# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=783 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 784 --- ## [When is Copyright Infrigement OK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-copyright-infrigement-ok/359315)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-copyright-infrigement-ok/359315 "2006-06-25T00:14:48Z")
Nowadays, everybody has heard of Napster, filesharing, cracks, modchips, the RIAA and whatnot. We are also all aware that some people illegally aquire software and media without remunerating the companies and authors tha… --- ## [Brit Dopers: What do you think are the prospects of the LibDems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dopers-what-do-you-think-are-the-prospects-of-the-libdems/361646)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dopers-what-do-you-think-are-the-prospects-of-the-libdems/361646 "2006-06-25T00:10:12Z")
Britain’s third party, the Liberal Democrats, has remained a third-place minority party since the Liberals and the Social Democrats merged in 1988. I don’t suppose it’s possible that they’ll be a majority party in the f… --- ## [is Ann Coulter the nemesis for the Republicans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ann-coulter-the-nemesis-for-the-republicans/360632)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ann-coulter-the-nemesis-for-the-republicans/360632 "2006-06-24T21:34:37Z")
I’m talking about her controversy around the 911 widows according to this article: Will this incident be the most harmfull incident for the republican in the 2006 and 2008 election? --- ## [Does fiscal responsibility imply low spending](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-fiscal-responsibility-imply-low-spending/360906)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-fiscal-responsibility-imply-low-spending/360906 "2006-06-24T16:43:59Z")
In other threads on politics many people who believe in fiscal responsibility seem to feel that this is more of a libertarian viewpoint, that if you lower spending then you end up with a balanced budget. Are fiscal resp… --- ## [Neocons block Juan Cole from Yale professorship?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neocons-block-juan-cole-from-yale-professorship/361323)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neocons-block-juan-cole-from-yale-professorship/361323 "2006-06-24T15:34:30Z")
Juan Cole is a famous professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History at the University of Michigan. He is better known for his blog, which is generally critical of the Bush Admin’s policies and conduct in Iraq. … --- ## [Khalilzad Cable: Militias and "Neighborhood Governments" Run Baghdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khalilzad-cable-militias-and-neighborhood-governments-run-baghdad/361276)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khalilzad-cable-militias-and-neighborhood-governments-run-baghdad/361276 "2006-06-24T11:31:26Z")
Here’s the PDF Non-PDF summary in Editor & Publisher The ‘Republic of Fear’ is happening right now. People often don’t even know who are behind the threats they receive - to cover their faces, to stop driving themselv… --- ## [If Ann Coulter Weren't Such a Bitch, You Might See Her Point](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-ann-coulter-werent-such-a-bitch-you-might-see-her-point/360671)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-ann-coulter-werent-such-a-bitch-you-might-see-her-point/360671 "2006-06-24T02:53:18Z")
That Ann Coulter can be crude, mean and wrong-headed is not news, even to those of us who share most of her views. Was she way out of line in the things she said about activist widows of 9/11? Of course, and it would be … --- ## [North Korea Missle Test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-missle-test/361041)
**Author:** [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-missle-test/361041 "2006-06-24T00:14:06Z")
Here is the link Basically NK is set to test a missle that could hit the U.S. even though they have agreed to the Japan-Pyongyang Declaration that bans these types of tests. Now the question is what should the rest of … --- ## [What does consensus in the scientific community really mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-consensus-in-the-scientific-community-really-mean/361467)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-consensus-in-the-scientific-community-really-mean/361467 "2006-06-23T23:02:15Z")
And how is the layman to judge? This is with reguards to several debates I’ve seen in GD from time to time, many of them revolving around Global Warming/ anthropogenic warming or Evolution, but not exclusive to it. Bas… --- ## [Atheists/apathetics: What's kept you from truly Believing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-apathetics-whats-kept-you-from-truly-believing/360580)
**Author:** [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-apathetics-whats-kept-you-from-truly-believing/360580 "2006-06-23T19:14:34Z")
Now that we’ve got threads for those who’ve lost or changed their faith, and for those who’ve kept and maintained their faith, I figured we ought to have one for those who never really had any faith and don’t see any rea… --- ## [Woodrow Wilson as CINC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-as-cinc/361714)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-as-cinc/361714 "2006-06-23T17:42:37Z")
Although no pacifist, President Wilson long resisted demands that he get the U.S. involved in World War I. He narrowly won reelection in 1916 on the slogan, “He kept us out of the war,” but German unrestricted submarine… --- ## [Does it really matter if indviduals conserve gasoline?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-really-matter-if-indviduals-conserve-gasoline/361796)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-really-matter-if-indviduals-conserve-gasoline/361796 "2006-06-23T15:35:32Z")
I have heard other people recently talk about conserving gas in terms of the greater good. Buying that Prius is a noble thing to do for the world. It sounds on Ok on the surface but I got to thinking about it. What if ev… --- ## ["Party of Death"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-of-death/360810)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 204\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-of-death/360810 "2006-06-23T14:26:49Z")
On NPR (right now for me, I presume it is live) the ‘On Point’ program is talking to Ramesh Ponnuru who has written a book entitled ‘The Party of Death’ in which he attacks both the death penalty and abortion (and Hirosh… --- ## [How will blogging, podcasting etc impact future elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-blogging-podcasting-etc-impact-future-elections/361710)
**Author:** [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-blogging-podcasting-etc-impact-future-elections/361710 "2006-06-23T04:01:37Z")
Given the growing prevalence, especially among \>25 year-olds, of amateur media/journalism in the form of blogs, podcasts, myspace, video webcasts (You Tube, iTunes etc), Live Journal etc etc etc it seems likely that many… --- ## [Anglican Traitors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anglican-traitors/361461)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anglican-traitors/361461 "2006-06-22T23:08:28Z")
An odd thought occurred to me recently. Someone please tell me if I’m guilty of a gross error, or if this is something real. After the American Revolution, the Americans considered themselves a country apart from Englan… --- ## [Hitler quotes in high school yearbook](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-quotes-in-high-school-yearbook/360597)
**Author:** [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-quotes-in-high-school-yearbook/360597 "2006-06-22T19:29:40Z")
A couple of high school seniors in Northport, NY are in trouble: The article goes on to say that the school will be offering a written apology to parents this week and is investigating ways to replace the offending pag… --- ## [How does Same Sex Marriage "violate" the sanctity of marriage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-same-sex-marriage-violate-the-sanctity-of-marriage/359767)
**Author:** [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Replies:** 176\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-same-sex-marriage-violate-the-sanctity-of-marriage/359767 "2006-06-22T18:11:42Z")
Is there a reasonable argument against Same Sex Marriage? --- ## [Us Soldiers tortured, Killed by Al-queda?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-soldiers-tortured-killed-by-al-queda/361441)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-soldiers-tortured-killed-by-al-queda/361441 "2006-06-22T17:57:22Z")
Well the news is in. the two missing US soldiers have been found, dead, with evidence of torture. I was just wondering why the insurgents didn’t display these me (alive) and use it to display how Al-Zarquari’s group wa… --- ## [A different "Who's raping who?" thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-whos-raping-who-thread/361138)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2006, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-whos-raping-who-thread/361138 "2006-06-22T08:00:31Z")
the original: Who's raping who? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board My question regards statuatory rape. It’s been held in different jurisdictions that you can still have a prosecution for statuatory rape even… --- ## [Is Al gore's documentary propaganda?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-al-gores-documentary-propaganda/359509)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 136\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-al-gores-documentary-propaganda/359509 "2006-06-21T02:22:19Z")
Al Gore has been pushing his recent film about global warming. I watched him last night, and it was obvious to me that he was not portraying science-everything in the film is calculated to bring a message-that : (1) th… --- ## [Any atheists against same sex marriage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-atheists-against-same-sex-marriage/359757)
**Author:** [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Replies:** 278\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-atheists-against-same-sex-marriage/359757 "2006-06-21T01:51:16Z")
I’ve listened to some of the pundits and whatnot in recent days expound on why same sex marriage is a bad thing, and once you wade through vague notions like “family values” and “defense of marriage,” it seems to boil do… --- ## [Is selling drugs really worse than buying drugs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-selling-drugs-really-worse-than-buying-drugs/361399)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-selling-drugs-really-worse-than-buying-drugs/361399 "2006-06-21T01:51:10Z")
Ethically speaking, is the act of selling drugs worse than buying them? Based solely on the acts themselves and not the stereotypes of ruthless unfeeling drug kingpins, and hopelessly addicted fiends destroyed by drugs. … --- ## [The Car Talk Graduated Gasoline Tax.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-car-talk-graduated-gasoline-tax/361129)
**Author:** [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-car-talk-graduated-gasoline-tax/361129 "2006-06-20T23:16:27Z")
http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/gastax/index.html Comments, thoughts? --- ## [Should it be harder for the US to wage war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-it-be-harder-for-the-us-to-wage-war/361387)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-it-be-harder-for-the-us-to-wage-war/361387 "2006-06-20T21:43:21Z")
Sometimes, the world’s Superpower needs to go to war, but sometimes the US goes to war when it probably shouldn’t. It got me thinking about what it takes to send the troops into harm’s way. This isn’t something that sh… --- ## [Under what circumstances is jury nullification acceptable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-what-circumstances-is-jury-nullification-acceptable/360982)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-what-circumstances-is-jury-nullification-acceptable/360982 "2006-06-20T18:09:52Z")
If any. Jury nullification, for anyone not familiar with the term, is the refusal of a jury to render a verdict according to the law. It basically stems from two features of our legal system: the prohibition on punishin… --- ## [Is it contradictory to support the war in Iraq, but not stem cell research?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-contradictory-to-support-the-war-in-iraq-but-not-stem-cell-research/360318)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-contradictory-to-support-the-war-in-iraq-but-not-stem-cell-research/360318 "2006-06-20T15:37:51Z")
Jon Stewart of the Daily Show brought up what I think is an interesting point in this interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at7F6gVHtos&search=daily%20show People are against stem cell research because they do not s… --- ## [This is what we're fighting (against?) (for?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-what-were-fighting-against-for/360822)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-what-were-fighting-against-for/360822 "2006-06-20T15:34:57Z")
Aside from the humorous misspelling of bin La(n)den’s name, I’m thinking that Gen. Abiziad’s description of how life would be under the rule of our enemies differs little from how it already is in Shi’ite-controlled Ira… --- ## [Iran proposes badges for Non-muslims](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-proposes-badges-for-non-muslims/357416)
**Author:** [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-proposes-badges-for-non-muslims/357416 "2006-06-20T04:23:24Z")
:eek: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=11fbf4a8-282a-4d18-954f-546709b1240f I am horrified by the similarity to Nazi Germany. Iran was bad, I knew that, but this seems like the first step on the r… --- ## [Should our government leaders be required to have had military service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-our-government-leaders-be-required-to-have-had-military-service/360004)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-our-government-leaders-be-required-to-have-had-military-service/360004 "2006-06-19T23:57:56Z")
I was just thinking, a surprising number of the Bush cabinet are referred to as “chickenhawks,” in other words, pursuing aggressive military policy without having had any military experience. However, Donald Rumsfeld, on… --- ## [Net Neutrality Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-neutrality-bill/360088)
**Author:** [@RCGDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RCGDC)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-neutrality-bill/360088 "2006-06-19T23:39:26Z")
Found this while surfing on google.com What is it about? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=782) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=784)