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Forum: The Crucible

The serious stuff. Debates and discussions on politics, religion, etc.

  1. Sticky thread Sticky: About the Crucible

    These are just general guidelines and may be added to or changed if and when the need arises. The forum is a place for serious debate, discussion of news and current events, and also witnessing, if you must. Whether it's the deep discussion on...

    Started by Zuul‎, 15 Nov 2009 07:38 PM
    • Replies: 0
    • Views: 32,526
    15 Nov 2009 07:38 PM Go to last post
  1. Has Julian Assange lost all credibility?

    From leading the Wikileaks revolution to hiding in a consol. A few weeks ago, Julian Assange lost his case for extradition to Sweden to answer to charges of rape. He has always claimed that if he was to be sent there, he would be extradited to...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 02 Jul 2012 10:02 AM
    • Replies: 34
    • Views: 97,404
    18 Jun 2022 12:03 AM Go to last post
  2. Should Sarah Palin run for Republican Candidate?

    The Republican field is wide open and despite everything she still has a very wide media presence. Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump are not in it, so the field is wide open for someone to come through to represent them. But it would mean giving up...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 17 May 2011 10:58 AM
    • Replies: 9
    • Views: 82,456
    18 May 2011 05:24 PM Go to last post
  3. Did Kevin Carter do anything wrong (taking that famous photo)?

    Kevin Carter became (in)famous having snapped this photo during the Famine in Sudan in 1993: He won a Pulitzer for the photo, but shortly thereafter committed suicide. At the time there was much commentary along the lines that Carter...

    Started by The Original An Gadaí‎, 21 Aug 2010 04:36 PM
    • Replies: 41
    • Views: 70,749
    31 Oct 2013 09:53 AM Go to last post
  4. What should happen to Tyler Clementi's tormenters?

    Story here, about an 18-year-old college freshman, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after his roommate and his roommate's friend surreptitiously videotaped him having a sexual encounter with another male, livestreamed it, and tweeted about it:...

    Started by Hatshepsut‎, 30 Sep 2010 08:02 PM
    • Replies: 47
    • Views: 65,700
    20 Mar 2012 08:48 AM Go to last post
  5. Watching 18/R Rated Videos in Public?

    Travelling home I noticed someone had their laptop out, with a large display and was watching Drive Angry on it in full view of anyone who could have been standing behind him. Apart from being a dire Nicholas Cage movie, it is also 18 rated in the...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 18 Aug 2011 07:52 AM
    • Replies: 16
    • Views: 62,244
    24 Jan 2012 09:59 AM Go to last post
  6. What's wrong with getting a GED?

    Quite a few times in the past few years, I've seen disparaging references to people who have a GED (General Equivalency Diploma) rather than a regular high school diploma. I just wondered if anybody could shed light on this. My background: In...

    Started by Baldwin‎, 16 Apr 2009 08:54 AM
    • Replies: 45
    • Views: 61,717
    10 Dec 2012 07:17 PM Go to last post
  7. Pawn shop ethics

    I enjoy watching a show called Pawn Stars, which is a reality show about a large, family-owned pawn shop in Vegas. Basically, the show consists of people bringing in interesting items, and the shop figures out an appraisal of the worth, and then...

    Started by Sarahfeena‎, 01 Feb 2011 11:47 AM
    • Replies: 31
    • Views: 53,938
    01 Jul 2015 11:52 AM Go to last post
  8. Why don't the Republicans want Romney?

    With Chris Christie now bowing out of the Republican race, Perry losing it in the debates, Palin keeping quiet, Bachmann, Hunstman and the other fading from view, it is looking more and more like Romney should be the Republican Candidate to go...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 05 Oct 2011 10:23 AM
    2 Pages
    1 2
    • Replies: 55
    • Views: 49,035
    13 Dec 2011 11:04 PM Go to last post
  9. How/Why do scientifically-educated people fall for woo?

    I've been thinking a ton about this issue lately, as I've a bit of a hobby of reading woo-debunking blogs such as Respectful Insolence. Of course, most of the bad science spread around on the web is by laypeople, but nowhere near all of it. There...

    Started by Sarahfeena‎, 15 Jan 2012 05:29 PM
    • Replies: 8
    • Views: 46,022
    06 Sep 2021 03:54 PM Go to last post
  10. National Service?

    One of the ideas coming out of the london riots is that all 16 year olds should do several weeks of National Service. Originally, National Service meant serving for a little while in the army. However, in this instance it looks as though it will be...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 15 Aug 2011 09:42 AM
    • Replies: 9
    • Views: 43,549
    24 Jan 2012 08:37 AM Go to last post
  11. Why is it that we can't say "retarded" anymore, but "crazy" is all right?

    Now, don't get me wrong, I'm trying to weed the use of "retarded" out of my vocabulary. But why is it that "crazy" is still ok? I don't think that crazy is an appropriate label for a mentally ill person, so why is it ok to use it as a perjorative...

    Started by Sarahfeena‎, 03 Mar 2010 11:48 AM
    2 Pages
    1 2
    • Replies: 59
    • Views: 42,698
    04 Mar 2010 08:44 PM Go to last post
  12. Why do we need "States" in a Country?

    What is the point of a country being divided up in to many States, each with it's own laws and legal systems? Would things be better if all laws were nationwide, yet there were still state governments to run the state? It seems to me that the...

    Started by The J Word‎, 04 Mar 2009 10:01 AM
    • Replies: 9
    • Views: 42,446
    06 Mar 2009 08:19 AM Go to last post
  13. Bill would ban parents from "curing" gay kids

    http://now.msn.com/bill-would-ban-parents-from-trying-to-cure-gay-kids A new bill that’s the first of its kind has opinion hotly divided in California, this time over whether parents can be banned from trying to “cure” their gay children....

    Started by RabbitMage‎, 19 Aug 2012 12:54 PM
    • Replies: 4
    • Views: 38,756
    20 Aug 2012 11:05 AM Go to last post
  14. Skin whitening pills for people of color

    Story here. I simply can't believe this. I'm not going to write my own screed here because I'm too heated right now to keep this from being moved to the Pit. I'm just going to quote some of the comments I found the most incredible (there's not...

    Started by Hostile Dialect‎, 04 Mar 2009 05:25 PM
    • Replies: 13
    • Views: 37,473
    29 Mar 2013 02:19 AM Go to last post
  15. Will Trayvon Martin's death change anything.

    For those not following this case, Trayvon Martin was walking through a suburb in Florida when he was followed by a neighbourhood watch volunteer called George Zimmerman. There was a confrontation between them and Travyon was shot dead with George...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 21 Mar 2012 09:25 AM
    • Replies: 34
    • Views: 37,461
    13 Apr 2012 01:51 PM Go to last post
  16. How reliant is Apple on Steve Jobs?

    As I'm sure the world is aware by now, Steve Jobs has resigned from his position as chief guru and visionary for Apple. He was responsible for iTunes, iPods, iPads, iPhones etc. etc. Most would say his return to the company prevented it from...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 26 Aug 2011 10:24 AM
    • Replies: 8
    • Views: 37,175
    12 Sep 2017 12:15 PM Go to last post
  17. What was the significance of the Spanish Civil War?

    The Spanish Civil War saw the axis powers and the USSR square off in a proxy war. Suppose that it never had happened. Would WW2 have turned out differently? Wasn't the Spanish Civil War a test ground for new German tactics? Would the Germans had...

    Started by CRSP‎, 17 Mar 2009 01:33 PM
    • Replies: 11
    • Views: 36,194
    22 Mar 2009 03:42 PM Go to last post
  18. The origins of misogyny

    A journalist I follow on Facebook recently posted a video from National Geographic showing a ritual that the men of a certain tribe in Papua New Guinea perform. The ritual is meant to drive out the corruption of women and purify the men. Most of...

    Started by Zuul‎, 01 Jan 2011 02:23 PM
    • Replies: 15
    • Views: 35,810
    24 Jan 2012 08:38 AM Go to last post
  19. Arrested and charged with inciting hatred for pictures of poppy burning posted to facebook.

    Three teenagers in Northern Ireland have been up in court for burning poppies. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1103/breaking37.html They were arrested and charged with incitement to hatred by the PSNI (Police Service Of Northern...

    Started by The Original An Gadaí‎, 10 Nov 2011 11:32 PM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 35,201
    11 Nov 2011 12:40 PM Go to last post
  20. Metaphor for the human brain

    The human brain has been described as the most complicated structure scientists have so far observed. And so, when describing how it works, often a metaphor is chosen which reflects this level of complexity. It seems that the operations of the human...

    Started by AllWalker‎, 27 Nov 2009 12:58 AM
    • Replies: 10
    • Views: 33,507
    23 Apr 2011 03:04 PM Go to last post
  21. And off he goes...

    I'm watching the Pope leave Vatican City. Can't say I'll miss him...hope they do a better job picking the next guy.

    Started by Sarah‎, 28 Feb 2013 11:02 AM
    • Replies: 23
    • Views: 32,501
    17 Mar 2013 10:08 PM Go to last post
  22. Does it matter who the parents are?

    A new medical technique is being developed which has the potential for removing several genetic diseases. It involves using the DNA from a third party to replace damaged genes as part of IVF treatment. The process is to obtain involves implanting...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 20 Jan 2012 08:39 AM
    • Replies: 1
    • Views: 32,095
    20 Jan 2012 09:59 AM Go to last post
  23. An Absence of Abortion

    A pro-life group is putting forward the idea that abortion should not be a "right" granted to women as part of law. Part of the reasoning about it is the number of abortions carried out each year is too high and that women are using it as a...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 10 Oct 2011 09:36 AM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 30,997
    11 Oct 2011 12:11 PM Go to last post
  24. Towards a "Comprehensive List Of Things Nobody Can Agree Upon".

    1) Abortion 2) Democratic Party/Republican Party 3) Gun Control 4) Capital Punishment 5) Pepsi/Coke 6) America/Europe (living standards, culture, soundness et al) 7) Chain Restaurants/Family one-off Restaurants 8) High Culture/Low Culture...

    Started by The Original An Gadaí‎, 25 Oct 2009 11:16 AM
    • Replies: 38
    • Views: 30,621
    11 Mar 2012 11:51 PM Go to last post
  25. Are most Catholics creationists?

    The Sixty Minutes piece on Bobby Jindal mentioned that he believes in, among other things, creationism. This fits in will with his predictable views on abortion and stem cell research, of course, but I'm wondering if this is a common belief held by...

    Started by Chefguy‎, 02 Mar 2009 09:26 PM
    • Replies: 22
    • Views: 30,469
    12 Nov 2012 02:18 PM Go to last post
  26. If South won Civil War, diplomatic relations with CSA?

    If the South had won the Civil War, do you think the North would had recognized the CSA, and had/have diplomatic relations?

    Started by Erictelevision‎, 10 Dec 2017 02:52 PM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 29,860
    11 Dec 2017 09:23 AM Go to last post
  27. Racism Disguised as SciFi

    I'm not even sure how something like this can be taken seriously, because even by my standards it's ridiculously unveiled racism. The whole concept, science, and everything about it is 3rd rate self-published crap. If anything it hurts the concept...

    Started by hobbler‎, 05 Aug 2012 11:26 AM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 28,567
    11 Aug 2012 04:41 PM Go to last post
  28. Should we intervene in Syria?

    According to several reports, chemicals weapons have been used by the ruling regime in Syria to attack the rebels who are fighting them. Chemical weapons are banned by several treaties, and for good reason, so if they have been used it certainly a...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 29 Aug 2013 09:01 AM
    • Replies: 7
    • Views: 28,538
    06 Sep 2013 08:46 AM Go to last post
  29. What will happen if Egypt's current ruler falls.

    Following the riots and governmental changeover in Tunisia, the unrest has spreas to Egpyt with riots in the street, communications and internet cut and the government cracking down on protesters. If the same course is taken, then it is likely that...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 28 Jan 2011 09:18 AM
    • Replies: 26
    • Views: 27,246
    03 Feb 2011 04:38 AM Go to last post
  30. Expanding SS tax, resulting rate?

    Political hypothetical conversation: Obama: I want to eliminate the cap on the SS tax. Boehner: Fine, but it must be revenue-neutral. Obama: Fine by me. What would the resulting rate be, approximately?

    Started by Erictelevision‎, 31 May 2015 07:50 PM
    • Replies: 0
    • Views: 26,196
    31 May 2015 07:50 PM Go to last post
  31. Scottish Independence?

    Yesterday, was Election day in Scotland for the Scottish Parliament and from the results it appears that Scottish Nationalists have not only scored record victories across Scotland, but are on course to gain a majority in the Scottish Parliament. ...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 06 May 2011 08:31 AM
    • Replies: 11
    • Views: 25,511
    24 Jan 2012 01:50 PM Go to last post
  32. NDAA - America is the new battlefield.

    President Obama has just signed into law a piece of legislation that allows US Forces to arrest and indefinitely detain anyone connected with terrorism including US Citizens. It was included on a Bill for troop funding, but in doing so raises some...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 03 Jan 2012 09:38 AM
    • Replies: 2
    • Views: 25,485
    03 Jan 2012 12:26 PM Go to last post
  33. Mouse/Supermouse - What if it applies to humans?

    A new gene experiment on mice has managed to create a mouse that can run for longer and faster than its more natural counterpart. The idea behind it is to understand how they are affected and how to keep them healthy in old age and prevent damage to...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 10 Nov 2011 05:38 PM
    • Replies: 2
    • Views: 24,726
    10 Nov 2011 06:21 PM Go to last post
  34. Feudal Japan vs Ancient Rome Who Would Win?

    Technologically, they're pretty similar. Feudal Japan has a bit of an edge in the metallurgical department and the use of stirrups, but ancient Roman armies had massive seige weapons and were used to fielding tens of thousands, if not hundreds of...

    Started by Tuckerfan‎, 29 May 2009 08:01 PM
    • Replies: 22
    • Views: 24,471
    08 Aug 2009 11:05 PM Go to last post
  35. Nuclear power after Fukishima

    So how do you feel about nuclear power after the Sendai Earthquake? Given that the Fukishima nuclear reactors survived the fifth largest earthquake and a large tsunami with no major leak of radiaition. That in some parts of Japan, the...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 24 Mar 2011 11:08 AM
    • Replies: 25
    • Views: 24,107
    23 Apr 2015 09:24 AM Go to last post
  36. So should Iran be bombed?

    According to a lot of sources, it appears that a variety of sanctions have failed and that Iran is close to becoming a nuclear military power. Although it was known about from 2009 onwards, no outright action has been taken and now certain...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 04 Nov 2011 09:52 AM
    • Replies: 12
    • Views: 23,379
    07 Nov 2011 04:35 PM Go to last post
  37. (Potentially) Controversial Opinions

    Mellodome seems to be a fairly homogeneous place, so I'm not sure how a thread like this will work. But let's give it a shot - post an (honestly held) opinion that you think is an unpopular one, on Mellophant in particular or to the wider world. And...

    Started by Myrnalene‎, 12 Feb 2010 02:28 PM
    5 Pages
    1 2 3 ... 5
    • Replies: 201
    • Views: 23,330
    05 Mar 2010 05:44 AM Go to last post
  38. Are trailers the new spoilers?

    With the rise of the multi billion dollar blockbuster, which are all action and no plot, there seems to be a need for it to be as hyped as possible in order to try and get everyone to see it. The problem is that just be watching the trailers they...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 30 Apr 2012 10:29 AM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 22,275
    01 May 2012 02:50 AM Go to last post
  39. Poll Poll: Vigilante or Villain?

    A story that is currently doing the rounds. A drunk student was ejected from a train after he swore at the ticket inspector and refused to show his ticket. A large man asked if any assistance was needed befoer picking the student up and forcibly...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 14 Dec 2011 09:22 AM
    • Replies: 13
    • Views: 21,556
    20 Dec 2011 01:44 PM Go to last post
  40. Would you have Artifical Augmentations?

    Inspired by the Deus Ex game that's just come out. Here's the setup. You can have parts of your body upgraded or augmented by technological replacements. So if you lose a part of you, you can have it replaced by something, stronger and better....

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 31 Aug 2011 05:12 AM
    • Replies: 16
    • Views: 20,827
    24 Jan 2012 08:34 AM Go to last post
  41. CSA soldiers running for POTUS

    Were rank-and-file soldiers forbidden from running for office? If not, could the CSA have produced a plausible candidate?

    Started by Erictelevision‎, 16 Apr 2016 01:30 PM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 20,801
    17 Apr 2016 01:55 PM Go to last post
  42. The ethics of Caesar's assassins

    The Roman Republic was broken in many ways by the time that Gaius Julius Caesar came along, but it was based on a constitution, checks and balances of power, and the votes of the people of Rome. If someone took on the role of dictator--a sort of...

    Started by Zuul‎, 20 Jul 2010 07:58 AM
    • Replies: 32
    • Views: 20,706
    23 Jul 2010 04:41 PM Go to last post
  43. Why is it considered tacky to talk about money?

    We talk about the stuff we buy with our money all the time, and based on our jobs and lifestyles, others can often suss out approximately where we stand on the income scale. So why is it that we aren't supposed to talk about it? Is it better this...

    Started by Sarahfeena‎, 30 Mar 2010 03:08 PM
    • Replies: 16
    • Views: 20,618
    31 Mar 2010 02:05 PM Go to last post
  44. Poll Poll: Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

    First, for the poll question, read this scenario of a "Burglary in Europe" and answer it: A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in...

    Started by Vox Imperatoris‎, 06 May 2009 09:07 PM
    • Replies: 38
    • Views: 20,587
    09 May 2009 12:18 PM Go to last post
  45. A splintered world wide web

    ICANN has now approved a huge increase to what can be considered as a TLD, so that not only will .com and .net be joined by thousands of other variations, but that non-latin characters will also be allowed so that domain names will be available in...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 21 Jun 2011 10:15 AM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 19,608
    23 Jun 2011 12:38 AM Go to last post
  46. Google Glass Privacy?

    It seems that Google are determined to roll out their latest toy, if indeed a $1000 pair of glasses can be called such. Google Glass, with the camera lens, permanent internet connection and general all round spying capabilitiy is about to hit the...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 25 Apr 2013 10:19 AM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 19,399
    20 May 2013 05:30 PM Go to last post
  47. Is There An Alternative to "Use or Lose" Funding?

    One of the common dramas that plays out with many places that operate on annual budgets, is the phenomenon of the "Use it or lose it" money. In the US it's axiomatic for almost all government spending, and many places in private sector, as well. ...

    Started by OtakuLoki‎, 16 Apr 2010 05:52 PM
    • Replies: 7
    • Views: 18,956
    06 May 2010 11:09 AM Go to last post
  48. Sport and Politics

    This weekend the F1 roadshow will pull into Bahrain for its inaugural F1 Grand Prix against a backdrop of civil unrest, bloodshed and violence. Several of the people involved in F1 have said that the politics of the region aer not really their...

    Started by CatInASuit‎, 18 Apr 2012 09:16 AM
    • Replies: 4
    • Views: 18,682
    27 Apr 2012 12:01 PM Go to last post
  49. Wink Similarity of European political parties

    You have 2 hypothetical American politicians Barbara a Democrat/Green and Brian a Republican/Constitution. How would they be perceived in these (mostly) European countries, and covered in the U.S.? Barbara Sinn Fein (Ire) Green (Aus) LEF...

    Started by Erictelevision‎, 29 May 2017 07:31 PM
    • Replies: 0
    • Views: 18,197
    29 May 2017 07:31 PM Go to last post
  50. 'Distraction-free shopping'

    I wandered by a Target today and saw a guy sitting outside, registering people to vote. Target hasa policy for a while to provide what they call "distraction-free shopping" to their customers. Basically no person or group, regardless of reason or...

    Started by RabbitMage‎, 14 Aug 2010 12:50 AM
    • Replies: 32
    • Views: 18,008
    16 Aug 2010 01:10 PM Go to last post

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