# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=90 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 91 --- ## [Is social shaming more powerful than the law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-social-shaming-more-powerful-than-the-law/817465)
**Author:** [@EricaRoche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EricaRoche)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2018, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-social-shaming-more-powerful-than-the-law/817465 "2018-07-10T05:50:58Z")
I’ve been thinking about how suicide is probably one of the few things condemned heavily in many Western countries that isn’t illegal by any means. Most people who feel suicidal won’t go on with it because they don’t wan… --- ## [Is Apple really providing cover for criminals by this new option?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-apple-really-providing-cover-for-criminals-by-this-new-option/816081)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-apple-really-providing-cover-for-criminals-by-this-new-option/816081 "2018-07-09T23:36:59Z")
The reported option is to lock data USB access on iPhones and the cops are pissed. Leaving kids in the hands of pedophiles? Is this the usual alarmist stuff from law enforcement angered at losing a way to spy on people… --- ## [Is Publicly-Shaming A Miscreant On The Internet The Right Thing To Do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-publicly-shaming-a-miscreant-on-the-internet-the-right-thing-to-do/817001)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 145\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-publicly-shaming-a-miscreant-on-the-internet-the-right-thing-to-do/817001 "2018-07-09T20:22:17Z")
You know all the stories: the lawyer who threatened to call Immigration on restaurant employees for speaking Spanish. The woman who called the cops on a little African American girl for selling water. The other woman who… --- ## [You Will Write the Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-will-write-the-law/817503)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-will-write-the-law/817503 "2018-07-09T01:37:42Z")
In the case of Pennsylvania’s gerrymandering, the Penn. Supreme Court told the Legislature that they had 30 days to redraw the borders or they would. Given that courts, in general, have decent leeway to demand whatever … --- ## [People selecting what mental illnesses are real or made up. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-selecting-what-mental-illnesses-are-real-or-made-up-why/817165)
**Author:** [@EricaRoche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EricaRoche)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-selecting-what-mental-illnesses-are-real-or-made-up-why/817165 "2018-07-08T01:00:05Z")
I’ve noticed a trend on the internet in the last decade and perhaps it may indeed confirm the stigma of mental illness. It seems that people firmly believe in mental illness when it comes to someone making any changes t… --- ## [The U.S. has fallen into shadow -- it is time for the world to move on](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-s-has-fallen-into-shadow-it-is-time-for-the-world-to-move-on/816753)
**Author:** [@Rabbi\_Mohel\_Skinberg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabbi_Mohel_Skinberg)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-s-has-fallen-into-shadow-it-is-time-for-the-world-to-move-on/816753 "2018-07-07T03:42:05Z")
I told you so. – me China have overtaken the U.S. militarily and economically – No war with China could be won; much less, decisively – rendering any of the all but diminished, so-called “military superiority” (that h… --- ## [Supreme Courts ...How others go about it.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-courts-how-others-go-about-it/816908)
**Author:** [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-courts-how-others-go-about-it/816908 "2018-07-07T02:10:29Z")
The colour, heat and emotion that occurs every time a SCOTUS position becomes available is a continual befuddlement to this furriner. Did the Founding Fathers it would desirable, or even just a good idea that so much at… --- ## [Scott Pruitt... can we all agree on one thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt-can-we-all-agree-on-one-thing/817243)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt-can-we-all-agree-on-one-thing/817243 "2018-07-06T22:23:09Z")
Red or Blue, Conservative or Liberal, MAGA or Anti-Trump, Treehugger or Warmonger, young or old, black or white… can we all agree that Scott Pruitt is a corrupt, lying, self-serving scumbag? I absolutely cannot see anyw… --- ## [Netflix exec fired for "using" N-word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-exec-fired-for-using-n-word/816664)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 198\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-exec-fired-for-using-n-word/816664 "2018-07-06T21:06:21Z")
Brings to mind the time that then-President Obama mentioned the word. In that discussion, there was an important distinction drawn between using the word and mentioning it. Is the word “nigger” so charged that you ca… --- ## [Tess Thompson Talley hunts and kills a giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tess-thompson-talley-hunts-and-kills-a-giraffe/817141)
**Author:** [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2018, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tess-thompson-talley-hunts-and-kills-a-giraffe/817141 "2018-07-06T08:03:51Z")
This is one of those stories that everybody seems to immediately pick a side on, so it’s hard to get the Straight Dope, so I came here. Here is one story that is relatively balanced: Hunter under fire for posing with d… --- ## [God and Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192)
**Author:** [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Replies:** 596\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2018, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192 "2018-07-06T06:46:36Z")
I read a lot of debates around here between theists and non-theists, but there is one topic I really haven’t seen discussed much. I suppose it’s more of a pantheistic belief, but it is certainly one I lean toward. Here g… --- ## [Can there ever be a stop in the retribution cycle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-ever-be-a-stop-in-the-retribution-cycle/816830)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2018, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-ever-be-a-stop-in-the-retribution-cycle/816830 "2018-07-06T05:15:29Z")
Right now we have democrats saying its ok to harass people who work for the Trump administration such as going to their homes, refusing to serve them at restaurants, etc… In a few years a democrat will most likely take … --- ## [Median age of ghosts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/median-age-of-ghosts/817002)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/median-age-of-ghosts/817002 "2018-07-06T02:03:45Z")
As I understand it, roughly 1/3rd of fetuses never make it past the 1st term and through human history about 30% of children died before the age of 5. Given that this ignores the death rates of 2nd and 3rd term fetuses a… --- ## [Were the 90s in the US a better time than today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-90s-in-the-us-a-better-time-than-today/817300)
**Author:** [@Kennedy1960](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kennedy1960)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-90s-in-the-us-a-better-time-than-today/817300 "2018-07-05T19:18:30Z")
I was a kid during the 90s, so I will readily admit I am victim to the rose-tinted allure of nostalgia, but I can’t help but think that, aside from LGBT people having more rights now, that the 90s were generally a better… --- ## [Does the public sector seizing the means of production ever work out well?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-public-sector-seizing-the-means-of-production-ever-work-out-well/816995)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-public-sector-seizing-the-means-of-production-ever-work-out-well/816995 "2018-07-05T14:08:57Z")
I’m a leftist, but I’m more of a believer in social democracy. The core of that is still acceptance of capitalism, but you need a lot of regulations and redistribution to take the harsh edges off of capitalism. But what… --- ## [Parents of Jahi McMath (brain dead child) allowed to take daughter out of hospital](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-jahi-mcmath-brain-dead-child-allowed-to-take-daughter-out-of-hospital/677833)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 266\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-jahi-mcmath-brain-dead-child-allowed-to-take-daughter-out-of-hospital/677833 "2018-07-04T16:05:44Z")
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Hospital-agrees-to-let-Jahi-McMath-family-take-5111584.php Searched but saw no thread on this already. It appears that the media has tried to make this some sort of controversial… --- ## [Supreme court change will mean overturning Roe vs Wade. Could family planning thru internet help?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-change-will-mean-overturning-roe-vs-wade-could-family-planning-thru-internet-help/816910)
**Author:** [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-change-will-mean-overturning-roe-vs-wade-could-family-planning-thru-internet-help/816910 "2018-07-04T14:32:38Z")
Slate makes a convincine case that with a new conservative judge on the Supreme Court, abortion will still be available in therory in red states; but it will be so difficult to actually get help that abortion will defact… --- ## [Are whites adopting Asian children guilty of, well, something?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-whites-adopting-asian-children-guilty-of-well-something/816988)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-whites-adopting-asian-children-guilty-of-well-something/816988 "2018-07-04T04:53:20Z")
Is there some issue, or should there be some issue with a white couple adopting Asian children? Long story short, three couples out to dinner last night, one of the couples are Chinese-American. Upon seeing a white cou… --- ## [How I would change the Supreme Court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-would-change-the-supreme-court/817254)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-would-change-the-supreme-court/817254 "2018-07-04T01:39:14Z")
I see a ton of journalists now writing about how they would change the SCOTUS; I had actually been warning liberals for many years that the Supreme Court was both too powerful and too political. A set of reforms I’ve tho… --- ## [Gun Rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-rights/817045)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-rights/817045 "2018-07-03T20:11:34Z")
This OP is in two parts: “The only thing that stops a Bad Guy with a gun is a Good Guy with a gun.” EVERYONE assumes they are the Good Guy…even the “Bad Guys” themselves! That’s why they feel justified in going out an… --- ## [A vaccination dilemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vaccination-dilemma/817007)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vaccination-dilemma/817007 "2018-07-03T16:36:27Z")
I’m a big fan of vaccination. It has saved billions of lives. But no vaccine is perfect, so let me present the following scenario: Janet is a young girl and of the right age to receive Vaccine X. However, Janet’s elder … --- ## [Sanders told to leave restaurant - why no debate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanders-told-to-leave-restaurant-why-no-debate/816660)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 536\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanders-told-to-leave-restaurant-why-no-debate/816660 "2018-07-03T01:31:58Z")
Sarah Sanders was told to leave a restaurant (so she alleges) because she works for Trump. Given the debate over the baker and the gay couple, I’m surprised to see no thread here. Original Twitter thread here. CNN’s ver… --- ## [Are Trump supporters so far in they can't back out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-trump-supporters-so-far-in-they-cant-back-out/816776)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-trump-supporters-so-far-in-they-cant-back-out/816776 "2018-07-03T01:17:54Z")
When this Trump mess first started, you would see a few supporters drop off with each new revelation/misdeed/gaff, but I’m not seeing that happen much any more. It’s as if those that still support him have done it for s… --- ## [the end of the pax americana?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-pax-americana/816516)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-pax-americana/816516 "2018-07-03T01:02:55Z")
According to this article MSN the political and social climate has dragged us in the mud and weve lost any international influence and good will because of it … So my question is how right or wrong is the article? --- ## [What would happen if Republicans & Democrats agreed to split power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-republicans-democrats-agreed-to-split-power/817108)
**Author:** [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2018, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-republicans-democrats-agreed-to-split-power/817108 "2018-07-02T11:32:19Z")
I admit I haven’t thought this all the way out and I’m sure I have huge blind spots that’ll be pointed out but… Would this be a imperfect, but much better, solution to our current divide? Say we doubled the number of re… --- ## [USSR took out 98 missiles due to Castro's lunacy --Cuban refugees right to escape him --yes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ussr-took-out-98-missiles-due-to-castros-lunacy-cuban-refugees-right-to-escape-him-yes/817113)
**Author:** [@ned12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ned12)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ussr-took-out-98-missiles-due-to-castros-lunacy-cuban-refugees-right-to-escape-him-yes/817113 "2018-07-02T03:14:05Z")
It turns out that even after rather weak US President Kennedy made a deal with the Soviets they (the Soviets) still had 98 missiles in the Cuban island. (Bet you thought John had gotten them all out himself.) But when th… --- ## [Professorwatchlist.org shows the names of radical professors on US campuses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professorwatchlist-org-shows-the-names-of-radical-professors-on-us-campuses/817058)
**Author:** [@ned12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ned12)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professorwatchlist-org-shows-the-names-of-radical-professors-on-us-campuses/817058 "2018-06-30T22:09:32Z")
It is a powerful webpage (mentioned on Fox News in late 2016, that’s where I heard of it) that needs more coverage and attention. Check it out. As to the debate. Do you agree or disagree that it offers valuable informat… --- ## [SCOTUS screws public-sector unions. The Janus decision.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-screws-public-sector-unions-the-janus-decision/816885)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-screws-public-sector-unions-the-janus-decision/816885 "2018-06-30T21:42:14Z")
There are many public sector employees that get great contracts because they freeload off of the work of the union with collective bargaining but when asked to support the work that gets them their contract they turn int… --- ## [Can we have a debate on Dunning-Kruger as it relates to politics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-debate-on-dunning-kruger-as-it-relates-to-politics/816479)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-debate-on-dunning-kruger-as-it-relates-to-politics/816479 "2018-06-30T20:57:29Z")
I’m trying not to be an arrogant liberal asshole, but it hard. So I’ll just say it. In my experience (not so much the conservatives on this board, they are a different breed. The kinds of conservatives I"m referring to … --- ## [Should women be in direct combat ground brigades or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-women-be-in-direct-combat-ground-brigades-or-not/111883)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2018, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-women-be-in-direct-combat-ground-brigades-or-not/111883 "2018-06-29T04:41:34Z")
Per this story Women taken out of Army squads women are being moved out of direct combat ground brigades. Is this is a prudent decision or not? The concerns of why women should not do these jobs is not addressed in the … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=89) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=91)