Game: "All Opposed!"

[Saydrah]

I know this is an odd forum to have a game, but this one wouldn't fly on CS, and I want to play! I got this from a high school teacher. The rules are:

A topic is stated. It can be pretty much anything. You must argue AGAINST the statement made (you can also play this as "All in Favor," but "All Opposed" is more fun). There are only two real restrictions:

1. No fair answering if it's your signature issue-- the idea is not to know whether or not the person answering actually feels that way.

2. No fair suggesting topics being currently discussed here, since that would eliminate most posters due to rule 1.

So it would go like this:

Person 1 suggests the topic: "A law to ban cell phones in cars."

Person 2 must then argue against such a law. "What if there's an emergency? Should a person have to choose between obeying the law and answering a call from, say, a babysitter, knowing their children might be at risk?"

Person 2 suggests a new topic.

If you play this in person you can do it competitively, but here I think it's better played just for fun with no scoring or winners and losers.


The first topic is....


....


A 23-year-old former rugby player who became spinal cord injured has committed assisted suicide (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/18/uk.switzerland.assisted.suicide/index.html#cnnSTCText). In light of his youth and the short time (18 months) between his injury and his suicide, the Swiss clinic that helped him commit suicide should have refused him service. In the future, their regulations should be changed so that someone of his age, with the ability to continue living for years to come, would not be administered an assisted suicide.


All Opposed, say "Aye!"

[Slytovhand]

Shouldn't it be "All opposed say "Nay""?

Nay!

It's a person's right to do whatever they want with their body and life - including ending it. It's not a moral judgement that should be forced on anyone. Doing so is merely judgemental, and invalidates that person's perspective on the world.


Topic:

That having arguments and debates is a good thing.

(I'm sorry - I know I can be a thread killer with my perverse sense of humour... but hopefully someone will bite :D) But I am amused by the concept you have here, Saydrah!

[Saydrah]

I accept your good-natured needling. :D

NAYE! (There, now it's both...)

Arguments and debates have no place in everyday social life. One should focus on areas of commonality and agreement in order to avoid driving away friends or associates. Nobody likes to be around someone who loves to argue. By contrast, compromise is an attractive trait. People skilled at compromising while keeping both sides happy are valuable in friendships and in business. Instead of learning to argue your side, learn to compromise, and everyone will be happier!

New Topic:

Immigrants applying for a green card should be required to get the HPV vaccine (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26999081/). Vaccinating immigrants will stop the spread of disease, and since most don't have health insurance, lowering rates of cervical cancer in immigrants will curtail rising health care costs.

[Sylvia727]

NAY!

Additional requirements for immigrants is one of the first symptoms of xenophobia. This regulation would merely perpetuate a hatred against foreigners and continue a legacy of sexism. Gardasil has insufficient long-term data, and questions have been raised about the scientific rigor or lack thereof in the clinical trials.

New Topic:

The drinking age should be lowered to 18 (http://www.amethystinitiative.org/statement/). Allowing 18- and 20-year-olds to get married, own property, enlist in the military, and make any legally-binding decision while withholding abilities granted to those merely a few years old is hypocritical, promotes unhealthy behavior, and lessens respect for the law.

[AFPheonix]

Nay! Young brains and bodies are still developing until the age of 25. Potentially poisoning substances should be withheld until they can no longer interfere with development.

Next topic, Planned Parenthood (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/planned_parenthood_breaks_grou.html) expands its outreach in Portland, protesting is predictable and invited.

[IDrinkaRum]

NAY!!

Planned Parenthood is a great organization that provides services for those who cannot afford to go to a doctor. They help those who are in need when other would turn them away. Why would anyone want to protest that?

New Topic:

The "Fairness Doctrine" should be updated to include not only talk radio, but satellite radio, satellite TV and cable TV (with all the expanded cable channels).

[lordlundar]

NAY!

The fairness doctrine's "neutral" stance is determined by the FCC, which is a government body. This is a direct violation of the 10th amendment.


New Topic:
It should be illegal to sell mature games to someone under 18 years of age, regardless of parental consent.

[Lace Neil Singer]

NAY!

What a stupid rule! There is no evidence whatsoever showing that playing violent video games makes a kid carry out said violence in real life. This is just a stupid knee jerk reaction from people with no lives.

New Topic:

Women should be allowed to breast feed in public, regardless of whether or not it's appropiate.

[Saydrah]

NAY!

Breastfeeding involves exposing what amounts to sexual organs in Western society. Breastfeeders say it's healthy and natural to feed babies from their bosoms in public, but masturbation is also healthy and natural, and you don't see me doing it in public, do you?

And if you do, please don't tell :eek:

New Topic:

Animal cruelty should be a felony in all states. Cruelty to animals is a reliable predictor of violence against humans. Most serial killers first mutilated animals. Nipping this violent behavior in the bud with a harsh punishment for the first offense would reduce spousal abuse and murder.

[Rapscallion]

Nay!

Wankers such as the Animal Liberation Front and PETA would sieze on this to ban slaughter on the grounds that small amounts of pain involved are still cruelty.

New Topic:

Women should be encouraged to go topless!

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

There are far too many women with less than pert breasts around, along with those over 40 with girls that are swinging by their ankles. O.o Think of the children!

New Topic:

Teenage mothers should automatically get large handouts along with a council house.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Such programs reward irresponsibility and promote parenting as a career instead of a calling.

New Topic: Helmet and seatbelt laws are a good idea, as they encourage citizens to stay safe and help reduce traumatic injuries.

[Greenday]

Nay!

You'd have to be an idiot to not wear a helmet or seatbelt. So if someone wants to increase their chances of obtaining a Darwin Award, who are we to deny them that honor?

New Topic: America as a society is becoming so embarrassing that people are beginning to say it should become a colony of England again to become respectable.

[Slytovhand]

Nay!!

England has enough to be ashamed about (nationalcricket team, national rugby team, spelling conventions, Prince Bigears, warm beer).

New Topic: New Zealand is a great place to go for a holiday.

(I am, of course, presuming this thread is meant more for humour than a serious thought pattern - yes???)

[Sylvia727]

Nay! It sits in "The Ring of Fire", a circle of active volcanoes and has over 14,000 earthquakes every year!

New Topic: One should never eat raw cookie dough, due to the risk of salmonella poisoning.

(Don't worry, Slyt, no one takes you seriously anyway. :p )

[lordlundar]

NAY!

Even made from scratch, all of the ingredients are processed in one form or another and are safer than eating out.

New topic:

PC gaming is officially dead, and new games should only be for the console systems.

[AFPheonix]

Nay, cookie dough is like a sweet, sweet nectar unto the gods, even though it deposits far more around my thighs than I would like. Besides, raw eggs as long as they are handled correctly are good for you.

New topic: Presidential candidates should have one debate staged as an episode of American Gladiators complete with mullet wigs.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! With the wide array of consoles available, not to mention the prevalence of idiot fanboys, PCs are the most common machines, thus allowing better access to gaming than an expensive console.

Nay! Nobody wants to see them in spandex. :eek:

New Topic: Private citizens should save a sizeable portion of the income. This is a stabilizing influence on the economy and helps them protect their future.

[Slytovhand]

Too easy to Nay!

Keep the wealth with the government, let all capital be in the hands of the collective, and all citizens will be given as their needs dictate (thanks Karl :D)

NT: Nudist beaches should be outlawed - they are a disgusting playground for the sexually perverted!


(since no-one takes me seriously, I see no problem with this topic :p)

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

With all the hang-ups teenagers and young adults have with their bodies, nudist beaches are a good idea. It'll help them realize they are obsessing over nothing.

New Topic:

Cats make better foot warmers than dogs.

[Slytovhand]

Oh come on!!!! What could be better than a huskie in front of the fire warming up the toeses... and the rest of the lower limbs !

A cat??? Ha! You'd be lucky to get a couple of toes... not to mention the thing will get up at random times when it feels like it. AND... you move, you'll lose your hand to it! Not allowed to move a cat once it's got its mind set.... til it changes it...


NT - Ketchup wipes the floor with BBQ sauce

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

Only some poor soul who's had their tastebuds removed could think that. BBQ sauce pwns ketchup, especially on potato wedges.

New Topic:

Abortion should be outlawed as it is technically murder.

[AFPheonix]

Nay, for murder can only be committed against those that are actually living. The jury is still out on whether a fetus before a certain level of development is technically alive.

New topic: Chardonnays kick merlots' asses.

[Greenday]

Nay, for murder can only be committed against those that are actually living. The jury is still out on whether a fetus before a certain level of development is technically alive.

New topic: Chardonnays kick merlots' asses.

Nay, white wine sucks ass.

New topic: Courts are starting to force forensic scientists to give an amount of error for their measurements in court. Most forensic examiners believe this is a load of crap and should not occur. Being a student of forensic & toxicological chem, I'm siding with the rest of the forensic examiners and say our results are correct. There is no need to mention error in measurements.

[lordlundar]

Nay

Unless everyone is a perfect being, there is always going to a margin for human error. There is a reason for the term "tainted evidence" after all.

NT:
Net Neutrality is a myth, and all the information should be in the control of cable/phone/satellite companies.

(I know this is going to be an easy one)

[Slytovhand]

Nay (and yes, too easy).

We don't need to live in a nanny state, and we should have complete freedom of information accessible - as well as complete accountability... otherwise all you have is a pile of sheep (baaa baaaa).

NT:

Cows sound exactly the same as horses.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

Methinks you need to get your hearing checked; cuz there's no other reason as to why you would believe such a foolish thing.

New Topic:

The smoking ban is a brilliant idea. All pubs definitely need to abide by it, as do restaurants.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! The government should not be able to tell private businesses which legal behaviors they may and may not allow on their property.

New Topic: State universities should offer full rides to their citizens, funded by the governments. Higher education is almost entirely essential to any job in the lower-middle class and above, and opportunities for class advancement should not be denied.

[Slytovhand]

Bah Humbug!

Firstly, you're living in a capitalistic society, not socialist.. thus, you want something you pay for it! Secondly, if you want to improve yourself, then go out and pay for it, don't go crying to the government to give you hand-outs whenever you want it. And lastly, if you're any good, you can advance. If you can't make the cut, you shouldn't be pushing out others to do so. And the world needs more checkout chicks with PhD's!

New Topic: everything tasts better with bacon.

(neigh!)

[Xanthina]

Nee!

Bacon and Strawberries is rather gross.


Topic: Everyone is prettier with enough alcohol

[AFPheonix]

Nay, there is not enough alcohol in the world to prepare me for the specimens in this thread. (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2941126)

Next topic: Lord of the Rings kicks Star Wars' ass.

[IDrinkaRum]

NAY!!!

Of course not! There are no light sabers in LotR and though there are a lot of whiny peoples, none are as hot as Hayden Christiansen. :p Plus, the most funnest parts are when you realize you're semi-lusting after your twin brother and your most hated enemy is in actuality your father!!!!

New Topic:

Dark Chocolate M&Ms are the best M&Ms out there.

[Shangri-laschild]

False! Milk Chocolate tastes much better and is widely favored above dark chocolate.

Free speech is a wonderful idea and should be everywhere

[Greenday]

Hellnay! People should be held responsible for their actions and should pay for saying something incredibly stupid. If people should have the right to say whatever hateful/racist/sexist/etc. crap they want, then whoever is being spoken to should have the right to react however they want, including ass-kickings.

All major sports games (World Series, Super Bowl, etc.) should be made into national holidays.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay! Sports is not a religion, and sports fans should just suck it up and set the video to record the game if they're at work.

NT:

All premature babies should be given the chance of life, no matter how unlikely they are to survive.

[Saydrah]

Nay!

Sometimes it's kindest to let the new parents hold their baby while it passes peacefully in their arms. Closure comes more easily after a quiet death than if they watched their baby die connected to tubes and ventilators and were left with tens of thousands of dollars in bills for a baby that everyone knew wouldn't make it anyway.

New Topic:

Forums should never pemit political topics unless that forum is specifically about politics or a related subject. They are just too divisive.

[katie kaboom]

Nay!
What if we're talking about a message board that is more lax than most others? Good idea or not, there are bound to be message boards out there where anything goes and nothing is off limits. Why should people's freedom of speech be squashed because others are easily offended?

Next topic: Teenagers should have the same rights that adults do.

[IDrinkaRum]

NAY!!!

Teenagers are not mature enough to follow the rules as closely as anal-retentive adults. Therefore, they will go overboard and go to extremes endangering not only themselves but others too.

NEW TOPIC:
V.P. nominee Joe Biden and the Obama are completely justified in being angry with Barbara West and her interview with Joe Biden last week (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-1028-wftv-anchor-biden,0,755705.story)

[Boozy]

Nay.

News media should be allowed to ask the questions they and their readers/viewers want answered. Candidates should feel free to deny interviews or refuse to answer certain questions, but they have no right to be angry that they were asked in the first place.

New Topic:

US presidential campaign seasons are too long and too heavily covered by the media. Over 2 years of primaries, interviews, and debates distract both the public and their elected leaders from other important issues.

[katie kaboom]

Nay!
What is more important than choosing the next leader of our country? All other issues hinge on who will be our next president and what they will do to fix our nation's problems. The reason these campaigns go on for so long is that the candidates need that much time to get their policies out there so the voting public knows what's in store for them when we do elect a president.

Next topic:
Children should be allowed to wear whatever kind of costume they want for Halloween, without any interference from their parents.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

There are some costumes out there that are too ridiculous to even allow my child to wear. Besides, I want to be able to make a Chthulhu costume and I won't be able to make one large enough to fit my husband or me, so I have to make it for my daughter. :)

New Topic:
My avatar needs to be changed to something else.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

I associate you with the cowthulhu avatar, so if you changed it, I wouldn't know instantly who you are. Also, if on CS I have to keep the same av, then you have to, here. XD

New Topic:

Kitten huggles can save humanity.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Nay: Some high-ranking person who's allergic to cats will be huggled by a kitten and go batshit, then press their big red nuclear button. Kittens will end the world!

New topic: Vince McMahon (owner of WWE if you don't know) should be shot on sight.

(Seriously, talk me out of it. It looks like a better option every day.)

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

If Vince McMahon is shot on sight, then there will be a power struggle and someone even worse could become "top dog".

New Topic:
Joaquin Phoenix should retire from acting like he wants to and enter the music business. (http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/joaquinphoenix_blog.html)

[Slytovhand]

Oh, Deities, Nay! Please, save us from another actor who thinks they can sing... (and singers who think they can act... and people with no talent at all who try their hand at stuff... and fail).

People should concentrate on what they are good at. If they show talent elsewhere, then make the move... don't presume!

New Topic: People should vote after looking at the actual issues that each of the candidates/ parties are putting forth, and make an intelligent, informed decision.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Nay! This argument assumes that people are intelligent enough to understand the issues and make an educated decision. Obviously, they are not, or else Paris Hilton would not be a household name.

New Topic: Reality shows involving D-list celebrities as competitors should be banned from television.

[Boozy]

Nay. Banning certain kinds of shows amounts to censorship and seriously infringes on our freedom of speech. If you don't like a certain kind of program, change the channel or turn off the TV.

New topic: The only fair tax is a flat tax.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

The only people who should be taxed at all should be the rich; leave the working class alone and stop oppressing them!

New Topic: Twilight is a good book and Bella isn't a Mary Sue.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Twilight is directly responsible for flooding the market with subpar vampire books looking to cash in on the craze, and flooding Hot Topic with idjit babygoths who think vampires are sooo shmexy.

New Topic: Teenagers who dress as goths and punks are expressing themselves, and there's nothing distasteful or hypocritical about the subculture.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

Teenagers really don't know the true feelings of the Goth subculture and are only participating so they can "cool" and "out there". They don't know what real angst is, they don't understand how being alone in a world that is against them and how alone you truly feel when you still have "Mommy" and "Daddy" to help you.

New Topic:
Duck taping your child's mouth shut while she's having a melt-down tantrum is always a good idea.

[Boozy]

Nay. Making tape from ducks is extremely complicated, not cost effective, and inhumane. I'd recommend using duct tape.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist being a smartass. :D)

New topic: Americans should only buy American-made cars, even if certain imports are cheaper and more reliable.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

Sometimes you just gotta go with something that might actually run better than American made cars. Now if American car companies actually put more money in making the parts/cars than in advertising, we can talk again. :D

New Topic:
TV commercials need to be only run after TV shows, not in the middle of my fave shows.

[Slytovhand]

Nay!!

By advertising during your fave shows, you can be introduced to more shows that can later become your faves! And think of all the movie promos and trailers you can see by those commercials! (not to mention the subliminal messages you need instilled...)

New Topic:

Boozy should be duct taped to some ducks :D

[lordlundar]

Nay!

What did the ducks ever do to Boozy to deserve the torment!

NT:

The current gaming community is here, permanent, and will not suffer the bust that happened in 1981.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!!!

4 words: Think about the ducks!!!! :p

New Topic:
Boxers are better than briefs.

[Boozy]

Gee, thanks guys. Love you, too. :p

I'll answer both LL's and IDAR's, as they posted simultaneously:

Nay! To say that anything is permanent in this ever-changing world is not very realistic.

Nay! Briefs (apparently) offer more support, and do not bunch up around the thighs the way boxers do.

New topic: Children are the world's most valuable resource.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Children are inferior to adults in every respect, being lazier, weaker, and stupider. They are expensive and time-consuming, and take 15 or 20 years to even begin returning on the investment. Without a college education, which can easily $100,000, they have almost no chance of earning enough to support themselves and repaying their parents' investment. As such, children are a necessary evil of society and not a resource at all.

New Topic: Neighborhood Beautification Projects, the duties of which often include picking up litter, planting flowers and trees, and maintaining neighborhood parks, should be strictly volunteer only and no tax deductions should be given for private donations. These projects only benefit the immediate neighborhood and those residents should take personal responsibility for their own neighborhood. Requiring taxes or neighborhood association fees is an unnecessary burden. If private citizens think their money would be better spent on something besides flowers, they should not be forced to give money anyway.

[The Shadow]

Nay

While the project should certainly make as much use of volunteers as possible and practical, it would probably be a good idea to have a few paid staff people at the very top, who play some role like co-ordination and direction etc. These things are difficult and require a lot of responsibilty and I think receiving a salary might be an incentive to do the job well:

New topic:

Parenting courses should be mandatory for people who want to become parents. They must receive an overall passing grade of whatever is deemed sufficient before they can do so.

[Teysa]

Nay! Parents should be able to reproduce without outside government interference. If they do choose to partake of parenting courses, it should be by choice.

NT: All teenagers should hold after school jobs as this would teach them responsibility and prepare them for the so called real world.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Nay. There are plenty of teenagers who were able to learn responsibility by having good parents and would better spend their time after school studying or performing extracurricular activities to prepare for their future, rather than working a menial, low-paying job (which are the majority of jobs teenagers could get) that ultimately teaches them nothing.

New topic: Television shows like Mythbusters, Man vs. Wild, and other "science documentary" styles of shows are useful as learning tools in addition to providing entertainment.

[Greenday]

Nay! Those shows give kids really bad ideas. They see these things on those shows and think they can do it too, doing all sorts of stupid stunts.

New topic: Politics is a load of crap. We never get any decent choices for candidates. We should just do away with politics on a large scale and let everything be run on the local level.

[Slytovhand]

Edit...damn, GD's post didnt even come up....

Oh Nay!

And then who is going to build the inter-local/state/city roads and infrastructure... and who will look after the criminals? And policing in general?? There's already enough hassles with jurisdictions, that'd cause havoc.


New Topic:

Politicians should follow the will of the people, even if it means going against their own principles.

[The Shadow]

Nay

It's too easy to succumb to what's known as "the tyranny of the majority". Just because a majority of people accept something and believe it's right, doesn't mean it is. Slavery is a good example - there was a time when people saw nothing wrong with it.

NT:

People on welfare should be made to do some sort of work - even if it's just community service work.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Nay. Some people on welfare are only there because of their complete inability to work. If they were able to work, they would not choose to be on welfare.

New topic: "Bridezilla" should be classified as a mental disorder and women and/or who behave in that manner with their vendors or family/friends should be eligible to be forcibly committed. (Guess what I've been dealing with today?)

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

Tho there are some women who do get stressed and psychotic over their weddings, classifying it as a mental illness gives them an excuse for their lack of class. Make a criminal offence instead and send them to the can!

New Topic:

The customer is always right, end of.

[AFPheonix]

Nay, I've had many customers ask me to do illegal things and throw a fit when I refused.

NT: Checks are a great way to purchase items.

[katie kaboom]

Nay!

It holds up the line when there is a problem with the check. And if there is no problem then the person takes 85 years to write out one simple check. Checks should be banned from all retail settings.

Next topic:
Tomorrow's election should be carried out via internet only. This would save people the trouble of having to leave their house to vote.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Voter fraud would be all too easy. The only fair way to hold an election (with our current technology) is to check the state issued IDs of the voters, to ensure that dead people don't vote and that Ol' Granny knows who she's voting for.

The Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts should be merged into one co-educational Scout group. Maintaining "separate yet equal" is against the spirit of fairness, especially since the BS and the GS have different curriculums. Scouts are often elementary- and middle-school aged, at a time in their life when cross-gender socializing is awkward. One unified Scout troop would help them learn social skills more easily.

[IDrinkaRum]

nay!

Boy & Girls Scouts should be kept separated because you might never know what will happen when boys & girls are put together in a social situation. There might be too much teasing, too much "temptation", and the girls will spend too much time in trying to impress the boys that they will not be able to earn their badges/patches/doodads.

NEW TOPIC:
One of the first things Obama needs to enact once he's in office is The Fairness Doctrine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine) so we will never have to listen to those blowhards O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Chris Plante, Sean Hannity, Mark Levine, and others of their ilk.

[Saydrah]

False. We have freedom of speech in this country for a reason. If people want to listen to crazy blowhards, they should have the ability to do so and to support crazy blowhards by advertising on their radio/TV shows.

Instead, Obama should encourage intelligent political discourse by offering public funding or grants to bipartisan/tripartisan/non-partisan organizations that host events or broadcasts that offer equal time to representatives of all parties and viewpoints, and help to educate Americans in a reasoned and logical way about the political process.

New Topic:

Extravagant victory parties should not have been held this year after the US elections. To party in luxurious style during the economic crisis is tasteless.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

Methinks someone is just jealous cuz she didn't get an invite. :p In any case, people need to forget about the crisis occasionally, or else depression will be a result.

New Topic:

Exams should be dumbed down so that more children can pass them.

[Xanthina]

Never. Exams are something to be strived for, not the other way around. Lowering exams just teaches that the world will bend to the will of the stupid. Should we should just give high school diplomas to kindergartners?


Boys should have to go Home-ec class and learn basic cooking and sewing skills, and girls should have to go to shop and learn basic repair skills.

[lordlundar]

Nay!

Those courses are optional courses and they should not be forced to take those. They should instead be given the choice.

NT:

Voting is a waste of time and isn't necessary. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cGvqs-jf_w&feature=related)

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

Voting, no matter where it is, what time/era it is, is always important. It kept Andrew Johnson from being impeached. It's helped elect people into office who have actually made our lives better and happier.

New Topic:
The Nebraska Legislature shouldn't change their current "safe child" law and keep it so that all children - babies & older - can be safely dropped off by parents who won't or can't take care of them any longer.

[Saydrah]

I think you mean "and SHOULD keep it so," so I'll argue against that...

NAY!

The law should be changed. Safe haven laws aren't designed to put the state in charge of parenting all unwanted children. They are there to prevent one specific phenomenon: Abandonment of newborns, in dumpsters, bathrooms, etc., by new parents in shock, afraid of being beaten by a parent or husband for giving birth after hiding a pregnancy, and suffering from severe post-partum depression. It's not supposed to be an easy out for anyone overwhelmed by parenting. Existing adoption organizations are there to meet that need, and instead of taking older kids off the parents' hands, Child Protection Services should work with families to help solve the problems that make the parent want to give a child up.

New Topic:

Barack Obama should choose Republicans, Independents, and possibly third parties for his Cabinet.

[Boozy]

Nay! Although I would respect his message of non-partisanship, the previous administration was the least inclusive of any in recent history. The Republicans are not owed any favours. Obama owes it to his supporters and the Democratic Party to step up and say, "You've had eight years. Now it's our turn."

New topic:

The electoral college system is antiquated and no longer necessary. The US should change its system so that the candidate with the most votes across the country wins, period.

[Pedersen]

Nay! The electoral college gives states like Wyoming and Alaska an actual impact on the national vote. Without it, these states would be ignore entirely all of the time. The electoral college might not be perfect, but it's the best solution to ensuring an actual voice for states with a small population.

NT: The patent system in the US does a fantastic job of furthering the progress of science.

[lordlundar]

Oh hell NAY!

Due to the lack of money put into it, it's become nothing more than a rubber stamp place that is being abused by companies looking to rip off more people.

NT:

The Darwin Awards are vile, despicable and insensitive to peoples death and should be removed.

(I have really got to come up with a better challenge:p)

[Slytovhand]

Nay, I say!!!

The Darwin awards promote healthy competition for those normally unable to achieve recognition in today's elitist society. It gives someone (or their family) a chance at world-wide recognition for valiant efforts made.

New Topic:

Coffee, although a drug, should remain legal.


<gulp> :p

[Saydrah]

NAY!

If we're going to keep a harmless herb like Marijuana illegal even though it is not detrimental to your health and has never caused a single death, why allow people to have a dangerous drug like coffee that can cause erratic heartbeats and worse? Either make it all illegal or all legal!

New Topic:

If someone neglects a child and has it taken away, they should be forced to take contraception for 2 years (http://www.disaboom.com/Blogs/disabled_politico/archive/2008/11/06/dutch-parliament-to-consider-forcing-quot-unfit-mothers-quot-to-take-contraception.aspx)after that.

[Slytovhand]

NAY!

Why do contraception for 2 years, when you can completely sterilize them for the rest of their lives?? Child raising is a commitment, and obviously, it's not something entered into lightly. If you then just throw that away, you don't ever deserve to have children! (note: neglect here is just that - neglect... not just being in a tough situation).

New Topic:

Sports should stay out of politics.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Politics is all about people, and we shouldn't deny certain groups of people the right to become involved in politics, or to discuss how politics affects their concerns.

New Topic: Daylight Savings Time is a bad idea, as it needlessly complicates timekeeping and causes great amounts of confusion. Instead, we should always keep our clocks at the same time, year round, and just suffer through an hour of darkness (oh noes!) as our ancestors did for millenia.

[AFPheonix]

Nay, those of us in the more northerly climes of the US have to deal with the sun going down at 4 on standard time as it is. We don't want to extend that any longer than we have to.

New Topic: Bottled water should have a 5 or 10 cent return cost put on them.

[Boozy]

Nay! It should have a 5 to ten dollar return cost attached to prevent people from buying bottled water at all. Recycling is not carbon-neutral; there are huge energy costs involved. Our first priority should be reducing our consumption of plastic in the first place. Buy a few reusable high-grade plastic bottles and refill with tap water (which is all you're buying anyway.)

New topic: Lawn-watering should be banned, as it's a tremendous waste of a depleting resource.

[Slytovhand]

Nay.

You are helping a natural process to occur, allowing for oxygen to re-enter the atmosphere, reduce carbon air pollution, and putting the water back into the system instead of keeping it locked in some damn dam (:p) . The water itself isn't 'depleting', it's only getting re-distributed to elsewhere (besides, it's not the lack of water that is the problem, but the number of humans who waste it).


New Topic: Investment in solar power should receive very large tax cuts and other incentives, so that fossil fuels will become a thing of the past within 10 years.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

Solar power is a pipe dream. When the sun burns out, we're all done for anyway.

New Topic:

Shop assistants should be polite to customers at all times.

[IDrinkaRum]

Heck no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The customers are rude and need to be put back into their place at all costs. If the shop assistants have to do that, then more power to them!

New Topic:
Blaming one's wife for your over-eating as you sit around your house is a good way to get her to go shopping with you.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Blaming one's wife for one's own shortcomings is a good way to get her to drop something heavy in one's lap-- like the laundry or the dishes that one has not been doing while sitting around. And if one's wife goes shopping without one while one is catching up on one's share of the housework, then bonus points for her.

New Topic: As long as all pets are properly cared for and cleaned up after, the government and any official agencies shouldn't place an upper limit on the number of pets people have. There are so many pets without homes that it's silly to limit how many can go home with the Crazy Cat Lady. If she can feed them, clean up after them, and keep them from bothering her neighbors, it makes no difference whether she has 2 or 20.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Nay. Unfortunately, even if all their physical needs are met, no one would have enough time to properly give the proper emotional care to that many animals. Some would feel neglected and may respond by becoming aggressive towards the other animals or the woman, or even going so far as to become feral.

New topic: Fanfiction should be treated with the same brush as pirating music or movies, as ideas and characters not one's own are being stolen in the same sense that other things are stolen. (AKA give me ideas to shut up my latest e-mail pest on this subject.)

[ArcticChicken]

Nay!

While they may not be your characters, or the world you built, the situations you put them in are your own. As well, piracy steals wholesale the work of others, and takes money out of their pockets when someone downloads it for free off the internet instead of buying it. So long as you don't charge for fanfic, you're not profiting from someone else ideas, and any one who reads fanfic will read it as well as the original work, not instead of it.

New topic: Coffee is a far superior beverage to tea.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

Tea can be a calming soother for when your day is too hectic and more caffeine isn't the answer to the phone ringing, the child crying, the husband complaining about the house not being clean & your mother AND mother-in-law complaining that you're not the "perfect housewife" they are.

New Topic:
MacDonald's is the best fast food restaurant ever.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

MacDonalds' burgers are made out of cow's ears and sawdust. If you want prime beef, visit a steakhouse.

New Topic:

Vegetarianism is the way to go as far as eating goes. We should all be vegetarian or vegan.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

There have been studies about how vegetarians and vegans are lacking some minerals and proteins because the food they eat are lacking in them anyway and causing health problems that are just as bad as if one ate a completely carnivorous food plan. And besides, every once in a while, I really like having a nice big really red hairy steak every once in a while. :D

New Topic:

Starbucks coffee is the only "real" coffee left in the world.

[lordlundar]

OH HELL NAY!

They burn their beans which produces an inferior product. All they care about is getting the people in and out the door as quickly as possible. (I actually had a good discussion about this at the last site I was at) You want real coffee? Go to a specialty shop where the people know what they're doing.

NT

Obama is an anti-game pundit for this comment. (http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/10/13/obama-video-games-still-underachievement-metaphor)

[Evandril]

Nay!

He only was referencing two major distractions kids have, both of which are easily controlled by parents. (Realitively so, at least) Placing homework before entertainment is not saying entertainment is bad, just that it should not take priority before work.

NT

Service in the military should be a requirement to vote

[Slytovhand]

Ah - simple Nay!

Military service would imply a particular mindset or training. There are many people who would vote not to have such a thing happen - and they shouldn't have their voice silenced by expressing their principles.

New Topic:

Technology has made the world a better place.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

It's made the world a lonelier place as people no longer have to have real human contact because they can do everything either by phone, TV or computer.

New Topic:
Playing Country Music backwards can actually make your wife/husband/significant other come back, your dog come back, and make your truck work again.

[vanima]

Nay?
(ok gotta stop laughing now)
It makes them die!


new topic:
Cats lick you with a sandpaper tongue just because they think it is fun to make your skin bright red....

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

They are trying to kill you, both by the licking and also by their habit of lying in wait at the top of the stairs. Do not belittle their efforts, or they will try other, more deadly methods.

New Topic:

Thanksgiving is justified as a holiday.

[vanima]

NAY!
Thanksgiving is a day for gluttony! PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HELL!!!


NT:
Men are better then women.



*snickers*

[Slytovhand]

Nay!

But, if I try to explain it, either it's to those who already know, or it won't be heard anyway....

NT:

A good stoning is messier than a burning...

[DesignFox]

Nay!

You ever sat there and tried to wait for the bones to burn out??? and what about that horrid stench?! blech!

NT:

I say we throw out these antiquated ideals of no sex before marriage. I propose sex for everyone! Teach our kids to let it all out! We're all burning in hell, anyway. Might as well enjoy the ride down! Go out. Find somone. and Sex Them Up Today! Self control, safe measures, and modesty be damned.

*giggle* :D

[Lace Neil Singer]

Nay!

More sex means more children; and there's too many of those damn things around in the world already. XD

New Topic:

Americans were right to invent a new game to be called football rather than trying to be better at the game they sucked at.

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

American football is boring and not enough injuries to justify keeping the players on the sidelines. And what is up with all that padding anyways? Men should be men and be able to withstand injuries.

New Topic:
Sesame street should be the only children's show on television.

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay, Sesame street may be a good show but too much of it will drive a kid mad, besides this is America damnit (well for most of us :p ) and we value our freedom of choice

new topic-
we should take Slytovhand serious from now on (yeah, making it way to easy :p )

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

We shouldn't take anyone too seriously as that would cause problems like the side effects from all the medicines ever taken by anyone in the world! :p

New Topic:

I'm extremely way too modest for everyone's good. :p

[Slytovhand]

Nay!

Get it out, let everyone see! The world is a place of free expression, and you are merely hiding yourself away in meekness. Let us all reve(a)l in your glory :D

New Topic:

Idealism should take a back step to pragmatism.

(Smiley - you haven't looked at your sigline recently, have you?? :p)

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay, we need idealism... it's only because of idealists that any progress ever happens. 6 months ago a pragmatist would have said there is no way a black man would win the presidency, but guess what, we now have President Elect Barack Obama.
(and yes, I have looked at my sigline recently... I thought you'd appreciate that :p )

NT
We as a society should be more open to nudity... after all, God created us nude, we were born nude, and nakedness is one of the few things everyone has in common, why can't we embrace it?

[rdp78]

Nay, I don't want to see everyone's thingies and tits and god knows whats. I don't want anyone else to see mine either. I also feel clothes help express ourselves and protect us from weather (I mean what do you do when it below 0, you'll freeze to death). If you want to go nude that's fine there are plenty of nudist camps.

NT

Religious freedom is a myth.

[Evandril]

Nay!

You are free to believe what you want, we're just free to stone/burn/ect you until you stop! (Depending on where you are in the world, at least)

NT
The internet is a good place to find information

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay!

We all know that the internet is the only place to find pron! ;) I mean, come on ... why do we want to find information on the internet when it's easier to stand at the bus stop where the Moms all drop their kids off so they can go to school and they'll all just gossip & you'll find out all sorts of "information". ;)

New Topic:

Women are bitchier than men.

[Evandril]

Nay!

It's only during certain times of the month, and men more than make up for it during the rest of the month!

NT

The ravenous hordes of people that took that comment seriously will manage to burn me at the stake before the PC hordes get to me ;)

(Sorry, was far too tempting :D)

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay! No one actually takes your comments seriously :p

NT

Sex truly is the most fun you can have with your clothes off (I really want to see just how someone can oppose that :p )

[Evandril]

Nay!

Limiting it only to when you have your clothes off is unfair to the act! Much better to say sex is the most fun you can have, period! ;)

MT

People should always say what they mean

[Slytovhand]

Nay! Do that, and we'd never have threads like this!

Besides, people should never be mean... or median, or mode. We should excel in all our endeavours of life, and try to rise above the average!!!


NT:

25 is old. (as per my 21 yo co-worker...)

[IDrinkaRum]

Nay! 25 is not old! I'm 36 and I few 25 as being young and carefree. But then again, I still see myself as 18 so anyone older than me is still old. :p

New Topic:

Edgar Allan Poe is the best poet to have ever lived.

[McDreidel09]

(Oh. Gosh darn it! I LOVE Edgar Allan Poe!!)

NAY! Elizabeth Browning is the best poet in the world.

(That killed me because I agree with Rummy!)

Coffee is truly the ambrosia of the gods.

[Sylvia727]

Nay! Coffee is the nectar of the gods! Chocolate is the ambrosia!

People who don't clean up after themselves in public places should be fined for littering.

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay! They should be shot and made an example of!

Smiley needs a boyfriend.

[Slytovhand]

Nay!!!

How can you believe that crap!!

Forget that relationhips crap, Smiley needs a HORDE of ravenous, lustful boy-slaves! All for his
personal pleasuring...


NT:
Slyt needs to get his mind out of the gutter.:D

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay, keep it in the gutter... that idea you just came up with is MUCH better than mine :D

NT
graveyard workers do it better :p

[Slytovhand]

Nay!

Everyone has better sleep than graveyarders....

But otherwise - yes, that's true :D

NT:

We all need ravening lustful hordes of one's desired sexual appetite to pleasure us in (almost) unspeakable ways...

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay, we need them to pleasure us not in almost unpseakable ways, but COMPLETELY unpeakable ways :D

NT
this thread has gone way too far into the gutter

[Lace Neil Singer]

I object! It has not gone far enough, that is the problem. :p

NT:

Society has a duty to be tolerant to every single sexual fetish, even necrophilia and incest.

[Evandril]

I object! Tolerance isn't enough, we need classes!

NT

This thread is going to be closed soon ;)

[IDrinkaRum]

I object! It should stay open as an object lesson to how far we can take our thoughts.

NT

All tv shows should be completely commercial free.

[Slytovhand]

Oh humbug!!

Once we've got our various classes of fetish, and have model schools and events for them, when else would we advertise such things?? And people need time out to make their coffee, get their snacks, and play with their siblings in between the shows - so you'd need to have the ads in the middle of the shows so no-one misses anything.


NT:

Objects used in this lesson should include whips, chains, wax, leather, rope and other materials.

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay, you forgot dildos :p

NT

this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0) does an excellent job of explaining love :D

[Evandril]

Nay, for it is blocked, and therefore does a terrible job!

NT

All computers should have full access to all of the web!

[smileyeagle1021]

Nay, they should only have access to the video I linked to... otherwise it will be harder to rickroll people (damn, your internet blocks ruining my perfectly good rickroll attempt :p )

NT

Despite my love of rickrolling it is getting old and should be discontinued immediately.