What's your controversial opinion?

[FeanortheBrave]

Right uh, well, I believe in God, so on this site that can count as a controversial opinion. I also think atheists can tend to be just as loud and irritating as religious zealots. I think that revolution is actually warranted sometimes, even if it is violent. And I believe that the biggest problems with the world have to do with people taking religion literally. Both theists, AND atheists, as opposed to just thinking about the contradictions, working around them, and just saying "Hmm. Well that can't be right can it?".

I also believe that religion, if viewed in this light, can actually help society progress. It has happened before people, religion has only really been a damper on progress in the Western world.

 

[PatientZero]

I agree with and support the use of animal testing as it serves a purpose or a least some use. I don't agree with fur clothing for fashion as this has no point outside of a "pretty" coat. I disagree with the concept of religion as, looking to the past and present, a great deal of the wars and conflicts have been based around which brand of god people want to follow.

 

[similar.squirrel]

If a child is born severely handicapped [both mentally and physically], it should be terminated at birth. If it becomes evident that the child will be born like that, it should be aborted. If the parents want to keep it, they should not be given state assistance to do so.
Raising a human being of that sort is cruel, heartbreaking and wasteful.

Oh, and I think that religion is the memetic equivalent of a carcinogenic retrovirus. I know and respect plenty of religious people, but only as people.
Religious belief is a fatal glitch in the human psyche. Then again, we're growing out of it quite fast, so that's good.

All, IMHO, of course.

 

[JoshGod]

I believe that voting is not a right, but a privilege that you should have to show your worth to gain (by worth i mean political awareness and understanding).

 

[Small Waves]

The only thing that ever validated the existence of punk music was new-wave. Today, there is no good reason for it to be still be around or produced, as it is terrible and the fundamentals of the genre that gave birth to it in the first place are no longer being incorporated or relevant in the year 2011. By continuing to give money towards acts like MCR and Green Day, you are part of the problem.

Pedophilia isn't a disease and is merely a sexual attraction, which in itself is harmless and only problematic when acted upon.

Religion is the worst thing to happen to humanity. If Stalin, Fred Phelps, and Hitlerwere to fuse together and have their blood replaced with The Black Plague, it would still be only half a percent as damning as religion, which has been used to champion genocide, racism, male supremacy, classism, homophobia, censorship, and ignorance. Most of the tragedies in the world are ultimately the fault of a theological shouting match, including the Crusades, World War II, September 11, North American Native genocide, and so forth.

 

[lazysquirell]

Fun! I'm doing this top of the pops stylee!

1) I'm an atheist though I do respect people with religious values so long as they're not idiots or preachy.
2) I believe smokers shouldn't have to be herded into tiny areas outside in public buildings - though I still agree with the no smoking indoors thing.
3) I hate anti-smokers it's a choice I enjoy it and I don't get annoyed at others for things like drinking...
4) I dislike most sport's attitudes towards women.
5) I believe in galantry and being a gentleman towards women though that only goes so far. I see it as good manners and not an act of trying to impress.
6) I believe the death penalty should be brought back for the most extreme crimes in society.
7) I believe that certain socialist policies work well.
8) Parents of badly behaved children have only themselves to blame not the media. Afterall it was their choice to allow them to be exposed to that media.
9) I don't like the way society treats the elderly.
10) I believe more should be done to help the unemployed - the genuine people who are trying - to find work. Having experienced a long period of being unemployed and trying I know exactly how soul destroying it can be to try, get nowhere, and being treated as if you aren't trying.

I numbered these the wrong way for top of the pops... Meh cba to change them so you'll have to make do!

 

[alinos]

I believe anyone should have the right to do anything to their own body that they want, whether it is euthanasia(though i believe that the person should have to do it themselves(even if it's just pressing a button to inject whatever the doctor would have) abortion and whatever else you can think of.

Apparently the sanctity of human life as some would put it means that you have to put up with forgetting who you are and being unable to control your bowel's.

As someone whos family has a predominace for alzehimers. I plan on kicking the bucket between 60-70. And even if i didn't i see no joy in spending 10-20 years in a body as it slowly falls apart as each day you have less strength and have to swallow more pills to keep on going.

 

[Vault101]

The only thing that ever validated the existence of punk music was new-wave. Today, there is no good reason for it to be still be around or produced, as it is terrible and the fundamentals of the genre that gave birth to it in the first place are no longer being incorporated or relevant in the year 2011. By continuing to give money towards acts like MCR and Green Day, you are part of the problem.

Pedophilia isn't a disease and is merely a sexual attraction, which in itself is harmless and only problematic when acted upon.

Religion is the worst thing to happen to humanity. If Stalin, Fred Phelps, and Hitlerwere to fuse together and have their blood replaced with The Black Plague, it would still be only half a percent as damning as religion, which has been used to champion genocide, racism, male supremacy, classism, homophobia, censorship, and ignorance. Most of the tragedies in the world are ultimately the fault of a theological shouting match, including the Crusades, World War II, September 11, North American Native genocide, and so forth.

its just music (subjective..you know.) and i like My Chemical Romance (plus I didnt know they were "punk" I thourght they were emo...evne though I never got an "emo" vibe from them)

 

[rapidoud]

Animal testing is okay, if it's for a good cause like curing cancer/zombification.

Christianity can GTFO the interwebz.

US Citizens should stop trying to assume everyone in the internet is from there (what this refers to is them disbelieving people having a different opinion), saying all time zones in relation to PST or some BS, use GMT you tools so we can all understand, and if I ask where you're from I have NFI where 'Georgia' is. For all I know you're from Eastern France, so how about just saying the USA.

Don't hate someone for their beliefs, religion, fetishes, whatever, hate them for acting upon it that could harm others.

The US is falling if they don't cut their debt, deal with it, the US dollar has fallen significantly. Granted I'm not the only one who thinks this so it isn't controversial.

Smoking is NOT comparable to obesity and smokers can go DIACF (yes the c is for cigarettes). Alcohol provides some sustenance, cigarettes just provide foul-smelling smoke and make you unattractive, whereas beer makes you MORE attractive (and I don't even drink). Plus, they seem to think they have a right to litter their butts everywhere, it's just a waste of resources.

Calling others nerds and saying you don't have to learn basic skills is a step backwards in evolution, not forwards. Take some flapping responsibility for yourself and better yourself when someone DOESN'T tell you to do it e.g. oh I'm not a good speller you're just a nerd for using apostrophes, right and looking at your trashy rihting tht iz evrywhre hurts my brain because ur stupid.

 

[Cyberjester]

Spoiler

I say anything here, I get banned

 

[alinos]

R as opposed to just thinking about the contradictions, working around them, and just saying "Hmm. Well that can't be right can it?".

I also believe that religion, if viewed in this light, can actually help society progress. It has happened before people, religion has only really been a damper on progress in the Western world.

A) the problem is that one looks for contradictions in everything, it's the flaws of something that determine it's worth. After all i can build one of the nicest looking most enviromentally friendly bridges in the world, but it's not much use if it's primary flaw is that it falls down as soon as a car drives onto it.

B) Religion is fine, the problem is when people feel the need to force it onto another, i don't care that people believe in what they believe in personally whatever helps you sleep at night is good. But that doesn't mean people have the right to come to my house like they have the last couple of weekends to tell me about the good book, about being a jehovah's witness etc. etc.

Problem modern religion has(and i distinguish this from things like the dark ages and what not where the church held back development) Is that with the advent of tv and internet, the fanatics get so much screen time that they taint the view of the entire religion

 

[Woodsey]

I believe that voting is not a right, but a privilege that you should have to show your worth to gain (by worth i mean political awareness and understanding).

That sounds suspiciously like "if your opinion matches my opinion, you can vote". And even if that's not the intention, that's how I could see it ending up as.

The people who don't know anything about politics are less likely to vote anyway. Those who still do vote without knowing anything I doubt make enough of a splash.

 

[Vault101]

If a child is born severely handicapped [both mentally and physically], it should be terminated at birth. If it becomes evident that the child will be born like that, it should be aborted. If the parents want to keep it, they should not be given state assistance to do so.
Raising a human being of that sort is cruel, heartbreaking and wasteful.

Oh, and I think that religion is the memetic equivalent of a carcinogenic retrovirus. I know and respect plenty of religious people, but only as people.
Religious belief is a fatal glitch in the human psyche. Then again, we're growing out of it quite fast, so that's good.

All, IMHO, of course.

I think Stephen Hawking would disagree...

anyway my point is where do you draw the line? like if a child is going to be wheelchair bound do you belive their life is not worth living?

how do you test mental capacity at child birth anyway?

or do you only mean like extreme cases like when the person just "isnt all there"

I dont think cerebral palsy or the like is grounds for death

or what about autism? could you pick up how severe it is at birth? what if they were high functioning?

 

[TheFederation]

i don't think prostitution is a bad thing. it's not the same as pimps or women who are forced into it, but if the girl wants it, and likes it (as some of them do) then i don't see the harm in it.

 

[alinos]

- snip -

Mistake = bad thing by accident
Stupidity = bad thing as a result of your deliberate foolish action

For the record I will never lose fingers to such an example as I gave because I am smart enough not to create that situation. People who lack that minimal level of common sense need a swift kick in the ass, not another cookie.

I stand by everything I said.

I still love the warning message i saw on a hairdryer once.

"Caution do not use in shower"

Because not only will it electrocute you, but your in a freaking shower.

how often does someone go well i'm standing under this showerhead and it's wetting my hair, so i need to dry it at the same time.

 

[alinos]

I think Stephen Hawking would disagree...

anyway my point is where do you draw the line? like if a child is going to be wheelchair bound do you belive their life is not worth living?

how do you test mental capacity at child birth anyway?

or do you only mean like extreme cases like when the person just "isnt all there"

I dont think cerebral palsy or the like is grounds for death

or what about autism? could you pick up how severe it is at birth? what if they were high functioning?

Except Stephen hawking didn't have issues until he got to college with the illness he could have made it years without containing symptoms

The problem with drawing the line is really dependant on the person, i know a guy thats been in a wheelchair his whole life, and he has admitted a fair few times that if it wasn't for the fact that it would probably kill his parent's he would have ended his life and still would

Problem is killing a child at birth due to illness as a mandate is a bad idea though. sure it starts with the bad stuff, but eventually it gets to the point where oh your kid is blind or deaf. are you sure you don't want to just try again.

These things are most likely more prevailant that they should be since the human race moved past survival of the fitest a long time ago which means genes which cause ailments like this have more of a tendancy to stick around.

 

[shadow741]

Religion causes more problems than solutions.

 

[JoshGod]

I believe that voting is not a right, but a privilege that you should have to show your worth to gain (by worth i mean political awareness and understanding).

That sounds suspiciously like "if your opinion matches my opinion, you can vote". And even if that's not the intention, that's how I could see it ending up as.

The people who don't know anything about politics are less likely to vote anyway. Those who still do vote without knowing anything I doubt make enough of a splash.

I mean basic understanding of politics, being able to justify their views. And let me extend on that while answering your second point about those who don't know, in the last election for the AV system my mum worked in a polling station, most people turned up asking 'what is av' and she was not allowed to tell them, yet they voted anyway.

 

[similar.squirrel]

If a child is born severely handicapped [both mentally and physically], it should be terminated at birth. If it becomes evident that the child will be born like that, it should be aborted. If the parents want to keep it, they should not be given state assistance to do so.
Raising a human being of that sort is cruel, heartbreaking and wasteful.

Oh, and I think that religion is the memetic equivalent of a carcinogenic retrovirus. I know and respect plenty of religious people, but only as people.
Religious belief is a fatal glitch in the human psyche. Then again, we're growing out of it quite fast, so that's good.

All, IMHO, of course.

I think Stephen Hawking would disagree...

anyway my point is where do you draw the line? like if a child is going to be wheelchair bound do you believe their life is not worth living?

how do you test mental capacity at child birth anyway?

or do you only mean like extreme cases like when the person just "isn't all there"

I don't think cerebral palsy or the like is grounds for death

or what about autism? could you pick up how severe it is at birth? what if they were high functioning?

Hawking's condition was diagnosed when he was 21. ALS wasn't identifiable at birth in the 40s, and it did not cause him to be a burden on anybody during his formative years. He is one of our most eminent scientists despite his terrible condition, and I'm almost certain that he pays for his own upkeep. It doesn't matter, because he's earned a lifetime of care with his contributions to human knowledge.

I meant severe physical and mental disability, that is evident from birth, or before. Latent genetic conditions that manifest themselves later on in life do not count, because that's a lottery we all play.
I just don't see the point in keeping somebody alive if they were born without the capacity to do anything useful or even comprehend this world fully. It's depressing, it's unnatural, it's pointless and it's a waste of resources that could be used to help people who are held back only by external circumstances.

 

[Vault101]

If a child is born severely handicapped [both mentally and physically], it should be terminated at birth. If it becomes evident that the child will be born like that, it should be aborted. If the parents want to keep it, they should not be given state assistance to do so.
Raising a human being of that sort is cruel, heartbreaking and wasteful.

Oh, and I think that religion is the memetic equivalent of a carcinogenic retrovirus. I know and respect plenty of religious people, but only as people.
Religious belief is a fatal glitch in the human psyche. Then again, we're growing out of it quite fast, so that's good.

All, IMHO, of course.

I think Stephen Hawking would disagree...

anyway my point is where do you draw the line? like if a child is going to be wheelchair bound do you believe their life is not worth living?

how do you test mental capacity at child birth anyway?

or do you only mean like extreme cases like when the person just "isn't all there"

I don't think cerebral palsy or the like is grounds for death

or what about autism? could you pick up how severe it is at birth? what if they were high functioning?

Hawking's condition was diagnosed when he was 21. ALS wasn't identifiable at birth in the 40s, and it did not cause him to be a burden on anybody during his formative years. He is one of our most eminent scientists despite his terrible condition, and I'm almost certain that he pays for his own upkeep. It doesn't matter, because he's earned a lifetime of care with his contributions to human knowledge.

I meant severe physical and mental disability, that is evident from birth, or before. Latent genetic conditions that manifest themselves later on in life do not count, because that's a lottery we all play.
I just don't see the point in keeping somebody alive if they were born without the capacity to do anything useful or even comprehend this world fully. It's depressing, it's unnatural, it's pointless and it's a waste of resources that could be used to help people who are held back only by external circumstances.

so somone who is mentally handicapped...but I mean can still function, would they be ok?

I mean I know the slippery slope argument is flawed but the line is kinda blury

oh...youre blind...sorry but you not worth it