# State some controversial beliefs that you have. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886 "2006-10-25T20:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/81 "2006-10-26T01:59:47Z")
I think that adults should be left alone to do whatever they want to themselves. I believe that adults should be left alone to do whatever they want with other consenting adults, provided nobody else suffers direct and unwanted physical harm as a result. I believe the FCC should get it’s collective fucking nose out of what people say, and concentrate on making sure they’re able to say it (read that as, make sure radio stations don’t try to drown out other stations signals). Any time somebody calls them to complain about content the stock answer should be “change channels.” I believe we should strive for a world in which, among other things, abortion is unnecessary, but it should always damn well be legal! I believe W is the worst president we’ve had in the last century. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/82 "2006-10-26T02:02:19Z")
[QUOTE=Beaucarnea] Well, in my nonexistant ideal world, every lock has a key. Ya know what I mean? (And if you don’t, I mean that for every perversion there is a pervert to fill it. Pornography could serve a higher purpose if only to provide an outlet for the peculiar. Maybe we should go into the kink matchmaking business: You like toes? Meet the amazing Polydactyl Lady. You like Mustard Smeared Fingers? Have we got a clutzy hotdog vendor for you. Ya know, that kind of thing.) [/QUOTE] I don’t know, _but for God’s sake, don’t stop!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/83 "2006-10-26T02:12:34Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] Do you believe its someone’s right to have their bills paid by someone else? [/QUOTE] I believe it’s woefully ignorant to equate something as vital as healthcare for fellow humans to the cable bill. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/84 "2006-10-26T02:12:53Z")
[QUOTE=Walter Windchill] Pedophilia is not a crime, it’s a mental illness which may or may not manifest itself as criminal behavior. Most driver error is not due to stupidity but to carelessness, which IQ does not assess. [/QUOTE] No, but committing a crime against a young child in a sexual sense is a crime, therefore, all pedophilic sex offenders should never be released from prison because many commit another similar crime. And I’m not talking about driver error, I’m talking about people that are just plain stupid out here operating a motor vehicle. Which, there are plenty of these days. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/85 "2006-10-26T02:15:34Z")
I believe that cholesterol has been demonized to the point of absurdity, and that statin drugs are much worse for your body than your cholesterol levels are. I believe that many doctors and pharmaceutical companies are in league with each other to make guinea pigs out of the patients. I believe that most people who call themselves Christians are not worthy of the name and follow nothing that Jesus said–and that if they did, the world would be a finer place. I have no problem with stem cell research, gay marriage, or wanting someone to help you die when your life has become nothing but misery due to untreatable illness and pain. I think people spend too much money on funerals and weddings. I believe there are far, far too many people incarcerated who should not have been. Save the prisons for the violent, dangerous and incorrigible. I believe that the “United” States is deteriorating at such a rate that we will not be able to stop its demise. Same for the planet in general, though that may take a bit longer. I see no reason why someone should ascend a throne automatically just because they were born into some royal family. I reject the idea of “blue” or “pure” blood, for that matter. I believe that spending years building kids’ self-esteem does more harm than good, in the long run. I believe that Bush and Co. should have been impeached quite some time ago. I believe that people who live hand-to-mouth but continue to pop out babies have no right to complain about the cost of living, nor should their “plight” be fodder for some huge article in a newspaper. I believe that zombies are inherently funny. I believe that David Rees is a fucking genius. I believe that movie theatre attendance will continue to decline, as will the quality of most movies. I believe that Two-Buck Chuck isn’t all that great. ---
**Author:** ![liberty3701](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@liberty3701](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberty3701)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/86 "2006-10-26T02:16:14Z")
I believe all technology is evil and should be eliminated (and that I’m a big fat hypocrite for using technology constantly). I believe all plastic surgery (except for reconstructive surgery) and bariatric surgery are mutilation. I believe it is possible to be fat and healthy. I believe the whole calories in/calories out idea is bullshit and that the human body is more complex than a Calc I word problem. I believe having children is selfish when there are so many kids who need parents and when we hurt the environment so badly. I believe nonviolent resistance will never succeed. I believe prescriptivist grammarians are a drain on society. I believe New Jersey is the greatest state in the union. I believe everyone should go vegan until the meat and dairy industry becomes humane (if that’s possible; if not, we need to learn to raise our own animals). On a related note, I think believing eating meat is evil but plants and “nonsentient” beings is aok is bullshit. Life feeds on life; plants are alive, and we kill (or at least injure) them to eat them, and that is not different than eating an animal (and that I’m a big fat hypocrite for not eating meat but eating plenty of plants). I believe people are basically good. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/87 "2006-10-26T02:19:09Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] I believe you should have a minimum IQ of 125 before getting your drivers license. And if you never get anymore intelligent, you never get your license. [/QUOTE] Ho-ho! I’d invite you to take a ride in the van driven by my ecology professor back in college. He had an IQ of about 165 and the driving skills of a 12-year-old on Lidocaine. We finally made him pull over and let one of the undergrads drive so that we could relax and try to get our hearts beating regularly again. On the other hand, I know plenty of truck drivers who were no Einsteins, but they were just fine behind the wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/88 "2006-10-26T02:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Leaper] Oh, and one of my own: I get really nervous when people believe that we should discriminate against others based on nebulous qualities like “intelligence” and “believing the right things,” and can’t help thinking that those who think that way are… like **DerTrihs**. (And by that I mean nihilist! What did you think I meant? :)) [/QUOTE] I said not one word about discrimination. [QUOTE=Linty Fresh] Reading this, I believe that **Der Trihs** couldn’t get a date with a self-respecting Real Doll. Prick :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Yes, because supporting the resistance against the invaders is _so_ much worse than supporting the invaders. :rolleyes: Some more : Formal marriage, in general, is a bad idea; it tends to poison relationships. Married people get lazy, take their relationship for granted, and let it decay without realizing it. Having children is not a virtue. There’s nothing immature about liking, say, comic books or playing with dolls or videos games or your old children’s books or other “childish” things as an adult; it _is_ immature to give them up just because you are afraid of other’s opinions. It’s also outright silly to regard things like comic books and videogames as childish in the first place, given that most of the market for them is with adults. There’s nothing immoral about public nakedness, including in front of children or on national television, nor are they going to be “traumatized” by it. And if it offends you, don’t look. The cross is as much a symbol of evil as a swastika. While I admit a sentimental fondness for wildlife, from a purely moral perspective all of the higher wild animals should be killed, and preserved only in zoos. Life in the wild is a horrible existence that shouldn’t be inflicted on feeling creatures. There’s nothing wrong or tragic about AI’s eventually replacing humanity, any more than there is anything wrong with flesh and blood children replacing their parents. I believe that there is no soul or afterlife of any kind. I do not believe we should worship _anything_; I find the whole concept of worship disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/89 "2006-10-26T02:40:04Z")
I’m all for gay marriage if both chicks are hot. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/90 "2006-10-26T02:41:29Z")
[QUOTE=Abe Babe] I believe all foreigners living abroad should be taxed by the US government. [/QUOTE] Just to clarify - you think that non-US citizens, not living in the US, should pay US taxes? The whole world should pay US taxes? I don’t think I have many controversial beliefs. Let’s see… I think Jesus is creepy. Teachings are great and stuff, but… there’s something slightly creepy about the whole thing. I think evolutionary psychology, as I understand it now, is crap. I will do more reading on it to see if my definition lines up with that of the good scientists, though. I think chivalry is chauvinism. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/91 "2006-10-26T02:44:46Z")
I think the vast majority of Americans are racist and/or bigoted, and that, sometimes subconsciously, sometimes consciously, racism or bigotry shapes their opinions about nearly everything else that involves other human beings. I suspect that the same is true for humans in general, but I’ve never lived outside the US so I don’t have much to work with on that front. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/92 "2006-10-26T02:57:07Z")
The concept of “fundamental human rights” is complete and utter bullshit. Society is an artificial construction that can be manipulated by some to satisfy the desire for power, money, prestige, what-have-you. The hierarchy of a common street gang is enforced by brute strength much like our republic or a pack of dogs. Those in the gang benefit from the mentality of “protecting our own,” but outsiders become victims. For some reason this seems to surprise people. [QUOTE=Der Trihs] I not only think that humanity will within a few centuries at most either be destroyed or replaced, I’m all for it. [/QUOTE] While I agree with you on the first point, FUCK you for being for it. When we all disappear, a large piece of the blame will fall on the indifferent, sneering jackals who couldn’t be bothered to make a difference in their world; who chose to piss in the sandbox rather than invite others in. So, throw up your hands, you cynical, misanthropic pussy. Pretend like there was nothing you could do to change your world. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/93 "2006-10-26T03:02:54Z")
Oh wait, I thought of something controversial. I don’t think that ‘life’ is anything special. I think that pain and suffering is the ultimate evil, and that happiness is the ultimate good. So I don’t have a problem with abortion, euthanasia, or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/94 "2006-10-26T03:05:37Z")
[QUOTE=Hung Mung] While I agree with you on the first point, FUCK you for being for it. When we all disappear, a large piece of the blame will fall on the indifferent, sneering jackals who couldn’t be bothered to make a difference in their world; who chose to piss in the sandbox rather than invite others in. So, throw up your hands, you cynical, misanthropic pussy. Pretend like there was nothing you could do to change your world. [/QUOTE] Who said I was indifferent ? I’d like humanity to be replaced by something better, either made by or derived from us. Humanity as-is is a disaster of a species. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/95 "2006-10-26T03:12:23Z")
[QUOTE=The Sausage Creature] I believe it’s woefully ignorant to equate something as vital as healthcare for fellow humans to the cable bill. [/QUOTE] I agree. But the key word here is\*\* right\*\* I forget the person but years ago I heard a quote that said. A right is something that doesn’t cost anybody else anything. Free speech, religion, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I don’t mean to sound caviler. I definitely believe that as a culture and a society we should choose to make caring for each other a priority. We need serious health care reform. I applaud compassion but I strenuously object to the word _right_ IMHO looking at it that way creates a shitload of problems. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/96 "2006-10-26T03:13:22Z")
My controversial / irrational beliefs, some of which I can defend, others which I can’t: I’m an atheist, but I think that humans naturally have a tendency towards belief, and that it is a good thing. In fact, I’d say that atheism is more likely to be a mental illness than religiousness. I believe every large religion eventually evolves to become compatible with liberty, democracy and pluralism. And when it reaches this point, it can still be called by its name. Yes, this is true even of Islam. I believe that when I read posts by **Der Trihs** that aren’t about religion, I feel the same way as fans of Ann Coulter feel when they read her books. And I think that he isn’t as much as a monster as people here think he is. I believe that people who don’t like cats often want to torture cats. I believe that a large number of conservatives – though not all of them – tend to be either arrogant people who think they are much better than they are in reality, or social Darwinist bullies who want to rebuild human society as animal society. In fact, I believe that many conservatives – and barely any liberal – show clinical symptoms of narcissistic or antisocial personality disorders. Nevertheless, I think that there is a strong yet invisible conservative undercurrent to my own political beliefs, and that it will only get stronger as I get older. I also believe that conservatives can often be recognized by their physical appearance. I believe that capitalism, as an economic system, simply may not function without strong government intervention. It is way too unstable. I believe that the vision of Canada as a great bilingual and multicultural country that many Canadians have is simply an undefensible myth. I believe that the whole history of humanity may be considered as the biggest game ever played. If we take this view, even large social upheavals such as massive terrorist attacks or genocides are just interesting moves. And ultimately, since the game is eventually going to stop, they just don’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/97 "2006-10-26T03:20:51Z")
[QUOTE=severus] I believe that the whole history of humanity may be considered as the biggest game ever played. If we take this view, even large social upheavals such as massive terrorist attacks or genocides are just interesting moves. And ultimately, since the game is eventually going to stop, they just don’t matter. [/QUOTE] I should clarify this. I’m not saying massive terrorist attacks or genocides don’t matter. They certainly do _so long as we’re inside the game_. And that’s where we are. It is as seen from outside the game – which will be the case after the game is over – that they don’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/98 "2006-10-26T03:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=severus] …I believe that the vision of Canada as a great bilingual and multicultural country that many Canadians have is simply an undefensible myth… [/quote] I applaud your courage in defying the fanatical Canadian nationalists who some ruthlessly dominate these boards. You will be remembered. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/99 "2006-10-26T03:25:56Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] I agree. But the key word here is\*\* right\*\* I forget the person but years ago I heard a quote that said. A right is something that doesn’t cost anybody else anything. Free speech, religion, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I don’t mean to sound caviler. I definitely believe that as a culture and a society we should choose to make caring for each other a priority. We need serious health care reform. I applaud compassion but I strenuously object to the word _right_ IMHO looking at it that way creates a shitload of problems. [/QUOTE] That’s an interesting point of view I had never considered. However, I don’t feel that anyone in this country- or any country- is going to \*choose \*to take care of one another. It’s just contrary to human nature, unfortunately. Of course, I hope I’m proven wrong someday. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886/100 "2006-10-26T03:29:52Z")
I believe that there are scarcely any people with no moral sense whatever; these are sociopaths. Evil actions are in general caused by either blindness to the consequences of one’s acts upon others, or by failure to regard such consequences as being important due to a perception of lowly status of those harmed. I believe that continual government intervention in the economy and redistribution of wealth through effective and universal social programs are necessary to ensure the humaneness of a capitalist system, the continuation of civilized society, and indeed a healthy and productive economy. I believe that Canada should keep its monarchy. However, should the national consensus at some point be to become a republic, I really must insist that we at least retain the name “Governor General,” because “President of Canada” is so boring a title that I can scarcely type it without falling asleep. I believe that Quebec is a nation, and that this nation can best develop and reach its goals within the Canadian confederation. I believe that corporations and the wealthy are no longer sufficiently taxed. I believe that government action should severely curtail the use of private automobiles, and that urban planning should aim to replace most uses of private automobiles by convenient and efficient public transit, before fossil fuels become so expensive due to inefficient use for personal transit that it becomes prohibitive to use it for the much more efficient purpose of constructing public transit facilities. I believe that all levels of government should fund the construction of urban public transit. I believe that electric high-speed rail should replace much current air traffic in North America. I believe that people of the same sex should be allowed to marry, and that civil officials should not be permitted to refuse to solemnize marriages between people of the same sex. I believe that medical care required by transgender and transsexual people, including psychotherapy, hormones, and surgery as required by each individual, should be publicly funded as a matter of ensuring citizens’ mental health. I believe that citizens should be entitled to change the mention of gender on their documents with the same ease with which they can change their name. I believe that the mention of gender should not be included on any government document to which the gender of the person in question is not relevant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-some-controversial-beliefs-that-you-have/377886.md?page=6)