# Things that "can't happen" that are poised to happen soon **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640 "2018-08-15T06:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/21 "2018-08-15T20:03:11Z")
Boy, this thread is turning out as swimmingly as the “unpopular opinions” and “what thing will we look back on in 50 years in disbelief” threads ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/22 "2018-08-15T20:44:19Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > This thread cracks me up. One one side we have “The LGBT people will take over america” crowd. On the other side we have “Every LGBT person will be rounded up and killed.” > > Same country, two very different projections on the future. …neither of which have a snowball’s chance in hell of happening. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/23 "2018-08-15T20:46:15Z")
I like that the disturbing ‘participate in LGBT activities’ means ‘watch a film that includes humans who happen to be LGBT acting normal and not be a douche about it’. By that standard, don’t we already force people to engage in heterosexual activities? Is it really some dark, sinister thing that a kid may watch a historically accurate biography about someone like Emily Dickenson or Luther Vandross and get in trouble if they disrupt class because ‘hurr hurr, she’s writing letters to women’ or ‘hehehehe that song is about his boyfriend’? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/24 "2018-08-15T21:03:25Z")
- Republicans gain seats in Senate in 2018 election - Roe v. Wade overturned - Japan revises Article 9, starts building ICBMs and aircraft carriers - US withdraws from Outer Space Treaty - Trump re-elected in 2020 - US campaign finance laws revised, allows unlimited contributions - Donald Trump Jr. wins 2024 Republican primary ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/25 "2018-08-15T21:26:56Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > - Republicans gain seats in Senate in 2018 election > … > - US campaign finance laws revised, allows unlimited contributions > - Donald Trump Jr. wins 2024 Republican primary I actually think the GOP might gain seats in the House this year. Or at least lose a trivial number. Agree with the chucking of campaign finance laws. Even “personal use” of campaign money will be made legit. Just don’t call them “bribes”. Not Junior, Ivanka. And I don’t think all that many people think this is unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/26 "2018-08-15T22:00:39Z")
A United Ireland, something I never expected to see in my lifetime though a former boss of mine _(a Protestant and Unionist)_ once said it would happen within twenty years. He said that eleven years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/27 "2018-08-15T22:09:59Z")
I witnessed the Cubs win a World Series, so I no longer believe \*anything \*is impossible. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/28 "2018-08-15T22:24:40Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > An essentially single-race, single-party, single-religion America, since everyone insufficiently white, Republican or Christian will be either driven out of the country or killed within the next decade or two. > > And for the above reason an America that is at best a second-tier power since it has gutted itself in the name of racial, religious and political purity. I am thinking what we will see is America split into two countries - The left and right coasts secede and the flyover states becoming what you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/29 "2018-08-15T22:39:14Z")
Airport security is going to get worse. As in, more intrusive, slower and generally a larger pain in the ass. I can imagine a day where if you want to fly, you go to a “processing center” near the airport. There, you are probed and prodded, questioned and interview, searched and inspected. Then, if you pass, you are loaded on a shuttle and escorted to the airport. Lots of armed riot-cop looking guys around. Arrive 4-6 before take-off. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/30 "2018-08-15T22:46:49Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Not things like orgies, of course, but I could envision a school activity/curriculum in which students are required to watch a movie with LGBT scenes, and those who refuse or show disgust would face discipline. It seems that I have engaged in heterosexual activities in public theaters and can be thus charged with multiple counts of public indecency. Why knew? ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/31 "2018-08-15T22:52:07Z")
I think that both the Guantanamo issue (detaining and torturing people without any kind of due process) and the election of Barack Obama would have been dismissed as “such a thing can’t happen in the USA” in 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/32 "2018-08-15T22:52:43Z")
The Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup. Maybe not this year. Possibly not next year. But most definitely the year after. Mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/33 "2018-08-15T23:13:29Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What is the basis for this belief, which sounds totally insane to me? Not going to happen, but _there are_ people who would want to make heterosexual sex illegal. I read one such statement as recently as two weeks ago on a radical feminist board, and nobody called her to task about it. The argument was over BDSM (overwhelming condemned by radical feminists), and included other gems like that BDSM should only be allowed in lesbian couples, or that heterosexual BDSM should only be allowed if the female is the Dominant and the male, besides being submissive, doesn’t take pleasure in being submitted (which would logically means in fact sexual abuse of men, and I couldn’t guess whether she hadn’t have thought it through, just wouldn’t care or would enjoy it). The idea that reverse whatever doesn’t exist notwithstanding, there are people out there who hate heterosexual men and would happily mandate homosexuality for everybody (and sometimes even lesbianism only, and no sex for any man, homosexuals included). I’ve known two in real life, both lovers of the same friend (who, on top of it, was the only case of closeted heterosexual I ever knew. She had only ever been in love with men, and only ever had relationships with women. She would only confide about her heterosexuality to some close friends, wishing for secrecy about it). ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/34 "2018-08-15T23:37:23Z")
Melania Trump divorces Donald and marries Vladimir Putin. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/35 "2018-08-15T23:41:02Z")
> [@RunSilent](#): > > Melania Trump divorces Donald and marries Vladimir Putin. You think Putin would have her? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/36 "2018-08-15T23:43:20Z")
> [@RunSilent](#): > > Melania Trump divorces Donald and marries Vladimir Putin. Melania Trump divorces Donald _who_ marries Vladimir Putin. Okay, I kid. Putin wouldn’t have him. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/37 "2018-08-15T23:55:27Z")
Western countries (including the USA) losing their dominant status, in all domains, to the like of China and India, and ending to be just on par with a number of second rate powers. And (unless there’s some massive unexpected change, like fusion power making energy almost free, or the famous “singularity” happening) a sigificant reduction in wealth in these countries (because our current lyfestyle is unsustainable for billions of people, so when large numbers of others who are better, more productive, more powerful, etc…will acquire more wealth, it will have to come in part from people in currently rich countries losing part of theirs). I know this isn’t a highly surprising prophecy, but it seems to me that a lot of people in the west are in complete denial about it and expect the future to be business as usual with them on top for the foreseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/38 "2018-08-16T00:06:02Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup. > > Maybe not this year. > > Possibly not next year. > > But most definitely the year after. > > Mark my words. Well, the Washington Capitals managed it, so maybe the Leafs are due. (Although the ones I really feel for are the Blues.) And on that note, I’d like to add the Pittsburgh Pirates winning the World Series. Right after Bob Nutting is forced to sell and then run out of town on a rail. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/39 "2018-08-16T00:38:00Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Oh, I don’t know. We thought it could never happen and then 9/11 happened. Is it your belief that there were no terrorist attacks on US soil prior to 9/11? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/40 "2018-08-16T01:44:32Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Melania Trump divorces Donald _who_ marries Vladimir Putin. > > Okay, I kid. Putin wouldn’t have him. To paraphrase Jimi Hendrix, _“I had you once, I don’t need you again”_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640.md?page=3)