# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=539 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 540 --- ## [Does easier access to porn result in less rape?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-easier-access-to-porn-result-in-less-rape/495156)
**Author:** [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-easier-access-to-porn-result-in-less-rape/495156 "2009-05-07T16:20:01Z")
I was going through my bookmarks and found a link to a Slate article from 2006 called How the Web Prevents Rape that cites a study by Todd Kendall of Clemson University entitled “Pornography, Rape, and the Internet”. Th… --- ## [Chuck Norris isn't all bad, he's for socialized medicine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-norris-isnt-all-bad-hes-for-socialized-medicine/495073)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-norris-isnt-all-bad-hes-for-socialized-medicine/495073 "2009-05-06T22:51:55Z")
It’s popular in some quarters to bash the Religious Right eight ways to Sunday. But I maintained for years that the Christian part of the Christian Right was the one part of the GOP that could save it. I was looking thi… --- ## [Christians: Why does an eternal God care about temporal morality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-why-does-an-eternal-god-care-about-temporal-morality/495427)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-why-does-an-eternal-god-care-about-temporal-morality/495427 "2009-05-06T21:28:49Z")
Please note: I added the word Christians to the subject line because I wish to discuss the matter in terms of the Christian faith, not because I intend to attack Christianity. In debates about theodicy, persons who see … --- ## [Do right-wing talkers actually believe their own schtick?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-right-wing-talkers-actually-believe-their-own-schtick/495278)
**Author:** [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-right-wing-talkers-actually-believe-their-own-schtick/495278 "2009-05-06T16:35:53Z")
Or are they just saying what they they think their audience wants to hear? Classic case in point, if a Republican gets caught up in a sex scandal, it amounts to little more than a personal failing and is best dealt with… --- ## [Oil Price Manipulation - Goldman Sachs and SemGroup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-price-manipulation-goldman-sachs-and-semgroup/495355)
**Author:** [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-price-manipulation-goldman-sachs-and-semgroup/495355 "2009-05-06T15:20:34Z")
I know that speculators and manipulators was a big topic of discussion when the price of oil rose to a record $147/bbl last summer. Since then, talk has lost steam as a result of prices dropping back down to around the $… --- ## [The backlash against helicopter parents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-backlash-against-helicopter-parents/495322)
**Author:** [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-backlash-against-helicopter-parents/495322 "2009-05-06T14:24:08Z")
There have been a lot of articles and books recently like A Nation of Wimps By: Hara Estroff Marano http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20041112-000010.html -Stop worrying about your children! http://www.salo… --- ## [Alt English History: Whose Survival Might have had the most effect? Whose death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-english-history-whose-survival-might-have-had-the-most-effect-whose-death/495061)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-english-history-whose-survival-might-have-had-the-most-effect-whose-death/495061 "2009-05-06T09:51:46Z")
I’ve been thinking of alternative English history a bit recently, and was thinking about certain instances where someone died unexpectedly, and how history could have developed if that person had survived. Often, it’s h… --- ## [Blasphemy in Ireland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasphemy-in-ireland/494790)
**Author:** [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasphemy-in-ireland/494790 "2009-05-06T09:18:01Z")
Ireland has always had the crimes of blasphemy and sedition written into the Constitution, but due to vaugeness, the courts never enforced them. Enter our Justice, Equality and Law Reform Minister, who has introduced bl… --- ## [What are cap and trades chances this year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-cap-and-trades-chances-this-year/495406)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-cap-and-trades-chances-this-year/495406 "2009-05-06T03:37:16Z")
Team Obama is clearly putting Healthcare Reform above cap and trade on its to-do list this year and I have heard that the votes for getting some form of cap and trade are there in the House, even with some opposition fro… --- ## [Build a better PETA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-a-better-peta/494741)
**Author:** [@geezermom67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geezermom67)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-a-better-peta/494741 "2009-05-05T22:56:59Z")
I have seen on threads here, and in many other places, that people have very negative opinions of PETA, even if they support animal welfare and/or rights. So, I’m curious, how could an organization like PETA be improved? … --- ## [Could/Should Jay Bybee be disbarred?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-should-jay-bybee-be-disbarred/494008)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-should-jay-bybee-be-disbarred/494008 "2009-05-05T22:05:18Z")
This could be a GQ question but figure it is more likely to be appropriate in here. This is pretty straightforward: I was wondering, under current rules for the American Bar Association (or State Bar Association if t… --- ## [Should a school be allowed to ban a Confederate flag decal on a student's truck?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-school-be-allowed-to-ban-a-confederate-flag-decal-on-a-students-truck/494915)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-school-be-allowed-to-ban-a-confederate-flag-decal-on-a-students-truck/494915 "2009-05-05T20:21:25Z")
Story here. Should his placement of the decal on his truckallow them to ban it from school grounds or not? --- ## [Do transgender people have an ethical duty to reveal their history before having sex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-transgender-people-have-an-ethical-duty-to-reveal-their-history-before-having-sex/493638)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 371\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-transgender-people-have-an-ethical-duty-to-reveal-their-history-before-having-sex/493638 "2009-05-05T18:39:15Z")
It is obvious that some men will have a very negative reaction to a woman who still has (or had) a penis in terms of contemplating having sexual relations with that person. Does a transgendered woman (or man for that mat… --- ## [Unions for White Collar Professionals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unions-for-white-collar-professionals/494497)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unions-for-white-collar-professionals/494497 "2009-05-05T16:32:50Z")
Is there any reason why there aren’t more of these? And if there are legal obstacles, then is there any reason why there should be? ISTM that as more and more of the wealth produced by large corporations is absorbed by … --- ## [There is a problem with the Obama middle class tax cuts...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-problem-with-the-obama-middle-class-tax-cuts/495329)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-problem-with-the-obama-middle-class-tax-cuts/495329 "2009-05-05T16:08:33Z")
…and people need to be made aware, particularly if they are married and file jointly, or if they are single and hold more than one job (including part time). The intention was good. The idea was to give every working Am… --- ## [Jimmy Carter - was he so bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-carter-was-he-so-bad/494987)
**Author:** [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-carter-was-he-so-bad/494987 "2009-05-05T14:40:48Z")
I’ve heard a lot of people recently wondering if Obama will be another Roosevelt or another Carter. The implication is that Roosevelt was a good president and Carter was a bad one. I’ll admit that I don’t have an opini… --- ## [US out of Iraq by 30 June? Really? What will happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-out-of-iraq-by-30-june-really-what-will-happen/495374)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-out-of-iraq-by-30-june-really-what-will-happen/495374 "2009-05-05T13:36:59Z")
Iraq Insists on US Leaving Cities by June 30 Will this happen? Will some portion of these troops be sent to Afghanistan? Will Iraq suffer? Or rise to the occasion? Will the absence of our troops cause more violence… --- ## [Why are frequent churchgoers more likely to support torture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-frequent-churchgoers-more-likely-to-support-torture/495017)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-frequent-churchgoers-more-likely-to-support-torture/495017 "2009-05-05T02:48:50Z")
There’s a topic from CNN’s Jack Cafferty here and I suspect Dopers will provide the best feedback. The Pew study he references is here. So let’s debate it a bit here and then contribute over there. I think it has to do… --- ## [Is Pakistan hopeless?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pakistan-hopeless/495117)
**Author:** [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pakistan-hopeless/495117 "2009-05-04T19:47:08Z")
A recent AP article describes the latest clashes between Pakistani military forces and the Taliban in the Buner region and near the Afghan border. These clashes are similar to the off-and-on relatively minor clashes we’… --- ## [So Bush lied to get into Iraq, ok but why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bush-lied-to-get-into-iraq-ok-but-why/494567)
**Author:** [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Replies:** 225\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bush-lied-to-get-into-iraq-ok-but-why/494567 "2009-05-04T19:19:39Z")
Why for the oil if we are already in bed with the Saudis --- ## [Euro 2009 election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2009-election/494825)
**Author:** [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2009-election/494825 "2009-05-04T17:55:46Z")
With regard to the upcoming Euro election June 2009 to the European Parliament. I’m making an online poll in which users can answer a number of questions to see which candidate they match best. The questions will first … --- ## [Torture is Most Likely Very Effective](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torture-is-most-likely-very-effective/494098)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 226\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torture-is-most-likely-very-effective/494098 "2009-05-04T17:16:04Z")
There are a lot of torture threads around, but those seem to be dealing with broader issues, and include a strong viewpoint that the effectiveness of torture is irrelevant to current consideration of US policy, so I’m ho… --- ## [How should people absorb political information/opinions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-people-absorb-political-information-opinions/495259)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-people-absorb-political-information-opinions/495259 "2009-05-04T16:06:43Z")
It’s a common liberal belief that Fox News is a political “echo chamber,” just preaching to the choir and telling its viewers what they want to hear. It’s a common conservative belief that the rest of the media is the s… --- ## [Why do we tax carbon emissions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-tax-carbon-emissions/494777)
**Author:** [@auburntiger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auburntiger11)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-tax-carbon-emissions/494777 "2009-05-04T14:14:44Z")
I know some will answer that the government thinks that taxing like they do will curb or deter companies from polluting but it just seems like this is not the reason behind the tax. Simply paying our government for poll… --- ## [Top 3 Successes of President Obama in the first 100 Days...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-3-successes-of-president-obama-in-the-first-100-days/495189)
**Author:** [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-3-successes-of-president-obama-in-the-first-100-days/495189 "2009-05-04T04:12:51Z")
Recovery.gov (and for embracing the social internet in general - facebook, twitter, etc…) Closing the Guantanamo prisons Being the first black President What are some better successes? What are some of his failures? B… --- ## ["Sunlight Before Signing"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sunlight-before-signing/494662)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sunlight-before-signing/494662 "2009-05-03T23:45:06Z")
As a candidate, Senator Obama promised that he as president would not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days. So far … --- ## [Libertarians Freak Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarians-freak-out/494670)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarians-freak-out/494670 "2009-05-03T23:41:59Z")
Apparently, Milton Friedman is now encouraging all good libertarians to go live on oil rig platforms so that they can be free of the democracy (yes, it’s democracy that’s the problem) that oppresses them. They don’t want… --- ## [Great Britain vs Germany, in 1914](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-britain-vs-germany-in-1914/495168)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-britain-vs-germany-in-1914/495168 "2009-05-03T22:41:57Z")
I was reading a book about WWI, and it seems that the British economy was losing out to Germany, in terms of high technology. By 1914, the Germans were outproducing the British in steel, and had surpassed the British in … --- ## [What exactly are holocaust-deniers trying to accomplish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-are-holocaust-deniers-trying-to-accomplish/494719)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-are-holocaust-deniers-trying-to-accomplish/494719 "2009-05-03T16:19:29Z")
I really don’t understand the concept of holocaust denial. From what I’ve seen of Stormfront and many other racist sites, as well as read in the news from countries like Iran, the people who deny the holocaust always se… --- ## [THE post partum depression](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-post-partum-depression/495087)
**Author:** [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-post-partum-depression/495087 "2009-05-03T02:07:00Z")
I’ve noticed a behavior (okay, sample set = 2) and I’m wondering if it’s a full blown behavior or just my personal group of friends. Forgive me if this isn’t completely clear, I’m not developing it into a thesis or anyth… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=538) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=540)