# Is there something we can all agree on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 26, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911 "2006-03-26T01:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/1 "2006-03-26T01:39:00Z")
Let’s say I die tomorrow, and find myself facing **Orlya, Owl God of Questioning**. Before I’m allowed to pass on to the afterlife, it asks me to answer one question - what one piece of knowledge have I gained from my time on Earth? Obviously I’d like to have the best chance of being allowed to continue on as possible, and i’d like to make His Scepticness impressed with my answer, too. So I need a principle, a fact, some knowledge that is not only the most likely to be true but also has importance, gravity. What one principle can we all agree on? Note: Please don’t turn this into a debate on that principle; I don’t want someone to come in claiming “all killing is wrong” and then have this turn into a debate on that issue. If one person disagrees with that principle, and can give their reason, it’s out. If you want to argue about that issue or reason, start a new thread. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/2 "2006-03-26T01:53:26Z")
All human beings need to breathe air in order to survive. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/3 "2006-03-26T02:22:52Z")
Even Gandhi could be a dick sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/4 "2006-03-26T02:25:43Z")
The Nicene Creed. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/5 "2006-03-26T03:22:47Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > All human beings need to breathe air in order to survive. Well, this is true, but it’s not really a principle… its just a biological fact. > [@silenus](#): > > Even Gandhi could be a dick sometimes. cite? But again, not really a principle, just a subjective opinion. > [@Metacom](#): > > The Nicene Creed. Being that it’s a part of Christian church history, I’m going to say that this isn’t going to qualify as even remotely being something we can all agree on. In fact the only thing I think we could all agree on is that there probably isn’t anything we can all agree on. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/6 "2006-03-26T03:25:12Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > All human beings need to breathe air in order to survive. Nope: [burn victims sometimes are given an oxygen-rich liquid to breathe isntead of air](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_breathing). Out with you! Humans can be amazingly argumentative. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/7 "2006-03-26T03:38:14Z")
There is only one piece of wisdom that will remain true for all situations. “This too, shall pass.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/8 "2006-03-26T03:45:16Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > “This too, shall pass.” I don’t think that’s true any more. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/9 "2006-03-26T03:47:05Z")
Does agreeing to disagree count? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/10 "2006-03-26T03:52:50Z")
I once started a poll asking people who they like better, Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse. Every single person said they liked Bugs Bunny better. Considering the wide range of backgrounds and opinions present on this board, I feel it is acceptable to regard our members as a fair representative sample of humanity. So we resolved that it was a proven fact: Bugs Bunny is better than Mickey Mouse. It may not be profound, but you take your universal truths where you can find them. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/11 "2006-03-26T04:20:54Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > Being that it’s a part of Christian church history, I’m going to say that this isn’t going to qualify as even remotely being something we can all agree on. Given that I’d be telling it to an Owl-god after I died, I was mostly hoping he’d have a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Tevildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Tevildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tevildo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/12 "2006-03-26T07:37:15Z")
The Iron Law of Distribution, Mark 4:25. “For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/13 "2006-03-26T07:49:17Z")
Curly was better than Shemp ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/14 "2006-03-26T09:05:44Z")
Do as you would be done by is a pretty good piece of advice. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/15 "2006-03-26T12:48:22Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > It may not be profound, but you take your universal truths where you can find them. Although most folks agree, [Andy the Great](http://www.electricferret.com/fights/toons.htm) and a few other weirdos don’t. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/16 "2006-03-26T13:21:40Z")
How about “Humans would never agree” ? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/17 "2006-03-26T13:24:24Z")
Ignorance fights back. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/18 "2006-03-26T13:27:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Nope: burn victims sometimes are given an oxygen-rich liquid to breathe isntead of air. Out with you! And fetuses breathe embryonic fluid ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/19 "2006-03-26T13:51:45Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Even Gandhi could be a dick sometimes. I think, restated in less snarky terms, this is a good example. Rephrasing: _no one is perfect_. Alternatively, _everyone is/has been wrong about something_. Coverse to that last, perhaps: _everyone is/has been right something_. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911/20 "2006-03-26T13:52:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Even Gandhi could be a dick sometimes. I think, restated in less snarky terms, this is a good example. Rephrasing: _no one is perfect_. Alternatively, _everyone is/has been wrong about something_. Coverse to that last, perhaps: _everyone is/has been right about something_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-we-can-all-agree-on/349911.md?page=2)