# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=688 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 689 --- ## [Testing people's honesty...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-peoples-honesty/419467)
**Author:** [@suncrafter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suncrafter)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-peoples-honesty/419467 "2007-09-21T01:44:18Z")
A sociological experiment was conducted in Illinois called the “Wallet Test”. You can read about it at http://www.wallettest.com/ The researchers deliberately dropped 100 identical wallets (containing money and ID) in p… --- ## [Are college brass really worth more than the professors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-college-brass-really-worth-more-than-the-professors/419911)
**Author:** [@back\_before\_irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/back_before_irony)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-college-brass-really-worth-more-than-the-professors/419911 "2007-09-21T00:22:37Z")
The hierarchy puts a lot of emphasis on deans and college presidents, etc. How did they become the rock stars of the education industry? Are they really all that irreplaceable? Can’t you just cut all their salaries in ha… --- ## [Fed Rate Cut](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fed-rate-cut/419639)
**Author:** [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fed-rate-cut/419639 "2007-09-20T22:28:50Z")
So BBC has it before CNN which is odd considering the story comes out of the US. A half point drop is no good at all for the Dollar. I spend a lot of time in the Czech Republic and over the past 5 years or so have watche… --- ## [The US will tend to totalitarianism with probability 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-tend-to-totalitarianism-with-probability-1/419720)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-tend-to-totalitarianism-with-probability-1/419720 "2007-09-20T22:08:57Z")
I was watching Frontline tonight about domestic spying by the NSA, CIA, etc, and they were talking about the fact that all of our day-to-day actions leave electronic trails that can be traced, more and more places are ge… --- ## [I am interested in disinterested knowledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-interested-in-disinterested-knowledge/419728)
**Author:** [@coberst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coberst)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-interested-in-disinterested-knowledge/419728 "2007-09-20T19:55:49Z")
I am interested in disinterested knowledge Disinterested knowledge is the energy bunny. It generates the energy for exploration and for overcoming some of the inhibitions consciousness places on the unconscious. Disin… --- ## [Turks shell Iraqi Kurdistan (again)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-shell-iraqi-kurdistan-again/419820)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-shell-iraqi-kurdistan-again/419820 "2007-09-20T15:32:12Z")
According to Voice of Iraq. It’s not the first time this has happened (recently). It’s not even the second time. And the Turkish PM says he won’t rule out military options against the Kurds. So if it comes to war bet… --- ## [Is restoration of famous artworks (the national treasure kind) a good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-restoration-of-famous-artworks-the-national-treasure-kind-a-good-idea/419219)
**Author:** [@Hobohob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hobohob)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-restoration-of-famous-artworks-the-national-treasure-kind-a-good-idea/419219 "2007-09-20T09:54:14Z")
There were a couple of TV documentaries lately about restorations that were controversial. One was the Sistine Chapel. The restorers removed some dark layers of wax and varnish and the result was much brighter colors an… --- ## [Do you think it's fair that school districts must raise money locally?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-its-fair-that-school-districts-must-raise-money-locally/419775)
**Author:** [@Linty\_McGinty\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_McGinty_McGee)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-its-fair-that-school-districts-must-raise-money-locally/419775 "2007-09-20T06:31:31Z")
Somehow, education funding seems like something that should a state responsibility. Locally, we had two townships with separate, struggling school systems. Then an “auto row” was established that fell just barely one s… --- ## [Knowledge via Study Only - Experience NOT Necessary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knowledge-via-study-only-experience-not-necessary/419447)
**Author:** [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knowledge-via-study-only-experience-not-necessary/419447 "2007-09-20T04:24:01Z")
jsgoddess started an IMHO thread asking about specific areas where an experience-based opinion trumps one formed by study alone. She wondered if it’s sometimes true that first-hand knowledge is more authentic and inform… --- ## [Greenspan pulls a Powell.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greenspan-pulls-a-powell/419300)
**Author:** [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greenspan-pulls-a-powell/419300 "2007-09-20T04:05:05Z")
I guess this is a debate of the Greenspan legacy. I’ll be upfront with IMHO that the Greenspan Fed seemed to be doing a pretty good job of steering the economy (controlled inflation and growth) until the “irrational exub… --- ## [Fred Thompson to announce his candidacy for POTUS September 6](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582 "2007-09-20T02:04:00Z")
Story here. Does this matter? In terms of political/intellectual/moral heft, Fred Thompson is considerably less than a hole in the air. OTOH, compared to the other announced Pub candidates for president, such as they … --- ## [Evolutionary Basis for Religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolutionary-basis-for-religion/417985)
**Author:** [@scjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scjas)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolutionary-basis-for-religion/417985 "2007-09-20T00:14:35Z")
Since religious and spiritual belief is a near universal characteristic it must confer a survival advantage on its host and therefore have a genetic basis. Has anyone found the “religion gene, or genes” yet. Has anyone… --- ## [God Bless America, now with 100% more vitriol!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-now-with-100-more-vitriol/419702)
**Author:** [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-now-with-100-more-vitriol/419702 "2007-09-19T19:15:55Z")
Yeah, so I guess BrainGlutton is taking the night off or something, so I will take it upon myself to post this bit of weirdness. First, the background. Yesterday evening in Fort Lauderdale they had the “Values Voters” d… --- ## [State Dept. IG accused of blocking probes into contracting fraud in Iraq, Afghanistan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-ig-accused-of-blocking-probes-into-contracting-fraud-in-iraq-afghanistan/419690)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-ig-accused-of-blocking-probes-into-contracting-fraud-in-iraq-afghanistan/419690 "2007-09-19T17:43:22Z")
Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a 13-page letter, full of allegations against Howard J. Krongard, Inspector General of the State Department, purportedly b… --- ## [Did Israel really destroy a Syrian/Iranian military installation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-israel-really-destroy-a-syrian-iranian-military-installation/418994)
**Author:** [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2007, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-israel-really-destroy-a-syrian-iranian-military-installation/418994 "2007-09-19T01:37:29Z")
According to this link that may be the case: Speculation is that it was either a weapons cache or a nuclear facility. I don’t have a firm opinion on what happened, but if we are going to debate the ethics of the stri… --- ## [What would be the implications of automated armed forces ie robot armies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-implications-of-automated-armed-forces-ie-robot-armies/418859)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-implications-of-automated-armed-forces-ie-robot-armies/418859 "2007-09-19T01:17:27Z")
If technologies became sufficiently advanced that most or all the parts of a country’s armed forces could become automated, ie have robot soldiers, AI or remote control assisted warplanes, tanks, and the like what do you… --- ## [Minuteman controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minuteman-controversy/419625)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minuteman-controversy/419625 "2007-09-18T20:52:53Z")
A follow-up to this thread in GQ. I hope this is IMHO material rather than GD, I guess we’ll see. A little background, then my question for you. In Kansas City, MO, Frances Semler is a member of the Board of Parks and… --- ## [Cannibalism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannibalism/418905)
**Author:** [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannibalism/418905 "2007-09-18T18:52:25Z")
A programme on UK TV about the ancient Aztecs indicated that they used to practice cannibalism. Now the very thought of chewing on someones soft dangly bits or gnawing on a medium rare leg of man makes me feel queasy b… --- ## [The leap of faith into absolutes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leap-of-faith-into-absolutes/419291)
**Author:** [@coberst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coberst)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2007, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leap-of-faith-into-absolutes/419291 "2007-09-18T10:33:30Z")
The leap of faith into absolutes. Karl Popper authored the book “The Open Society and Its Enemies”. The concept Popper illustrates in this book sounds much like the concept of a liberal democracy but his concept is mor… --- ## [Kerry vs McCain on Meet The Press](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-vs-mccain-on-meet-the-press/419468)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-vs-mccain-on-meet-the-press/419468 "2007-09-18T04:59:54Z")
The debate was pretty much what you might expect. McCain saying that the surge is working and that we need to get the job done. Kerry making the point that we need to change the equation and give Maliki a date that we ar… --- ## [When me becomes I](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-me-becomes-i/419466)
**Author:** [@coberst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coberst)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-me-becomes-i/419466 "2007-09-17T19:39:15Z")
When me becomes I A child’s symbolic action world is built from the outside in. We are sad because we cry; we do not cry because we are sad. Only when we ‘look’ at our self do we know what is going on. A vital fact a… --- ## [Theodicies in the Bible and other scriptures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodicies-in-the-bible-and-other-scriptures/418259)
**Author:** [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodicies-in-the-bible-and-other-scriptures/418259 "2007-09-17T19:20:14Z")
I am interested in passages in the Bible which attempt to explain the existence of evil and the suffering of the innocent. Obviously, there is Job (although it’s debatable whether there really is a theodicy offered in J… --- ## [What's the big deal about the Jets getting their signals stolen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-the-jets-getting-their-signals-stolen/419209)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2007, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-the-jets-getting-their-signals-stolen/419209 "2007-09-17T10:08:53Z")
Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots hired a guy to video tape the Jets’ hand signals during a regular season game to steal the signals for th future. So now, there’s a big fooferow about it with huge fines and the… --- ## [911 Conspiracy theories and Global Warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-conspiracy-theories-and-global-warming/419314)
**Author:** [@Stout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stout)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-conspiracy-theories-and-global-warming/419314 "2007-09-16T01:54:34Z")
Hi all. I’ve just spent the past three days watching a movie called “Zeitgiest” and then reading a 450+ post thread over at the James Randi forum that basically kicks the crap out of this movie. The whole thing started … --- ## [Ted Olson for AG?!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-olson-for-ag/418991)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-olson-for-ag/418991 "2007-09-15T21:53:59Z")
Ted Olson, former Solicitor General under the Bush Administration, is considered the frontrunner to succeed Alberto Gonzalez as Attorney General, according to the DC rumor mill. Olson, as Assistant AG in the Reagan Admi… --- ## [The Conservative Advantage in Syndicated Op-Ed Columns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-conservative-advantage-in-syndicated-op-ed-columns/419098)
**Author:** [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-conservative-advantage-in-syndicated-op-ed-columns/419098 "2007-09-15T16:14:22Z")
\*\*The Conservative Advantage in Syndicated Op-Ed Columns \*\* There is a lot of discussion about media bias, and I’ve read several Great Debates about the topic on this board. What I’ve often seen is one side (conservat… --- ## [Why are people hesitant to use race as a description?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-hesitant-to-use-race-as-a-description/419011)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-hesitant-to-use-race-as-a-description/419011 "2007-09-15T14:56:49Z")
In my job, customers routinely call me and discuss the service they received. It is a mostly white profession, but we do have one black (African American) under my employ. When a customer calls for a complaint, complim… --- ## [Moral Responsibility if Free Will is Unconscious](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moral-responsibility-if-free-will-is-unconscious/418943)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moral-responsibility-if-free-will-is-unconscious/418943 "2007-09-15T02:42:34Z")
I read Tor Nørretranders’ book “The User Illusion”: when it was published and have been a keen follower of Daniel Dennett’s works, especially those on consciousness and free will: I recently started following up th… --- ## [Which harmed US more, 9/11/01 or 3/20/03?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-harmed-us-more-9-11-01-or-3-20-03/418810)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-harmed-us-more-9-11-01-or-3-20-03/418810 "2007-09-14T20:10:48Z")
I gotta go with the Iraq invasion. What we have paid so far in the war woulda gone a long ways towards rebuilding the towers and the economic effect of their loss. Probably a wash in terms of US lives and limbs, but no… --- ## [Is Free Will ever a Conscious Event](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-free-will-ever-a-conscious-event/418944)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2007, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-free-will-ever-a-conscious-event/418944 "2007-09-14T06:45:06Z")
This is a secondary post to one asking about Moral Responsibility. The original post asks for the consequences of Free Will if it is only unconscious. This concurrent post is an attempt to allow discussion of the truth o… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=687) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=689)