# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=8 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 9 --- ## [The draft IS coming. You heard it hear first.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-draft-is-coming-you-heard-it-hear-first/269469)
**Author:** [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-draft-is-coming-you-heard-it-hear-first/269469 "2025-07-27T12:52:49Z")
BBC news site. “Senior British military sources have told the BBC the US has asked British troops to fill in behind American soldiers, who are being sent elsewhere. It is believed the soldiers could be sent to an area s… --- ## [Did prohibition officials poison drinkers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-prohibition-officials-poison-drinkers/1020378)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-prohibition-officials-poison-drinkers/1020378 "2025-07-27T12:22:19Z")
I think Wheeler, the flagbearer of Prohibition, did so knowingly and deliberately. That attitude was widespread. To many “dry” activists, the idea that people would still drink despite the danger was baffling. But oth… --- ## [New book: Osama's inevitable nuke holocaust in the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-osamas-inevitable-nuke-holocaust-in-the-u-s/251157)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-osamas-inevitable-nuke-holocaust-in-the-u-s/251157 "2025-07-27T12:44:12Z")
I came across this book at the store today, and it made me think of past news stories regarding similar topics. Basically, what I got from this book in initial flip-through is that, during the latter half of the 1990’s,… --- ## [Law in the state of India-na](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/law-in-the-state-of-india-na/1009793)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2025, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/law-in-the-state-of-india-na/1009793 "2025-07-23T05:42:26Z")
Let us imagine that the great state of Indiana was selected by the followers of Hinduism as their shared homeland within the USA. Further, let’s assume that their numbers are so great that they are able to become X major… --- ## [Does intelligence stop mattering for problem solving beyond a certain point](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-intelligence-stop-mattering-for-problem-solving-beyond-a-certain-point/1018780)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-intelligence-stop-mattering-for-problem-solving-beyond-a-certain-point/1018780 "2025-07-20T18:59:14Z")
So with advances in AI, people like Kurzweil have always predicted AI would reach AGI status around 2029. He predicted AI thousands of times smarter than humans by around 2045, and endless trillions of times smarter than… --- ## [What attitudes in a philosophy/meme ensure it will spread widely](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-attitudes-in-a-philosophy-meme-ensure-it-will-spread-widely/1019380)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-attitudes-in-a-philosophy-meme-ensure-it-will-spread-widely/1019380 "2025-07-18T16:54:19Z")
By philosophy I’m mostly discussing religion, but it can also mean philosophies like political philosophies, economic philosophies, etc. For example, with religion certain beliefs tend to ensure the religion will spread… --- ## [Future of General Questions in the AI age](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-general-questions-in-the-ai-age/1020443)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-general-questions-in-the-ai-age/1020443 "2025-07-16T13:39:48Z")
\ ISTM that it’s already the case that some questions in GQ could be answered well by AI. I am not cr… --- ## [In what ways will blue collar work possibly not be safe in the age of AI and robotics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-ways-will-blue-collar-work-possibly-not-be-safe-in-the-age-of-ai-and-robotics/1020511)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-ways-will-blue-collar-work-possibly-not-be-safe-in-the-age-of-ai-and-robotics/1020511 "2025-07-15T20:10:50Z")
With AI coming, there is some general advice to go into skilled manual labor like the trades since a lot of knowledge work will be automated in the years ahead and worker productivity will go up to the point where white … --- ## [Scientific qualia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-qualia/1019346)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-qualia/1019346 "2025-07-10T17:38:24Z")
In this old thread of mine: Audio-visual perception - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board I posted the question of 'do we all perceive the same way". It was explained to me this idea is in fact a philosoph… --- ## [There cannot possibly be an "edge of the Universe."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-cannot-possibly-be-an-edge-of-the-universe/1020649)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-cannot-possibly-be-an-edge-of-the-universe/1020649 "2025-07-09T02:50:14Z")
If the Universe is expanding faster than the speed of light, how can we humans keep saying or referring to the edge of the Universe? --- ## [Intersectionality and the Oppression Pyramid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intersectionality-and-the-oppression-pyramid/1018016)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 308\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intersectionality-and-the-oppression-pyramid/1018016 "2025-07-06T21:19:48Z")
Continuing the discussion from I Pit Babale: this is an interesting topic that deserves more light and less heat. For discussion, what is intersectionality and what is the oppression pyramid? Some useful comments that’… --- ## [Should there be age restrictions on electric bikes/scooters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-age-restrictions-on-electric-bikes-scooters/988421)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-age-restrictions-on-electric-bikes-scooters/988421 "2025-07-03T22:57:08Z")
Just saw a kid - under 10 - zipping down a residential sidewalk on an electric scooter. (No helmet, of course.) In my city (a Chicago suburb) I often see children - clearly under driving age - using e-bikes and scooter… --- ## [If there is an intelligence explosion in the next few decades due to AI, what real world bottlenecks will still exist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-an-intelligence-explosion-in-the-next-few-decades-due-to-ai-what-real-world-bottlenecks-will-still-exist/1020104)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-an-intelligence-explosion-in-the-next-few-decades-due-to-ai-what-real-world-bottlenecks-will-still-exist/1020104 "2025-07-01T19:41:53Z")
So assume for the sake of argument that a nobel prize winner is a 10 on the 1 to 10 scale of human intellect. In the next few decades we hit a 10, then we hit a 30, then we hit 5,000, etc. Intelligence no longer being l… --- ## [What problems could we solve in America, that could actually save money by solving the problem, but we still don't solve them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017 "2025-06-30T12:44:09Z")
So I’m wondering if there are problems where solving the problem either would cost far less than people think, or actually save money, but we still don’t solve them. One is money in politics. Political spending is at an… --- ## [Limits to technological collapse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limits-to-technological-collapse/1019539)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limits-to-technological-collapse/1019539 "2025-06-27T19:06:36Z")
Lately a lot of people worry that our current technological civilization is doomed. That not only will we not manage to expand into space and continue advancing forever, but that it’s already too late for us to have retr… --- ## [When complete and total jerk-asses happen to be right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-complete-and-total-jerk-asses-happen-to-be-right/1019273)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-complete-and-total-jerk-asses-happen-to-be-right/1019273 "2025-06-24T20:12:15Z")
There is a logical fallacy formally known as ad hominem which consists of discrediting an argument based on the known character and other arguments and positions of the person making the argument. It implies that the arg… --- ## [In the US, could states implement UBI in a post scarcity society {Universal Basic Income}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-could-states-implement-ubi-in-a-post-scarcity-society-universal-basic-income/1019901)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-could-states-implement-ubi-in-a-post-scarcity-society-universal-basic-income/1019901 "2025-06-21T03:25:19Z")
The US is a nation heavily divided by tribalism. Whites vs. POC Christians vs. other beliefs and non-beliefs Patriarchs vs. Feminists Native born vs. Immigrants Because of that, passing UBI on a national level will … --- ## [Why does Israel conduct airstrikes in the middle east rather than using rockets and missiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-israel-conduct-airstrikes-in-the-middle-east-rather-than-using-rockets-and-missiles/1017079)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-israel-conduct-airstrikes-in-the-middle-east-rather-than-using-rockets-and-missiles/1017079 "2025-06-13T23:08:31Z")
Israel sent figher jets to bomb a nuclear power plant in Iraq in the 1980s, and they did the same thing in syria in the 2000s, they sent fighter jets to strike a nuclear power plant there too. My question is why would I… --- ## [The Trade Deficit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trade-deficit/1019482)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trade-deficit/1019482 "2025-06-13T03:03:26Z")
For my entire life, I’ve heard the term trade deficit to reflect a situation where my country imports more things than it exports. The country has, for seemingly ever, identified this as a problem to be tackled in one wa… --- ## [What do you feel are the most brilliant, creative, effective military operations in human history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-feel-are-the-most-brilliant-creative-effective-military-operations-in-human-history/1019314)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-feel-are-the-most-brilliant-creative-effective-military-operations-in-human-history/1019314 "2025-06-10T02:40:34Z")
Things like the trojan horse (which is likely just a myth) where soldiers were hidden in a horse, and when it was brought into the walled city and the soldiers inside unlocked the city gate to allow other invading soldie… --- ## [Bringing back manufacturing jobs -- why would this not work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-manufacturing-jobs-why-would-this-not-work/676025)
**Author:** [@Billy-o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy-o)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bringing-back-manufacturing-jobs-why-would-this-not-work/676025 "2025-06-08T17:58:22Z")
I’m not terribly well educated in economics, so I’d welcome any comments on why this suggestion would be impractical or ill-advised. As several recent threads in GD and the Pit have noted, the number of unemployed in th… --- ## [The Phenomenon: What is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phenomenon-what-is-it/1018583)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 410\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phenomenon-what-is-it/1018583 "2025-06-08T01:32:20Z")
If we take seriously Jacques Vallée’s proposition that the Phenomenon is not only real but may act as a kind of information system—adapting itself to culture and belief—then what kind of reality are we dealing with? Is i… --- ## [Has any modern woo been accepted as real science?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-modern-woo-been-accepted-as-real-science/1018724)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2025, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-modern-woo-been-accepted-as-real-science/1018724 "2025-06-07T11:21:15Z")
Moving on from this thread. I made the statement, “AFAIK, not one single modern phenomenon that has been dubbed woo has proven to be real.” Of course many advances in science have been disbelieved at one point or ano… --- ## [What can Ukraine do with 1-4 million drones a year](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-ukraine-do-with-1-4-million-drones-a-year/1009208)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-ukraine-do-with-1-4-million-drones-a-year/1009208 "2025-06-04T20:02:42Z")
I’m getting contradictory figures, but I’ve read Ukraine is domestically producing anywhere from 1-4 million drones a year. many of them are FPV drones https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-ramps-up-arms-produc… --- ## [Is the growth in the equity markets really just inflation for rich people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-growth-in-the-equity-markets-really-just-inflation-for-rich-people/1018787)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-growth-in-the-equity-markets-really-just-inflation-for-rich-people/1018787 "2025-05-31T16:45:16Z")
So here you are one of those one-percenters controlling 30% of the US wealth. You have way more money than you would ever really want to spend, so what do you do with it. You use it to buy stocks or bonds, in hopes tha… --- ## [When does pushing for extreme ideas help expand the Overton window?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-pushing-for-extreme-ideas-help-expand-the-overton-window/1018830)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-pushing-for-extreme-ideas-help-expand-the-overton-window/1018830 "2025-05-29T23:01:36Z")
This essay was published a while ago, but I only read it today and thought it was an interesting idea: The summary is that if you support a policy that is not currently politically feasible, working to popularise it w… --- ## [Use of eminent domain to obtain Pope's childhood home](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-eminent-domain-to-obtain-popes-childhood-home/1018668)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-eminent-domain-to-obtain-popes-childhood-home/1018668 "2025-05-29T20:17:45Z")
I read that the town of Dolton has plans to obtain the pope’s childhood home.. A developer had recently redone the interior, and wished to auction it. A few thoughts: -I kinda feel the developer ought to be able to ben… --- ## [How far does this "papal infallibility" stuff go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-does-this-papal-infallibility-stuff-go/1017956)
**Author:** [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2025, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-does-this-papal-infallibility-stuff-go/1017956 "2025-05-28T05:09:53Z")
Putting this here because I doubt there’s a simple factual answer. What if the Pope just announced ex cathedra one day “You know, we’re going to drop the whole “divinity of Jesus” thing and rebrand ourselves as a femini… --- ## [Dr. Albert Schweitzer, hero or zero?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-albert-schweitzer-hero-or-zero/326476)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-albert-schweitzer-hero-or-zero/326476 "2025-05-27T01:15:03Z")
I had just perused the Stormfront web page and came across this blog quoting the famous and revered Dr. Albert Schweitzer from his 1961 book, From My African Notebook. He is quoted as follows; Somewhat skeptical, I sou… --- ## [Does the arc of the moral universe bend towards justice? CAN we all just get along?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-arc-of-the-moral-universe-bend-towards-justice-can-we-all-just-get-along/1018589)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-arc-of-the-moral-universe-bend-towards-justice-can-we-all-just-get-along/1018589 "2025-05-26T20:57:19Z")
Maybe I’ve let Trump get to me, but I’ve recently been spending a bit of thought into whether humans and human society are basically good or evil. Feel free to tell me if I’m being sophomoric or identify any excluded mi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=9)