# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=750 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 751 --- ## [No means no. Unless....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-means-no-unless/379036)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-means-no-unless/379036 "2006-12-02T22:38:30Z")
As a general proposition, rape means sexual intercourse against the will of the complaining witness, accomplished by force or the threat of force. But what happens if consent is given, then withdrawn? Imagine a woman in… --- ## [Practicing on people you know.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/practicing-on-people-you-know/382027)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/practicing-on-people-you-know/382027 "2006-12-02T19:59:28Z")
My girlfriend is a second year medical student and she was telling me that in medicine, it is unethical to practice on a friend or family member. I asked her why, and all she could tell me is that is what she has learn… --- ## [Microcredit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microcredit/381663)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microcredit/381663 "2006-12-02T18:12:31Z")
With the recent Nobel prize, and the following PBS specials on the topic, the promise of “microcredit” is raised as a way to solve the world’s problem of poverty, one home crafter at a time. The premise is simple. Loan … --- ## [Disrepect for Minor laws= Disregard of major laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrepect-for-minor-laws-disregard-of-major-laws/382498)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrepect-for-minor-laws-disregard-of-major-laws/382498 "2006-12-02T17:40:30Z")
Does Disrespect for minor laws lead to disrespect for major laws? I ask this because while having lunch, I observed something very disquieting: two young women, both pushing baby prams, and with other young children in… --- ## [What counts when making a headline apology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-counts-when-making-a-headline-apology/382320)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-counts-when-making-a-headline-apology/382320 "2006-12-02T16:15:05Z")
We see a lot of these all the time. Politicians, celebs, police, etc. Someone will make an apology that doesn’t seem to cover the definition. “I’m sorry you can’t take honest criticism.” “I’m sorry you found my words/… --- ## [Barack Obama: Too young/new to be President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama-too-young-new-to-be-president/376540)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama-too-young-new-to-be-president/376540 "2006-12-02T15:18:41Z")
Was reading this article on BA in Time , and was wondering…is Obama REALLY too new/young to make a serious run for president in the next election? Not much of an OP (its sunday morning and I’m totally hung over :)), I … --- ## [Kenn Starr, Bong Hits, and Jesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kenn-starr-bong-hits-and-jesus/370719)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kenn-starr-bong-hits-and-jesus/370719 "2006-12-02T08:52:22Z")
Don’t really have a lot of information here, just the snippet from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/29/bonghits.4jesus.ap/index.html Frederick, then a senior, was off school property when he hoisted the banner but w… --- ## [Iraq Survey Group report: reduce troop levels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-survey-group-report-reduce-troop-levels/382289)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-survey-group-report-reduce-troop-levels/382289 "2006-12-02T08:33:06Z")
The word is in from the Iraq Survey Group, says the New York Times, and they’re going to recommend that at some undefined point, probably next year, the U.S. start reducing its troop levels in Iraq. No timetables are in… --- ## [So, what will the Iraq Study Group come up with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-will-the-iraq-study-group-come-up-with/380351)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-will-the-iraq-study-group-come-up-with/380351 "2006-12-02T03:14:13Z")
The Iraq Study Group should be issuing its report soon, and W has pledged to give it serious attention. Any speculations? --- ## [JFK Assisination part 4,576. Major Players with a Change in Heart?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-assisination-part-4-576-major-players-with-a-change-in-heart/381173)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-assisination-part-4-576-major-players-with-a-change-in-heart/381173 "2006-12-01T21:03:47Z")
Although I’m looking for more or a yes no, answer, I’d be a bit naive to believe that any JFK assassination question would stay long in the general questions. Here’s my question: Have any of the major conspiracy theory… --- ## [Is Buddhism incomplete Christianity, or is Christianity incomplete Buddhism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-buddhism-incomplete-christianity-or-is-christianity-incomplete-buddhism/382281)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-buddhism-incomplete-christianity-or-is-christianity-incomplete-buddhism/382281 "2006-12-01T03:52:16Z")
The two religions have a lot in common, to the extent that some people actually claim Jesus spent some undocumented time in the East. But Christianity claims that salvation is dependent upon the unique historical event o… --- ## [Is it curtains for the intelligent design movement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-curtains-for-the-intelligent-design-movement/380118)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-curtains-for-the-intelligent-design-movement/380118 "2006-11-30T22:27:56Z")
Lost in the flood of results from last Tuesday’s election is the pleasing little fact that those who want to teach ancient fairy tales in our science classrooms took some heavy punishment. In Ohio, four pro-science cand… --- ## [Is god mad at us, lets ask him!!!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-god-mad-at-us-lets-ask-him/381721)
**Author:** [@johnny\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnny_M)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-god-mad-at-us-lets-ask-him/381721 "2006-11-30T16:52:21Z")
Well lets ask him. Remember ask and you shall receive. Hey God your not mad that we want to pass laws that take your name out of everything in public are you? Hey God your not mad that we have evolved enough that we a… --- ## [What did the animals eat on Noahs Ark? What did they eat after they landed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-animals-eat-on-noahs-ark-what-did-they-eat-after-they-landed/381478)
**Author:** [@Lou\_Stool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lou_Stool)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-animals-eat-on-noahs-ark-what-did-they-eat-after-they-landed/381478 "2006-11-30T16:26:35Z")
If there were only two of each animal, what did the carnivores eat after the boat landed. How big would the boat have to be to load every animal species on the planet? Two times. --- ## [Martin Luther was a thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-luther-was-a-thief/381829)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-luther-was-a-thief/381829 "2006-11-30T15:37:33Z")
Martin Luther was a thief as repugnant and as vile as any other thief under our current understanding of the idea. Let’s make a list of his many crimes: \[ul\] \[li\]He stole the Bible from its rightful owner, the Roman Ca… --- ## [The ethics of "saving" a parking place](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-saving-a-parking-place/381791)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-saving-a-parking-place/381791 "2006-11-30T01:53:24Z")
So my wife and I arrive at the same shopping center in separate vehicles (I’d just picked mine up from the dealership, where it had been for repairs, and then we were going to do some shopping). The parking lot was very… --- ## ["I've never met a nice South African" - The fall of Apartheid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-met-a-nice-south-african-the-fall-of-apartheid/381857)
**Author:** [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-met-a-nice-south-african-the-fall-of-apartheid/381857 "2006-11-29T22:38:33Z")
If you failed to recognize it, the part in quotes on the title is the title of the 80s song by the Spitting Image team. It’s a parody in which a traveller tells his story of having seen extraordinary things, but he’s nev… --- ## [Old News, But - Canadian Courts Enjoins People From Reading Harry Potter Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-news-but-canadian-courts-enjoins-people-from-reading-harry-potter-book/381691)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-news-but-canadian-courts-enjoins-people-from-reading-harry-potter-book/381691 "2006-11-29T22:36:44Z")
My apologies if we did this at the time it happened. I can’t imagine that we would NOT have commented on it, and yet I don’t recall any such thread, nor does a bit of searching seem to reveal it. ANYWAY… Apparently a s… --- ## [Resolved: Punk'd is a fair measure of character](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-punkd-is-a-fair-measure-of-character/381994)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-punkd-is-a-fair-measure-of-character/381994 "2006-11-29T20:13:08Z")
Lately I’ve had occasion to view a number of clips from the Ashton Kutcher show Punk’d. Like “Candid Camera,” back in the day, “Punk’d” creates humorous or stressful situations that are captured on hidden camera. Unlike … --- ## [On this matter of massive human life extension.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-matter-of-massive-human-life-extension/382029)
**Author:** [@Nothing\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nothing_Special)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-matter-of-massive-human-life-extension/382029 "2006-11-29T18:44:06Z")
What if we could do it? Then what? Let’s say we’re living for hundreds/thousands of years. What are the implications? --- ## [When will the end of the world come?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-end-of-the-world-come/381611)
**Author:** [@tgan3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tgan3)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-end-of-the-world-come/381611 "2006-11-29T18:09:03Z")
People has the practice of predicting the end of the world for ages. If you were to journey back to ancient civilisations like the maya, they had long predicted that the end of the world would arrive at december 21 or 23… --- ## [Evolution Teaching: Asinine, Unfocused and Erroneous. Time to get HOLISTIC!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-teaching-asinine-unfocused-and-erroneous-time-to-get-holistic/381680)
**Author:** [@Aquila\_Be](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquila_Be)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-teaching-asinine-unfocused-and-erroneous-time-to-get-holistic/381680 "2006-11-29T10:08:27Z")
Mention the word ‘evolution’ and what springs to mind? The Charles Darwin (and Alfred Wallace) theory of evolution of species, plus a number of refinements (including Mendelian genetics, DNA) and speculations (eg. the r… --- ## [What is the closest historical analog to what is happening in Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-closest-historical-analog-to-what-is-happening-in-iraq/381847)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-closest-historical-analog-to-what-is-happening-in-iraq/381847 "2006-11-29T03:35:26Z")
Not really a debate but I believe it’s s more suited for this forum than elsewhere. Mods move if you must. Across world history and across nations what is the closest historical analog to what the US has gotten itself i… --- ## [What is the Point of Non-Violent Protests?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-non-violent-protests/381145)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-non-violent-protests/381145 "2006-11-29T03:11:28Z")
This is something that always baffled me. Non-violent protesting is usually held up to be both admirable and effective. I fail to see how that can be in most cases. Let’s start with the most severe types of non-violent p… --- ## [Gee, is it Tet already?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-is-it-tet-already/381559)
**Author:** [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-is-it-tet-already/381559 "2006-11-28T21:45:15Z")
Scores killed in Baghdad blasts Gunmen raid Iraqi Health Ministry This is Baghdad, the capital, the place we flooded with troops a couple of months ago to increase security and now it’s like this. Where are the muc… --- ## [E-Mails from the Dead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mails-from-the-dead/382104)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mails-from-the-dead/382104 "2006-11-28T20:42:22Z")
Suppose the dead really want to communicate with the living-wouldn’t an e-mail be the most efficient (smallest use of energy) way to do it? forget moving a ouiji board pointer, or rapping on walls-composing an email woul… --- ## [What if Franco had never rebelled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-franco-had-never-rebelled/381377)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-franco-had-never-rebelled/381377 "2006-11-28T20:19:04Z")
Posts #26, 30 and 31 in this thread got me to thinking about a “What if?” The Spanish Civil War began in 1936 when General Francisco Franco led a rebellion against the elected “Popular Front” government (a coalition inc… --- ## [So why does anyone care about the AWB scandal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-anyone-care-about-the-awb-scandal/381837)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2006, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-anyone-care-about-the-awb-scandal/381837 "2006-11-28T11:15:30Z")
There’s an ongoing scandal here about how the Australian Wheat Board allegedly paid bribes to Saddam Hussein’s government in return for wheat sales, breached the oil-for-food program, and generally did the sort of things… --- ## [Does Global Warming=Non-Migratory, Migratory Species?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-global-warming-non-migratory-migratory-species/381953)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-global-warming-non-migratory-migratory-species/381953 "2006-11-28T04:19:11Z")
I have been noticing that many bird species that used to leave my area 9Boston, MA), now hand around, well into early winter. for example: robins used to leave in early september, now i see them here in late November. … --- ## [Iraqi Civil Strife WTF](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqi-civil-strife-wtf/381672)
**Author:** [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqi-civil-strife-wtf/381672 "2006-11-27T23:57:34Z")
Okay, what’s the Dope on the alleged escalating level of violence in Iraq? What went wrong here that it didn’t even stay at the old lower but unacceptable level of violence? I’m noticing CNN Headlines like the followin… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=749) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=751)