# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=613 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 614 --- ## [Homophobia by women against gay males?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobia-by-women-against-gay-males/460230)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobia-by-women-against-gay-males/460230 "2008-08-20T02:08:42Z")
I figured GD might be the place for this, though I don’t really have any heavy thoughts of my own on this subject, and I certainly don’t want to bring about any hurt feelings. I’m just curious, though: it appears that ho… --- ## [Are Republicans dirtier campaigners?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-republicans-dirtier-campaigners/460331)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-republicans-dirtier-campaigners/460331 "2008-08-19T16:40:57Z")
To preface this question, I consider myself a conservative (whatever that means), and the first time I ever voted I voted for George W. Bush – a decision I regret now and didn’t repeat in 2004. I will also be voting for… --- ## [Black Power movement and civil rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-movement-and-civil-rights/460544)
**Author:** [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-movement-and-civil-rights/460544 "2008-08-19T13:11:38Z")
Were the Black Power movement and other offshoot movements that rejected non-violence at all effective in securing any rights for black Americans in the 60s? My hazy recollection from reading Taylor Branch, David Halber… --- ## [IF OJ had been found guilty, what should his sentence have been?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-oj-had-been-found-guilty-what-should-his-sentence-have-been/460000)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-oj-had-been-found-guilty-what-should-his-sentence-have-been/460000 "2008-08-19T01:30:44Z")
With threads about famous killers being denied parole and whether the death penalty should be used, I’m wondering about this. If OJ had been found guilty, should he have gotten life imprisonment without parole? Or with … --- ## [Iran Launches Satellite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-launches-satellite/460375)
**Author:** [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-launches-satellite/460375 "2008-08-19T00:42:21Z")
I saw a news report online (originating from AFP) which said that Iran launched a satellite into Earth orbit. Have any Dopers heard anything further on this subject?? --- ## [Union Voting: Why Not Private?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-voting-why-not-private/460104)
**Author:** [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-voting-why-not-private/460104 "2008-08-18T21:46:35Z")
There are ads running in Oregon ragging on the Dem Senatorial candidate for voting against a law that would require secret ballots when voting for union representation. I know as a liberal I’m supposed to support unions … --- ## [Suppose Pope Pius Had made This Speech?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-pope-pius-had-made-this-speech/459729)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-pope-pius-had-made-this-speech/459729 "2008-08-18T21:36:45Z")
Pope Pius (XII?)(Eugenio Pacelli), has been criticized in some quarters, for his reluctance to criticize the Nazis. In Rolf Hochuth’s play (“THE DEPUTY”), Pius was slammed for being too compliant with the fascists. Witho… --- ## [The Truth About ANWR](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-anwr/460096)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-anwr/460096 "2008-08-18T17:27:27Z")
My uncle sent me a video called The Truth About ANWR. Basically the narration says ‘ANWR isn’t as pretty as Democrats say, so we should drill there.’ What do you think? --- ## [What's the first thing you think of when seeing this New York magazine cover?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of-when-seeing-this-new-york-magazine-cover/459663)
**Author:** [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of-when-seeing-this-new-york-magazine-cover/459663 "2008-08-18T15:05:50Z")
Today at the bookstore, I saw this cover for the recent New York magazine. Looking at it, what is the first thing you thought of when seeing the combination of the prominent word on the cover and the prominent picture? … --- ## [Christian Prayer=Why Bother?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-prayer-why-bother/459955)
**Author:** [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-prayer-why-bother/459955 "2008-08-18T11:04:05Z")
Why bother praying? If “God” is truely omniscient and omnipotent, isn’t what you are praying for kind of either moot or pointless or both? Apparently its all gonna happen accordining to “God’s will” anyway, so why both… --- ## [Who is running the UK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-running-the-uk/460398)
**Author:** [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-running-the-uk/460398 "2008-08-18T09:09:54Z")
I think that the time has come when we seriously have to consider who is running the UK at the moment: the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, or the Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron. Gordon Brown’s lack of action and l… --- ## [Chavez Wants to Rename Latin America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chavez-wants-to-rename-latin-america/459802)
**Author:** [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chavez-wants-to-rename-latin-america/459802 "2008-08-18T00:41:19Z")
I saw a news item today online (I think it was originally a report from Novosti), that says that President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela wants to change the name of Latin America to Indian America. Is this a new official cam… --- ## [Naked shorts: What are they? Are they good for the stock market?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-shorts-what-are-they-are-they-good-for-the-stock-market/460133)
**Author:** [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naked-shorts-what-are-they-are-they-good-for-the-stock-market/460133 "2008-08-17T23:44:50Z")
As best as I can understand from the wiki article and this Motley Fool piece , Shorting stock is when one sells stock they do not have in hopes that the value of the stock will go down. Normally, the person desiring t… --- ## [Recovered momory cause personality disfunction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovered-momory-cause-personality-disfunction/460084)
**Author:** [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovered-momory-cause-personality-disfunction/460084 "2008-08-17T19:36:47Z")
I was watching an old Stargate episode where a character called Linea (who was previously a genocidal mass-murderer) loses her memory, and becomes a lovely new person. Then her memory comes back and she has to fight betw… --- ## ['Clinton wants her delegates heard'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-wants-her-delegates-heard/459178)
**Author:** [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-wants-her-delegates-heard/459178 "2008-08-16T18:30:54Z")
CBSNews is reporting that Hillary Clinton “is seeking a way for her delegates to be heard at the Democratic National Convention.” It also says that “The former first lady did not rule out the possibility of having her n… --- ## [The New Assault Weapons Ban](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-assault-weapons-ban/459509)
**Author:** [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Replies:** 244\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-assault-weapons-ban/459509 "2008-08-16T00:38:09Z")
OK, so I thought it was a thread with possiblities except for the OP with an obvious axe to grind. Shall we try again? Bearing this in mind: link to previous closed thread, read the final post I now live in England, wh… --- ## [Are there any real "universal values" in view of attitudes toward past societies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-universal-values-in-view-of-attitudes-toward-past-societies/460076)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-universal-values-in-view-of-attitudes-toward-past-societies/460076 "2008-08-15T16:21:54Z")
The recent thread on the death penalty got me thinking that the practice was still widespread in Europe up until WWII. Not to pick on Europe, but ever since they “got religion” on the topic, they seem to have adopted an … --- ## [The Second Amendment and State Action.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-amendment-and-state-action/459893)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-amendment-and-state-action/459893 "2008-08-15T14:59:38Z")
Quick civics lesson: the U.S. Bill of Rights was originally meant to only apply to the federal government. It only started applying to state action when the U.S. Supreme Court started selectively incorporating it thru th… --- ## [Venerated eco-saint grows MJ & shrooms & might lose his farm under home seizure laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venerated-eco-saint-grows-mj-shrooms-might-lose-his-farm-under-home-seizure-laws/459526)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venerated-eco-saint-grows-mj-shrooms-might-lose-his-farm-under-home-seizure-laws/459526 "2008-08-15T05:03:09Z")
Interesting story. A local retired teacher/farmer/eco-saint/cancer survivor got cought growing ganja & shrooms on his farm & may have his farm taken away. The amount was not a huge haul, but it was considerably bigger th… --- ## [Anything we can learn from the French about nuclear power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-we-can-learn-from-the-french-about-nuclear-power/459639)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-we-can-learn-from-the-french-about-nuclear-power/459639 "2008-08-15T04:25:26Z")
According to Newsweek, the French get 76.8% of their power from nuclear energy. The U.S. gets just 19.4% from it. Given our energy needs, is there anything we can learn from France? What have they done right, or wrong… --- ## [Would it be better if everyone did therapy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-better-if-everyone-did-therapy/459829)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-better-if-everyone-did-therapy/459829 "2008-08-15T04:16:08Z")
Our current societal view of therapy is that it’s for people who have something wrong with them and that normal people have no need for therapy. As a result, there’s a deep stigma and hostility towards attending therapy … --- ## [Obama and Georgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-georgia/459921)
**Author:** [@blinkthrice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkthrice)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-georgia/459921 "2008-08-15T04:09:47Z")
With all the madness within which Europe has recently found itself entrenched, and with Obama fresh off of a foreign tour designed to boost his credentials as a leader on the world stage, how should he handle the current… --- ## [If Jesus came back today, which religion would he most identify with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-came-back-today-which-religion-would-he-most-identify-with/458699)
**Author:** [@blinkthrice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkthrice)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-came-back-today-which-religion-would-he-most-identify-with/458699 "2008-08-15T03:45:25Z")
The other day, I was having a discussion with two buddies of mine, both of whom happen to be christian (one catholic, one protestant), when this subject came up. They seemed a little peeved with me(as an agnostic) for su… --- ## [Evolution: Current theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-current-theory/459299)
**Author:** [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-current-theory/459299 "2008-08-15T01:03:00Z")
My personal bug-bear is poor education in the sciences, which has led me into countless arguments on evolution and the misapplication of ‘the theory of evolution’ to social policy IRL. So, I am just throwing these links… --- ## [Interpretive Dancing as a form of worship](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretive-dancing-as-a-form-of-worship/459615)
**Author:** [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretive-dancing-as-a-form-of-worship/459615 "2008-08-15T00:18:37Z")
I was reading something in a guitar forum where someone was talking abount playing in the “praise band” and mentioned interpretive dancing going on while they were playing. I’m a nominal Christian at best, I was raised … --- ## [one third of new home owners owe more then the house is worth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-third-of-new-home-owners-owe-more-then-the-house-is-worth/459934)
**Author:** [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-third-of-new-home-owners-owe-more-then-the-house-is-worth/459934 "2008-08-14T21:19:52Z")
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3uzhDOF9FXI&refer=home Is there really going to be any solution to the housing crisis soon? In some areas such as southern California it appears that 90% of the new … --- ## [Is My wife Hispanic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-hispanic/459888)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-hispanic/459888 "2008-08-14T18:58:34Z")
I am puzzled about the classifications that the US government uses. they say a hispanic person is someone who comes from a culture which is that of the Iberian peninsula. my wife was born in Brazil (now a naturalized US … --- ## [U.S. exporting record amounts of gasoline?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-exporting-record-amounts-of-gasoline/459317)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-exporting-record-amounts-of-gasoline/459317 "2008-08-14T16:54:16Z")
No, really. Story here: I’m confused. Isn’t Mexico a major oil producer? Anyway, this is about gasoline, not crude. Presumably we have a lot of refining capacity here, perhaps more than the countries in question. … --- ## [Newsweek: "What Bush Got Right"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsweek-what-bush-got-right/459879)
**Author:** [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsweek-what-bush-got-right/459879 "2008-08-14T14:57:31Z")
The cover story on Newsweek is an interesting article called “What Bush Got Right” Zakaria: What Bush Got Right Basically, it says that although there were many mistakes made in the Iraq war, advisor positions, Afganis… --- ## [Ape Equality: A Very Bad Idea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ape-equality-a-very-bad-idea/459459)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ape-equality-a-very-bad-idea/459459 "2008-08-14T14:54:26Z")
Concerning the news that Spain recently granted certain human rights, I feel a need to respond. There should be no laws that treat apes as “brothers” of humans. Apes are not humans. They are very much inferior to huma… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=612) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=614)