Why Is Turkey So Invested In Denying The Armenian Genocide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-turkey-so-invested-in-denying-the-armenian-genocide/922430)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2020, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-turkey-so-invested-in-denying-the-armenian-genocide/922430 "2020-10-16T09:47:28Z")
What does Turkey have to gain by going to such extreme measures to deny the Armenian genocide? If they hated the Armenians so much then, and continue to hate them so much now, then from where I sit they should just take … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=45)