What is your most controversial opinion?
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Least controversial: Don't f--k with bears.
I am seriously considering having this printed on all my shirts.0 -
Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. Give them a GED, teach them to read, etc. No free college education though. We don't give a free college education to law abiding citizens so why should convicts get it?
AGREED!! Convicts have the right to remain silent. They do not have the right to free education, cable TV, ice cream, gyms, and porn. They shouldn't live better than law abiding citizens who are down on their luck. Recently some guy robbed a bank. He demanded $1 then sat to wait for the police. He WANTED to be arrested so he could go to prison where he would get food, clothing, shelter, and medical care because he had no money, no insurance, and was really sick (I forget what he had but it was something like cancer, not a flu bug). That's a damn shame IMO.I also believe that ALL prisons should be run like that one in Texas that is a Ranch where they actually WORK and support the cost of running it as well as the other one in AZ (I think that's where it is) where they have to sleep outside in tents and wear PINK and work! Do the crime you pay the time!
Why not education? I would think the last thing anyone would want is them coming out the same or worse than when they went in, as far as education goes. yikes.0 -
Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. Give them a GED, teach them to read, etc. No free college education though. We don't give a free college education to law abiding citizens so why should convicts get it?
AGREED!! Convicts have the right to remain silent. They do not have the right to free education, cable TV, ice cream, gyms, and porn. They shouldn't live better than law abiding citizens who are down on their luck. Recently some guy robbed a bank. He demanded $1 then sat to wait for the police. He WANTED to be arrested so he could go to prison where he would get food, clothing, shelter, and medical care because he had no money, no insurance, and was really sick (I forget what he had but it was something like cancer, not a flu bug). That's a damn shame IMO.I also believe that ALL prisons should be run like that one in Texas that is a Ranch where they actually WORK and support the cost of running it as well as the other one in AZ (I think that's where it is) where they have to sleep outside in tents and wear PINK and work! Do the crime you pay the time!
Why not education? I would think the last thing anyone would want is them coming out the same or worse than when they went in, as far as education goes. yikes.
:flowerforyou:0 -
abortion is murder0
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Now I fully vax my kids, and don't really buy into the whole vaxxing causes autism bit.
But food for thought: If vaxing is preventing all these diseases and keeping kids safe from getting them, then in theory the vaxxed kids in public schools aren't going to catch anything the non-vaxed kids bring in anyway.
Well, a lot of people believe this, but it's not entirely accurate. Massive, nationwide vaccination plans are only able to eradicate disease through what is known as "herd immunity."
Basically, somewhere around 10% of vaccinations don't "take," and the child is not actually immune-- even after getting the shot. (don't quote me on the number, it's somewhere in that range but I'm just using it for illustration.) However, if the entire "herd" is vaccinated, it doesn't matter that a few kids here and there aren't truly immune, because since enough kids ARE immune, there is nobody to catch the disease from.
The more parents decide not to vaccinate their kids, the more we risk herd immunity being thrown off-- So in theory, if enough kids are non-vaccinated, this could lead to some of the kids who DO get vaccinated still getting XYZ disease (mumps, measles, whatever).
...hope that makes sense... my brain is a bit foggy today...!!
EDIT: Info on herd immunity, if you scroll down (if anyone cares, lol)
That makes perfect sense. I guess basically vaxxing more people makes it less likely that someone will get sick simply by the sheer amount of others that are vaccinated.
In other words I guess you could say that the non-vaxxers are taking advantage of the vaxxing parents since their kids likely will still be protected by the 'herd' immunity too then, right?
Yes! Exactly! They say "Well nobody gets mumps anymore, so my kid will be fine." But what they don't realize (or perhaps don't care to realize) is that when we hit a certain threshold percentage of kids without vaccines, herd immunity will not work anymore.
EDIT: Here's a fairly recent story about measles in the US-- http://abcnews.go.com/MillionMomsChallenge/measles-rise-us/story?id=145397240 -
While I never make the mistakes that conspiracy theorists make by asserting they know who is responsible for various things with 100% certainty, I do believe that we were not told everythinb about the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Smedly Butler and the near Facist overthrow of the nation in the 1930s, 9/11, UFOs, and the space program.0
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Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. Give them a GED, teach them to read, etc. No free college education though. We don't give a free college education to law abiding citizens so why should convicts get it?
AGREED!! Convicts have the right to remain silent. They do not have the right to free education, cable TV, ice cream, gyms, and porn. They shouldn't live better than law abiding citizens who are down on their luck. Recently some guy robbed a bank. He demanded $1 then sat to wait for the police. He WANTED to be arrested so he could go to prison where he would get food, clothing, shelter, and medical care because he had no money, no insurance, and was really sick (I forget what he had but it was something like cancer, not a flu bug). That's a damn shame IMO.I also believe that ALL prisons should be run like that one in Texas that is a Ranch where they actually WORK and support the cost of running it as well as the other one in AZ (I think that's where it is) where they have to sleep outside in tents and wear PINK and work! Do the crime you pay the time!
Why not education? I would think the last thing anyone would want is them coming out the same or worse than when they went in, as far as education goes. yikes.
Recidivism. If they know how to do something, they usually participate like normal people when they get out of prison as opposed to going back to criminal behavior. I know someone who is in prison, he has some sort of a degree as a custodian.
And most schools that are outside the prison that the prisoner does via the mail, is at cost to the prisoner (and his family) not the state.
Just to add, some states actually offer free or reduced rates to low income people for community college, I fail to see why those in prison should not qualify for that. For me, its better than them sitting around getting angry and super buff. I have not looked up the statistics but I would be willing to guess that most people who are in the prison system come from disadvantaged homes in the first place.0 -
Sorry. I try to always be for people's freedoms. But anti-vaxxers are just dumb and put children's lives at risk. They distrust doctors but put their faith in the words of Jenny McCarthy. Idiots.
As a mother of a child with autism, I am not a Jenny McCarthy fan at all!
What if they are wrong? Dr have been wrong before. Science has been wrong many times and we notch it up to Progress. Why is it so wrong to question science?0 -
I think its child abuse for parents of deaf children to restrict their child from getting cochlear implants0
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I think its child abuse for parents of deaf children to restrict their child from getting cochlear implants
my brother is deaf and refused cochlear implants himself. maybe that was self abuse?
A lot of the deaf community love their community and culture, and dont see it as just as disablity. Its part of them.0 -
What if they are wrong? Dr have been wrong before. Science has been wrong many times and we notch it up to Progress. Why is it so wrong to question science?
Let me say that it's absolutely appropriate to question science. Science welcomes it. It's literally part of the scientific process. So feel free to do that at all times.
Here's the catch though. You had better be REAL on top of your game. Scientists are SMAAAAAAARRRTTT! They aren't making this stuff up. I often sound smart and that's only because I'm repeating things I learned from science. If you need any proof just consider that you and I are having this discussion on the internet!
So when you want to critique the science and research that goes into vaccinations you better have something good. Jenny McCarthy saying "My son got a shot and now he's autistic" isn't going to cut it.0 -
I think if more "pro-lifers" thought this way, we'd probably have fewer deaths - of doctors, health care workers, etc. - as well as fewer abortions.Unrelated, but-- as far as controversial opinions go-- can I throw in that I am a "pro-lifer" (I believe life begins at conception) who also believes in educating teens/women/men regarding options for contraception and safe sex... And making birth control more affordable and accessible for those who need/want it and cannot afford it...
In some ways, the arguments about abortion miss the point. It is a symptom of a different problem: unwanted pregnancy. It drives me crazy how often this crucial piece of information is buried. I suspect this doesn't get talked about as much because unwanted pregnancy isn't sensational enough. You can't use phrases like "murder" and "dead babies" to further your cause.
But let's face it, when someone wants to have an abortion, the problem is that person is pregnant and don't want to be. There is opportunity for education and prevention. Abortions can be prevented by reducing unwanted pregnancies. I wish more pro-lifers would realize this. Focus on the real problem.
Suck it up and deal with the awkward conversation that kids are having sex. It is completely fine to teach abstinence. I'm OK with that. But don't teach ONLY abstinence and pretend that kids aren't having sex (or only the "dirty kids" are). And don't give me that BS logic that teaching safe sex encourages kids to have sex. Telling someone to wear a helmet if they choose to ride a motorcycle doesn't encourage them to ride a motorcycle, does it?0 -
What if they are wrong? Dr have been wrong before. Science has been wrong many times and we notch it up to Progress. Why is it so wrong to question science?
Let me say that it's absolutely appropriate to question science. Science welcomes it. It's literally part of the scientific process. So feel free to do that at all times.
Here's the catch though. You had better be REAL on top of your game. Scientists are SMAAAAAAARRRTTT! They aren't making this stuff up. I often sound smart and that's only because I'm repeating things I learned from science. If you need any proof just consider that you and I are having this discussion on the internet!
So when you want to critique the science and research that goes into vaccinations you better have something good. Jenny McCarthy saying "My son got a shot and now he's autistic" isn't going to cut it.
I agree that science needs to be questioned. And I agree that scientists are smart. But we always have to beware of human nature and I do not thing that even some one as enlightened as a scientist is immune. The problem with science is that in many fields, like say, archeology, the science has become dogmatic and people who challenge excepted theory are rode out of town. This is really going to kill me because I can't remember her name, but I think it was Virginia Steen McIntyre, or close. She was picked to date and archeological dig in Mexico thought to be around 30,000 years old which fit perfectly into the current thought migration theories of the day. The problem is that she used 4 different carbon dating techinques and all said that the site was something like 200,000 years old. She was kicked out of academia and complete black balled.
So I guess what I am saying is that science has to be constantly questioned for it to not only survive, but to progress. Many people have dedicated their lives to research and have tenure and funding riding on them being right, and do not back down easily. The problem with the autism caused my Vaccine crowd is the abosolute massive conspiracy of doctors, researchers, court officials and judges that would be needed to cover up that information.0 -
Now I fully vax my kids, and don't really buy into the whole vaxxing causes autism bit.
But food for thought: If vaxing is preventing all these diseases and keeping kids safe from getting them, then in theory the vaxxed kids in public schools aren't going to catch anything the non-vaxed kids bring in anyway.
Well, a lot of people believe this, but it's not entirely accurate. Massive, nationwide vaccination plans are only able to eradicate disease through what is known as "herd immunity."
Basically, somewhere around 10% of vaccinations don't "take," and the child is not actually immune-- even after getting the shot. (don't quote me on the number, it's somewhere in that range but I'm just using it for illustration.) However, if the entire "herd" is vaccinated, it doesn't matter that a few kids here and there aren't truly immune, because since enough kids ARE immune, there is nobody to catch the disease from.
The more parents decide not to vaccinate their kids, the more we risk herd immunity being thrown off-- So in theory, if enough kids are non-vaccinated, this could lead to some of the kids who DO get vaccinated still getting XYZ disease (mumps, measles, whatever).
...hope that makes sense... my brain is a bit foggy today...!!
EDIT: Info on herd immunity, if you scroll down (if anyone cares, lol)
Thank you! I thought I had already posted this, but I remembered I was in the middle of it and then *GASP* actually had to do some work. And really you said it MUCH better than I was going to.
You're spot on. Vaccinations are not PERFECT. They're damn good, but a lot of the protection comes from herd immunity. Once you start introducing infected children into the mix everyone is put at risk. Not a great risk mind you, but still... you don't catch "a little" polio.0 -
Sorry. I try to always be for people's freedoms. But anti-vaxxers are just dumb and put children's lives at risk. They distrust doctors but put their faith in the words of Jenny McCarthy. Idiots.
As a mother of a child with autism, I am not a Jenny McCarthy fan at all!
What if they are wrong? Dr have been wrong before. Science has been wrong many times and we notch it up to Progress. Why is it so wrong to question science?
It's not wrong to question science. However, you have to question science WITH equally valid science. That's something that's missing from almost all "anti science" arguments.0 -
While I never make the mistakes that conspiracy theorists make by asserting they know who is responsible for various things with 100% certainty, I do believe that we were not told everythinb about the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Smedly Butler and the near Facist overthrow of the nation in the 1930s, 9/11, UFOs, and the space program.
And we don't REALLY know what goes into the Colonel's secret recipe.0 -
While I never make the mistakes that conspiracy theorists make by asserting they know who is responsible for various things with 100% certainty, I do believe that we were not told everythinb about the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Smedly Butler and the near Facist overthrow of the nation in the 1930s, 9/11, UFOs, and the space program.
And we don't REALLY know what goes into the Colonel's secret recipe.
I don't even know if he was really a Colonel.0 -
Poop talk (not scat talk) needs to be mainstream.0
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Not to try to dissuade you from your views, but, as I understand it, there is no actual "moment of conception".
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/Vol40/Issue1/DavisVol40No1_Peters.pdf
I'm sure someone who is anti abortion has come up with a metaphysical work-around for this inconvenient truth, but it's something to consider.
I certainly appreciate that you share the idea that an excellent way to stop abortions is by effective and easily-obtainable birth control.
Interesting document, thank you for sharing! I have a degree in biology, but I never studied the fertilization process in depth, so a lot of what I skimmed over was new information for me. I love science :bigsmile:
To be more precise, I think when the unique and new set of diploid DNA forms, this is "life" because it is unique, and nothing exactly like it has ever existed, nor will it exist again (barring an occasion of identical twins, though even in that case there are often epigenetic differences).
Obviously choosing that "moment" is my own opinion, but it is because I am in awe of the amazing process by which unique human beings are created, starting with that first set of DNA at "conception." That's just my opinion though, I don't think scientists will ever define the precise moment when life begins. But the new and unique DNA is really something to marvel... Learning about the tiny, detailed processes that make our bodies function is akin to seeing the hand of God at work, in my opinion... it's a beautiful thing!!'
oh, I miss my sciencey days sometimes!! :laugh: sorry for rambling!!
That's fine--your comments are intelligent and thoughtful--they also point that the issue is a little more complex than a bumper sticker.0 -
I just realized I had not put my opinions on here yet.
I believe that young pre-teen girls and teenage girls should dress like KIDS!!!!! This includes underwear!!!! Dexter and I were in a store and a Mom was asking her (perhaps 9 year old) daughter if she wanted the thongs or the bikinis. Firstly I didn't know thongs were available for little girls, secondly thongs should be for adults only. And on a web forum I'm on, a whole bunch of girls (who had recently graduated HS) wore garters to their prom, and at the end of the night the guys got to keep the garters. Then they got angry when a bunch of us told them this was inappropriate.
I also believe 18 year olds are not adults.
I feel that condoms should be available for free in ALL public high schools, and that starting about eighth grade kids should be taught about condom use and birth control. I also feel teenage girls should have IUDs available, regardless of whether they've had children or not. When I student taught a 5th grade the kids there were starting to have sex. One boy had already had threesomes, at least one in the past. My former boyfriend Michael lost his virginity in jr high, and started getting BJs in elementary school. And believe me, it doesn't encourage kids to have sex!!! The kids that have sex, are going to have sex regardless-- at least educate them about being safe about it!!! And tell them STDs are out there!!!!
I believe in not only gay marriage, but other forms of marriage too. I don't believe marriage is between just two people. It can be between two people, or three or more people (and I'm not just talking about polygamy here, I'm talking about polyamory, polyandry, and other forms of marriage) as long as every person is LEGALLY an adult and also a WILLING participant.
I am pro-choice.
I'm sure I'll add more to the list later, but there is mine so far.
EDIT: And as someone with 3 diagnosed mental disorders as well as the daughter of someone who had been in and out of mental hospitals for ten years, I feel we really need to educate people about mental problems, NOT just depression, but more. And people need to realize that just because you have mental problems it DOES NOT mean you are dangerous!!!0
