# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=683 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 684 --- ## [My opinions and morality: Atheists welcome](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-opinions-and-morality-atheists-welcome/422029)
**Author:** [@land185](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/land185)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-opinions-and-morality-atheists-welcome/422029 "2007-10-20T19:51:08Z")
So, atheists, whaddaya think? Could you live in a society with religious/spiritual people is they believed the following? From “Pato’s Opinion” by Pato Banton I do not hold no prejudice for any other nation as far as … --- ## [And now, a moment of silence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-a-moment-of-silence/422461)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-a-moment-of-silence/422461 "2007-10-20T16:42:59Z")
As of yesterday, the Illinois legislature overrode the governor’s veto of a bill requiring a daily “moment of silence” in the state’s primary and secondary schools. Link. The bill’s sponsors seems omewhat unclear as to… --- ## [Guns or Health Care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-or-health-care/422704)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-or-health-care/422704 "2007-10-20T15:38:58Z")
Broadly speaking, Republicans support the 2nd Amendment right to own firearms and Democrats do not; Democrats favour Universal Health Coverage and Republicans do not. So let’s say you have two candidates: The Republica… --- ## [The Limbaugh crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbaugh-crisis/421581)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 148\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbaugh-crisis/421581 "2007-10-20T15:00:13Z")
Recently, on the radio Rush Limbaugh made a comment that contained the phrase “phony soldiers.” In the actual soundbite it is not clear exactly what context he is giving to this term. Rush Limbaugh claims subsequently… --- ## [How does one teach one's children how to lie?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-teach-ones-children-how-to-lie/422843)
**Author:** [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-teach-ones-children-how-to-lie/422843 "2007-10-19T22:36:00Z")
And when? Most superficial talk about teaching kids will always pay lip service to ‘honesty’. But people have to learn how to lie. Most studies say that most people lie about 20 times per day. You can get in trouble w… --- ## [Darwin and has the removal of the death penalty increased crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-and-has-the-removal-of-the-death-penalty-increased-crime/422901)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-and-has-the-removal-of-the-death-penalty-increased-crime/422901 "2007-10-19T21:51:55Z")
First, I’ll note that I am absolutely against the death penalty being administered by the courts. But I wonder, has the crime rate increased since the death penalty - and other methods of permanent removal from society … --- ## [Mr Gore's Nobel: Like the wife-beater winning for Shelters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-gores-nobel-like-the-wife-beater-winning-for-shelters/422456)
**Author:** [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Replies:** 429\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-gores-nobel-like-the-wife-beater-winning-for-shelters/422456 "2007-10-19T17:39:27Z")
Given Mr Gore’s personal total energy consumption, giving him the Nobel is ridiculous. I do not recall the Nobel being given to an individual whose personal behaviour is so far removed from what he recommends for everyo… --- ## [Will we ever see space-based (anti-Earth) weapons systems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-see-space-based-anti-earth-weapons-systems/423226)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-see-space-based-anti-earth-weapons-systems/423226 "2007-10-19T17:09:53Z")
Commentary from Dave Szondy’s website Tales of the Future Past: But then, in the 1980s, we saw Reagan’s SDI/Star Wars proposal: Space-based weapons to serve a (purportedly) purely defensive function against enemy groun… --- ## [College Co-Eds Get Screwed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-co-eds-get-screwed/413236)
**Author:** [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-co-eds-get-screwed/413236 "2007-10-19T15:28:24Z")
Not sure if this should go here or the Pit… Story here. I wasn’t aware that college nurses did anything but hand out cheap(er) birth control. What a fucking crock. Maybe someone was unhappy with the decline in teenage… --- ## [FCC (again) moving to relax media ownership rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-again-moving-to-relax-media-ownership-rules/423172)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-again-moving-to-relax-media-ownership-rules/423172 "2007-10-19T02:14:26Z")
Story here. Putting this in perspective, FCC dereg efforts have been going on for some time: Look, can anything that helps accelerate the consolidation of media ownership be a good thing? This isn’t a free market in… --- ## [What's so bad about secession, in general?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-secession-in-general/422846)
**Author:** [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-secession-in-general/422846 "2007-10-19T01:49:54Z")
Separatists around the world feel out-of-place or disconnected in their home nations, and feel that their regions deserve autonomy. These movements range from fairly mundane political ideas with little practical support … --- ## [Church of Annihilation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-annihilation/423192)
**Author:** [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-annihilation/423192 "2007-10-19T00:20:18Z")
Do you watch television; do you read novels; do you sleep past your wake up time? Consider the "Church of Annihilation. We have a personal relationship with God who doesn’t take things personally. Our tenet is: “Thank… --- ## ["Hey, Karl! Karl Marx! What have you been up to? I've not seen you since 1989!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-karl-karl-marx-what-have-you-been-up-to-ive-not-seen-you-since-1989/422500)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-karl-karl-marx-what-have-you-been-up-to-ive-not-seen-you-since-1989/422500 "2007-10-18T19:52:40Z")
Just curious - what’s the standing of Marxism nowadays? Does it still have any legs as an economic/political theory with any academics or political types? Or has it withered away with the fall of the USSR? I know that… --- ## [Hillary Clinton's negatives: how should she overcome them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clintons-negatives-how-should-she-overcome-them/421222)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clintons-negatives-how-should-she-overcome-them/421222 "2007-10-18T17:23:14Z")
As I mentioned in another thread, I sometimes browse conservative blogs to get a sense of what the other side of the aisle is talking about. A factoid here that came up while discussing a separate issue got my attention… --- ## [Time for a renewed fracas on Illegal Downloading (Re: Thomas Verdict)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-a-renewed-fracas-on-illegal-downloading-re-thomas-verdict/421695)
**Author:** [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-a-renewed-fracas-on-illegal-downloading-re-thomas-verdict/421695 "2007-10-18T17:14:00Z")
Ok, I feel like stirring up the pot today. Here is a story about the first verdict issued in an illegal downloading of music case. The jury has assessed damages of $222,000 against the defendant, who asserted that she … --- ## [Democracy, Critical Thinking, & Journalism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-critical-thinking-journalism/423008)
**Author:** [@coberst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coberst)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-critical-thinking-journalism/423008 "2007-10-18T16:33:48Z")
Democracy, Critical Thinking, & Journalism The standard teacher/pupil teaching technique accentuates the importance of acquiring knowledge. The Socratic technique accentuates the importance of understanding and critica… --- ## [The Draft, Practicalities thereof](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-draft-practicalities-thereof/423037)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-draft-practicalities-thereof/423037 "2007-10-18T14:38:05Z")
I know, the generals do not want a draft. I know, the politicians do not want a draft. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s presume our office is tasked to draw up a policy for an American program of conscription. If we n… --- ## [U.S. snipers urged to scatter weapons as "bait" for insurgents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-snipers-urged-to-scatter-weapons-as-bait-for-insurgents/420328)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-snipers-urged-to-scatter-weapons-as-bait-for-insurgents/420328 "2007-10-18T02:43:30Z")
Story here. Hey, waitaminnit! Maybe the person who picks up the stuff is not an insurgent at all, but an average, unemployed, broke Iraqi who just found something valuable lying in the street and hopes to sell it off.… --- ## [Is Gore right for the Nobel Peace Prize?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gore-right-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/422918)
**Author:** [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gore-right-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/422918 "2007-10-17T20:40:49Z")
Not looking to debate global warming, alleged hypocrisy of energy usage, or Al Gore’s personal merits. The recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize is supposed to be someone who has worked for brotherhood between nations, red… --- ## [The infantilization of video games is a serious problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infantilization-of-video-games-is-a-serious-problem/422247)
**Author:** [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infantilization-of-video-games-is-a-serious-problem/422247 "2007-10-17T16:17:05Z")
Adults make up the vast majority of video game players - I don’t have any fancy statistics on-hand (cite? CITE?!), but it’s established that there are more “18-45’ers” playing and buying games than under-18’ers. Video ga… --- ## [Websites - Survival of the Fittest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/websites-survival-of-the-fittest/422981)
**Author:** [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/websites-survival-of-the-fittest/422981 "2007-10-17T14:10:19Z")
Here’s one for the sociologists, evolutionary biologists, economists, or (like me) the slightly drunk 30 somethings avoiding work on their master’s degree: I’ve been a lurker / poster on the Dope since ‘03. I also foll… --- ## [What SHOULD be the punishment for hanging a noose?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-punishment-for-hanging-a-noose/422492)
**Author:** [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-punishment-for-hanging-a-noose/422492 "2007-10-17T13:07:05Z")
Starting with Jena, and now at Columbia, we have people hanging nooses. I understand the symbolism of the noose. I was reading a recent Jena 6 article, and it mentioned that the 3 students who put up the nooses were su… --- ## [Oil suddenly irrelevant.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-suddenly-irrelevant/422657)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-suddenly-irrelevant/422657 "2007-10-17T12:31:41Z")
A what if thread. What if technology was suddenly created that made oil by and large irrelevant, or at least significantly so. What would happen in the Arab world? Would the lack of oil wealth cause a further rise in in… --- ## [Does the Nobel Peace Prize pose a threat to the Prize's legitamacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-nobel-peace-prize-pose-a-threat-to-the-prizes-legitamacy/422502)
**Author:** [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-nobel-peace-prize-pose-a-threat-to-the-prizes-legitamacy/422502 "2007-10-17T06:53:45Z")
Now that Nobel Prize season is in full swing with only the bastard economics prize still to be announced, I would like to bring up a few questions about the actual importance and legitimacy of the prize. I can only begi… --- ## [Krauthammer and Hillary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/krauthammer-and-hillary/422459)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/krauthammer-and-hillary/422459 "2007-10-17T03:10:43Z")
So in today’s Washington Post Charles Krauthammer has an OpEd piece on Hillary Clinton. Unsurprisingly it includes the idea that he wouldn’t vote for her at least twice. Explicitly. But the column essentially lists th… --- ## [And if every country just said, "Taiwan is a sovereign nation..."?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-if-every-country-just-said-taiwan-is-a-sovereign-nation/422881)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-if-every-country-just-said-taiwan-is-a-sovereign-nation/422881 "2007-10-17T02:50:40Z")
Yes, another Taiwan debate. As I’m trying to wade through all of the historical material over China’s historical claims to Taiwan, one question comes to mind. The history is so muddled, and I don’t get the impression t… --- ## [What's the point of employer-based health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-employer-based-health-care/422701)
**Author:** [@gyushi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gyushi)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-employer-based-health-care/422701 "2007-10-17T01:19:00Z")
What’s the advantage here? --- ## [Why is casual drug use so accepted on the Internet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-casual-drug-use-so-accepted-on-the-internet/422751)
**Author:** [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-casual-drug-use-so-accepted-on-the-internet/422751 "2007-10-17T00:02:03Z")
I have been a regular at 4 or 5 boards since I began using the Internet around 1996 and one thing I’ve noticed between all of them is that casual drug use isn’t just accepted, but some people are shocked that others at t… --- ## [Why didn't most or all Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-most-or-all-jews-accept-jesus-as-the-messiah/422564)
**Author:** [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-most-or-all-jews-accept-jesus-as-the-messiah/422564 "2007-10-16T22:36:53Z")
I’ve started going to synagogue again, and one thing I’ve been pouring over in my brain is that one of the fundamental tenets of Judaism is that we will receive a Messiah, he or she just hasn’t been sent yet. Christians… --- ## [What are Christian principles and values? Do they actually exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-christian-principles-and-values-do-they-actually-exist/421397)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 211\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-christian-principles-and-values-do-they-actually-exist/421397 "2007-10-16T20:52:07Z")
Two terms I hear fairly often in discussions, preaching, pamphlets, etc. are Christian values and Christian principles. I’m interested in hearing ideas on what these are from those who use the term to indicate something… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=682) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=684)