# What can the SDMB agree on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 4, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459 "2015-12-04T23:06:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/1 "2015-12-04T23:06:57Z")
Are there ANY issues that the whole SDMB (or at least those active in GD) can actually agree on? I suspect there are, and I would like to find out which they are, but I have no idea where to start. So in order to get a base reference… what can we ALL agree on? Can you think of anything? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/2 "2015-12-04T23:15:57Z")
Hopefully (though I’m not at all certain), at least the following: The best estimate for the age of the universe is between 13 and 15 billion years old or so. The Earth is an oblate spheroid that revolves around the Sun. The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Life arose sometime between 3 and 4 billion years ago or so. The best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth is evolution from common descent. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/3 "2015-12-04T23:18:28Z")
You would think something like “The internet exists.”, or even more basic like the [law of identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_identity) (‘a’ = ‘a’), but once you get to [hard solipsism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism) or even [Last Thursdayism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalos_hypothesis#Last_Thursdayism). I suspect we could even argue about those… ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/4 "2015-12-04T23:20:02Z")
The value of discussing issues (as opposed to resorting to physical violence). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/5 "2015-12-04T23:24:30Z")
It’s taking longer than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/6 "2015-12-04T23:27:36Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Hopefully (though I’m not at all certain), at least the following: > > The best estimate for the age of the universe is between 13 and 15 billion years old or so. > > The Earth is an oblate spheroid that revolves around the Sun. > > The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old. > > Life arose sometime between 3 and 4 billion years ago or so. > > The best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth is evolution from common descent. Really? Not a single creationist left on the SDMB? I hope you’re right. > [@SmartAlecCat](#): > > You would think something like “The internet exists.”, or even more basic like the [law of identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_identity) (‘a’ = ‘a’), but once you get to [hard solipsism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism) or even [Last Thursdayism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalos_hypothesis#Last_Thursdayism). I suspect we could even argue about those… I think ”the internet exists” and ”a=a” would both be confirmed by anyone who is able to read the SDMB. If not, it will at least draw the solipsists out… > [@PastTense](#): > > The value of discussing issues (as opposed to resorting to physical violence). Hopefully… I’d like to suggest: Everyone here is an alive human being. Life has an inherent value. The Kosmos exists. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/7 "2015-12-04T23:31:09Z")
That there is a quarry somewhere that we are supposed to throw stuff into, but we don’t want to. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/8 "2015-12-04T23:31:28Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Life has an inherent value. Nope. Nothing has an inherent value. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/9 "2015-12-04T23:34:03Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Nope. Nothing has an inherent value. Damnit. What would it take to make you change your mind? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/10 "2015-12-04T23:35:28Z")
I once started a thread asking people who was better; Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse? And everyone who responded voted for Bugs Bunny. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/11 "2015-12-04T23:36:06Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Damnit. > > What would it take to make you change your mind? Put $500,000 in small, unmarked bills in a suitcase . . . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/12 "2015-12-04T23:36:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I once started a thread asking people who was better; Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse? And everyone who responded voted for Bugs Bunny. Well sure, I guess we could agree on obvious things like that… ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/13 "2015-12-04T23:38:04Z")
Mary Ann is hotter than Ginger ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/14 "2015-12-04T23:42:58Z")
I’d go with Betty. But I’d be thinking about Wilma. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/15 "2015-12-04T23:43:11Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > The Kosmos exists. Yes, and it’s my very favorite of [Humboldt’s works](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_%28Humboldt%29). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/16 "2015-12-04T23:43:24Z")
The conch. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/17 "2015-12-04T23:50:52Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > . . . Life has an inherent value. . . . > [@Frank](#): > > Nope. Nothing has an inherent value. > [@Stoneburg](#): > > . . . What would it take to make you change your mind? I have to agree with Frank: life has a subjective value. I treasure my life, and pretty much all living things. Extinction is bad. Every man’s death diminishes me. But… No, life doesn’t have an inherent value, only the value we place upon it. I honestly cannot think of any argument that would change my mind on this; it really comes down to how I define the words. > [@madsircool](#): > > Mary Ann is hotter than Ginger Sorry, but I’ll spoil the unanimity here. Ginger spikes my punch; Mary Ann just kinda bores me. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/18 "2015-12-05T00:05:45Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Mary Ann is hotter than Ginger The Professor was hotter than those 2 IMHO:p ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/19 "2015-12-05T00:06:18Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > The value of discussing issues (as opposed to resorting to physical violence). No. There is plenty of violent willful ignorance that is written down. Oppositionism isn’t discussing issues either. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459/20 "2015-12-05T00:11:26Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Sorry, but I’ll spoil the unanimity here. Ginger spikes my punch; Mary Ann just kinda bores me. > [@Foggy](#): > > The Professor was hotter than those 2 IMHO:p That just means more Mary Ann for me…and cocoanut creme pie 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459.md?page=2)