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This thread is for discussing politics, political science, and other politics-related topics in a general, non-country/region-specific context. Do mind sensitive topics, especially controversial ones; I think we'd all rather the thread stay free of Flame Wars.

Please consult the following threads for country/region-specific politics (NOTE: The list is eternally non-comprehensive; it will be gradually updated whenever possible).

Edited by GastonRabbit on Apr 25th 2025 at 9:51:19 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#3001: Jan 31st 2021 at 12:56:58 PM

Right, clearly biology plays some role, but it can't account for individual freedom and preference. We are more than just the sum of our biology.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#3002: Jan 31st 2021 at 12:58:28 PM

Enough studies have been done to indicate, albeit not necessarily confirm (by their nature science and statistics can only disprove affirmatives, not prove negatives) the contributions of biology to gender identity are greater than "absolutely none at all, ever", as the most hardline gender-as-social construct advocates may claim.

That being said, the converse statement that biology is everything when it comes to gender identity is pretty obviously bunk, and is the type of statement that science is capable of disproving definitively.

Gotcha, that matches my impression of what I've heard. I just wanted to check because I wasn't sure how settled the science was or wasn't.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#3003: Jan 31st 2021 at 1:34:11 PM

It's probably never going to be settled, at least not until we can actually read and analyse thought and consciousness itself.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#3004: Jan 31st 2021 at 1:52:46 PM

Yeah, the question is still unsettled, there is evidence that both play a role. Problem is that confounding factors are hard to separate out since you can't easily make experiments and control groups ... and way too many people take evidence for one side as evidence against the other. The scientific method doesn't work like that.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#3005: Jan 31st 2021 at 2:06:42 PM

I tried that quiz on the last page and here are the results

Turns out I feel rather strongly about regulation.

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Jan 31st 2021 at 2:07:14 AM

Antiteilchen In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good. Since: Sep, 2013
In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.
#3006: Jan 31st 2021 at 2:34:25 PM

My results

But yeah, some questions were weird or mean a different thing if taken literally. Like if biology influences gender roles. Well, yeah. Women being able to get pregnant and being weaker on average influenced those roles. But I think the test would see an agreement with that statement as an agreement that gender roles are unchangeable.

Or if sexual assault has underlying a biological urges. Yes. But in the same vein that a cannibal eating a human has the underlying urge of eating. But no, not in the sense that it biologically causes it directly.

Edited by Antiteilchen on Jan 31st 2021 at 11:35:14 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#3007: Jan 31st 2021 at 4:53:38 PM

I tried that quiz on the last page and here are the results

Turns out I feel rather strongly about regulation.

I'm sorry to tell you but your Communism score has reached dangerously based levels. wink

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#3008: Jan 31st 2021 at 7:57:14 PM

OTOH I'm apparently very middle of the road on the Revolution/Reform axis. Che Guevara I ain't tongue

I'm also neutral on the environmental axis, but the centrist part is smaller compared to the revolutionary/reform axis.

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Jan 31st 2021 at 8:18:12 AM

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#3009: Jan 31st 2021 at 8:53:14 PM

"Certainly, I fully agree. But leftists have been grappling with the flaws of the Soviet Union since it fell, so it has very much been happening.

"

How they grapple with them is another issue I guess.

How I link my result anyway?.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#3010: Jan 31st 2021 at 9:12:51 PM

Copy and paste the link of the results

Watch me destroying my country
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#3011: Feb 1st 2021 at 9:42:51 AM

OTOH I'm apparently very middle of the road on the Revolution/Reform axis. Che Guevara I ain't tongue

Heh, idealogical flexibility is hardly a bad thing. At least not in this context tongue

How they grapple with them is another issue I guess.

True enough.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 1st 2021 at 9:45:12 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3012: Feb 2nd 2021 at 9:36:13 AM

"Is the science behind gender identity and the role hormones play actually settled?"

Yes, it's an interaction. The technical definition of an interaction is a statistical result for which the effect of two or more variables cannot be meaningfully interpreted without knowing the value of the other variables. In other words, the effect of the two factors working together is greater than the effect of either working alone.

Genes determine the effect of the environment, yet simultaneously the environment triggers the effect of genes.

This may be too complex for many people to easily understand, esp. if they lack a college level education in statistics, yet it is pretty clearly the truth.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
KnightofLsama Since: Sep, 2010
#3013: Feb 3rd 2021 at 1:22:37 AM

Because sometimes it's fun to jump on a bandwagon... here are my results

Commentary

now that I think about it when it comes to economical crimes vs political I'm fair harsher about the latter.

I think that affected my results as well.

Turns out I feel rather strongly about regulation.

Not from where I'm sitting you don't [lol]

That's being said I feel some of those statements are phrased in too absolute terms to fully capture my opinions especially on some of the nationalism stuff. A lot of those questions if I could free form my responses it would be "It's fine... within limits" and variations of that.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#3014: Feb 3rd 2021 at 1:31:30 AM

Yeah there were a couple questions where my actual answer would have been “I’d like to consult an expert in this field and go with their answer”.

Also, I believe I still hold the high score for both regulation and internationalism. cool

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Batboy698 from Washington state Since: Jan, 2021
#3015: Feb 3rd 2021 at 1:39:52 AM

In this threads opinion, does government do more harm or good?

Edited by Batboy698 on Feb 3rd 2021 at 1:40:15 AM

ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#3016: Feb 3rd 2021 at 4:18:40 AM

[up]Definitely more good. Look at the responses to COVID in countries where government takes an active role vs those where the parties put in take a “government shouldn’t do much” approach.

My musician page
Antiteilchen In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good. Since: Sep, 2013
In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.
#3017: Feb 3rd 2021 at 4:30:38 AM

Obligatory "just look at Somalia" post.

Moreover, you cannot not have a government of some type, unless you live alone in the woods.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#3018: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:51:13 AM

Government is a tool and like any tool, it can be used for bad ends. But that only reflects poorly on the wielder. When used rationally and justly the state is a powerful force for good.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:52:10 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#3019: Feb 3rd 2021 at 5:57:42 AM

I started that quiz, immediately got a question where I wasn't even sure what the question was asking, and went to do something else. [lol]

Batboy698 from Washington state Since: Jan, 2021
#3020: Feb 3rd 2021 at 11:26:43 AM

Murray rothbard said that "politics is the practice of predatory ways of men over men". I mean, he's not wrong. What your guys thoughts?

Edited by Batboy698 on Feb 3rd 2021 at 11:28:22 AM

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#3021: Feb 3rd 2021 at 11:33:40 AM

[up] I mean, everything in social interactions is predatory. Governments exist to regulate things so they don't get too bad.

Even anarchists have governments, they just don't like call them governments.

Edited by KazuyaProta on Feb 3rd 2021 at 2:34:20 PM

Watch me destroying my country
Batboy698 from Washington state Since: Jan, 2021
#3022: Feb 3rd 2021 at 12:02:28 PM

The thing is, governments are the greatest offender when it comes to violence and oprression. A serial killer is a private citizen who if caught goes to prison. What do you do when the states poloce force routinly avuses their power and soldiers commit atrocities in places they dont belong?

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#3023: Feb 3rd 2021 at 12:10:49 PM

[up] Then you need to change for a better state, not get rid of it

Private groups (either charities or rich people, whatever) can do a lot of great stuff, but you need some type of government to ensure the basic for the average loser.

Edited by KazuyaProta on Feb 3rd 2021 at 3:11:37 PM

Watch me destroying my country
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#3024: Feb 3rd 2021 at 12:11:02 PM

Non government entities do plenty of oppression and violence. Look at ISIS, look at Somali Warlords, look at Blackwater, look at United Fruit, look at the East India Company, shit, look at plenty of modern multi-nationals.

Government is far from the only form of human organisation that engages in immoral activities.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#3025: Feb 3rd 2021 at 12:12:45 PM

There is a argument that state-backed violence is genuinely the worst one, to be honest. Compare Saddam and ISIS. The organization behind states can be used as a weapon of terror.

Heck, ISIS whole thing was that they wanted to be a state and replaced state functions where they came.

The worst MegaCorp abuses generally exists because they team up with governments.

State Power is basically a gun, it can be good, it can be bad.

Said this, given state generally find direct war to be very hard, which is why modern day atrocities from governments usually are done via guerrillas with some level of distanciation.

Mean you, this also has the effect that once a state is formed. State Collapse is basically throwing everything to a hell.

Edited by KazuyaProta on Feb 3rd 2021 at 3:20:05 PM

Watch me destroying my country

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