# To be or not to Be that is the question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 17, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286 "2007-03-17T00:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![perthite06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@perthite06](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perthite06)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/1 "2007-03-17T00:53:26Z")
" If the ‘present’ was to sit in judgement of the ‘past’ there would be no future!!! :cool ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/2 "2007-03-17T02:27:29Z")
**Perthite06** : welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards. I confess, I have no idea what you’re referring to. Some clue would be helpful, and would allow others to respond with some coherence. Are you referring to one of Cecil’s columns (the topics for this forum)? ---
**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 17, 2007, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/3 "2007-03-17T08:05:20Z")
That’s, like, deep. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/4 "2007-03-17T17:13:00Z")
Which past era are you talking about judging its past? ---
**Author:** ![perthite06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@perthite06](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perthite06)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/5 "2007-03-20T12:05:20Z")
The " CLUE" was in the title… To be or not to be If the present were to sit in judgement of the past there would be no future This is a modern style of saying a verse from one of William Shakespears plays. The point being of course that with all the problems in the world we should look back in history for the answers!!! ’ History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives’ 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/6 "2007-03-20T12:46:55Z")
While I agree in principle, I think in your case you’d be better off looking at the forum titles for the answers. At the very least it’s the right place to start. For me I’m starting in the Straightdope search engine for answers. Are you talking about [this](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/051014.html) one ? Or maybe [this one?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_328.html) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/7 "2007-03-20T14:21:13Z")
“We have no Past, and we have no Future!” “What about the Present?” “It’s under the Tree.” “I see that your tragedy has doomed your sense of humor as well.” –The MAD parody “Star Blechh” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/8 "2007-03-20T14:58:23Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] “It’s under the Tree.” [/QUOTE] It’s only just out of reach; down the block, on a beach. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/9 "2007-03-20T19:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=perthite06] The " CLUE" was in the title… To be or not to be If the present were to sit in judgement of the past there would be no future This is a modern style of saying a verse from one of William Shakespears plays. [/quote] No it isn’t. [QUOTE=perthite06] The point being of course that with all the problems in the world we should look back in history for the answers!!! [/quote] So, say, the solution to the problem of Iraq is to start a proper crusade? ---
**Author:** ![enigm4tic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@enigm4tic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigm4tic)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/10 "2007-03-20T19:48:44Z")
[QUOTE=John W. Kennedy] So, say, the solution to the problem of Iraq is to start a proper crusade? [/QUOTE] Whoulda thunk it. GW WAS right, line up the trebuchets! ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question/396286/11 "2007-03-20T20:58:31Z")
This is not obviously a comment on one of Cecil’s columns, so I’ll close this thread. If you’re looking for a debate (and honestly, I can’t tell), try the Great Debates forum. bibliophage moderator CCC