What's your controversial opinion?

[GrizzlerBorno]

I'm familiar with this in spite of not being much of a Star Trek fan, so I must ask: Do they ever explain how that might be, in any way whatsoever, a feasible form of Governance and economy?

Common sense grounded in the context of OUR world tells us that there is zero possibility of that system working here. What's different in Star Trek?

No. They never explain. In fact, let me paraphrase something from Deep Space Nine (One of the spinoffs):
Alien Boy: Why didn't you get [whatever]?
Human Boy: Its not my fault I'm human, I have no money!
No one ever explains how people are able to trade. Through barter, I guess? Wierdly, the Fed is made of all kinds of species, but the no money rule seems to only apply to humans. Maybe its just the goverment workers that don't take pay. The human boy in the example was a captain's son. That would explain a lot.

So they have nearly 3 decades (give or take) of Fiction and yet they didn't explain how the future Works? Wow, what an EPIC fail in world-building.

I think I'm just going to stick with Mass Effect and Star Wars, thanks. Even "Space Magic" is a better explanation than "*shrug"....

 

[Nanaki316]

I believe sex is a special, meaningful act that you should share only with the person you are married to. I get some really weird looks from people when they first ask if I'm a virgin and I say yes, then they ask why and I give them that answer.
The fact that I believe in God also seems to be rather controversial, at least on this site.

Never seen you post before but I actually think it's nice that you think like that. I'm a Christian too, and I already see a lot of people in this topic saying religion is shit and all the rest of it so I'm about ready to get shot down to.

OT: I'm not sure I really have an opinion on something that would cause HUGE controversy. If I think of one I'll have to post again!

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Despite being completely non-religious I don't believe religion is a bad thing. Furthermore, I find religion bashing to be annoying and it seems to me that many athiests treat their belief as a religion.

I believe the right to own firearms in America is a very good thing.

I believe prostitution should be legal and taxed heavily.

I believe marijuana should be legal and taxed even more heavily.

I'm very Pro-Choice.

Halo Combat Evolved is the best shooter ever and the sequels were also very good.

Dragon Age 2 was better than the original.

Oblivion is better than Morrowind.

Fallout 3 & New Vegas are better than Fallout 1 & 2.

Yay Capitalism!

Wow, I agree with everything in this post except for the Dragon Age bit.
OP: I do not believe it should be acted upon, but I view pedophilia as a sexual orientation.

 

[Mcmuffin]

I believe everyone should be chemically sterilized then when they want to have children you must go through a rigorous testing process, IQ, State of Living, etc... once you pass all those tests you can get the reversing agent so you are no longer sterile. i realize this is impossible, but when it it i think it should be done. You may think im a terrible person but i dont enjoy having millions of abused starving children, also the earth is overpopulated,

 

[Barciad]

At the end of WWII, we should have ethnically cleansed Austria of all Germans (just like the Russians did in East Prussia) and invited the Jews to use that as their homeland. In order to defend themselves, the USA could give them some Mustangs that they wouldn't be using any more and the Russians could hand over some excess T-34s.
It would have become a neutral buffer state between East and West. It would have been rather poetic justice to a country that was anything but the victim it later claimed to be. Bluntly speaking, the Austrians were in on it from day one. Unhappy at losing their once powerful empire, they gladly sold their soul away.
Plus, there would be some Palestinians wouldn't get treated like untermensch every day. Everyone's a winner.
Now runs away and cowers somewhere.....

 

[Faladorian]

Well, to go along with the OP, it's about religion.


I think religion is the tar pit thats holding the human race back in the Bronze Age.


Yes, ALL RELIGION. Not just the delightfully irrational and crazy ones like Christianity and Scientology, but ALL OF THEM.

There's no such thing as a benign falsehood. People make decisions based on their beliefs, and if somebody believes something irrational, they're going to make irrational decisions.

Spoiler: Pretty much how I feel about religion:

 

[Hexal6]

i'm an atheist. My opinion is that i dont believe in god, but i do believe in karma. Whenever i say something like this i get hordes of Christians trying to talk at me and convert me or tell me im wrong. I dont discredit religion, i just dont agree with it, im not trying to teach anyone that they shouldn't believe in god. Also, i dont think abortion should be illegal.

 

[lSHaDoW-FoXl]

I'm one of those crazed animal rights fellows that disdains humanism so from the get go a lot of my opinions are at the very least 'controversial'. In most cases I'm at tolerable because I'm not one of those stereotypical vegetarians that go around telling people how 'meat is bad.' Hell, in an ironic twist it's usually the other way around - people are always telling me to eat meat. Oops, I almost went on a rant about hypocrisy and double standards.

But I digress. Here are the controversial things I believe in:

Fur Farming - While on most animal rights issues I'm tolerant this is the one where I get really pissed off and aggressive. You know those crazed religious creationists and homophobes? Yeah, on this topic I act a tad like them. I won't tell you why I'm against fur farming (after all, this is a thread on controversial opinions, not preaching how fur is bad) but I will tell you why it's controversial. While it's easy to have the moral high ground being against a wasteful un needed industry I consider this opinion controversial because I'm against fur farming to an extreme. In fur farming there are no buts, ifs, or ands. My stance is against it on every level, even if it's needed.

Religion - I'm an Atheist and I believe going to church should only be allowed for adults and that it should only be completely optional. Regardless of whether there really is a god or not it's still ultimately brainwashing if a child is basically forced against there will to go somewheres that basically force feeds them on how they 'should' act a certain way . . . or else.

Father Knows Best Parenting - No, he fucking doesn't. Our parents are practically just figureheads that pollute our mind with their own self righteous garbage. In my youth I was a complete and utter brat. And you know what? Despite me being a horrible little dipshit I was still right on some issues and in retrospect I now understand that the beliefs my parents had shouldn't hold anymore weight then the ones I have. All rules should be questioned. If they exist 'just because I said so' then that's simply not a good rule. Besides, every single war out there, was it any more of the fault of the leader who spread bull shit lies or the parents telling their children these lies?

Pirating - I can honestly say I never do this (And fuck you to those that think I do just because I hold an opinion in support of it. Again, fuck you.) but I'm in support of it. I just hate businesses and I hate how they abuse copyright laws, DRM, and all this other bull shit just so they can suck up all the money.

Pedophilia - I have nothing against it. If you want to fuck a child you can fantasize about it all you want. Heck, I won't even care if you fap to boys drawn on paper. As long as everything you do doesn't involve a real child I just don't care.

Prostitution - Legalize it, because pretending it's not there isn't doing shit. If someone wants to offer 'services' then let them. Besides, with it legalized we can have records on them, they can be safer, and they can do their businesses in more appropriate manners.

Pornography - I get pissed off when these morons that no (intentional for irony) absolutely nothing complain about how the women are objectified and they fail to realize that the men in the porno industry (unlike the ladies) got it pretty fucking bad. While female pornstars are appreciated for their bodies male porn stars are basically just a piece of meat going in and out of the lady. And if that's not enough they're paid less, are more likely to get diseases, and did I mention they're paid a lot less?

Politicians - Why the fuck are they paid so much? And while they're paid so much why do we continually complain when we have to pay just a bit more for our services? People, you suck.

P.S - My keyboard blows.

 

[Frankster]

I believe an implementation of a parent license or a child policy is needed globally.
I've heard the argument "reproducing is a fundamental human right" and I think that's BS since it goes beyond your individual right and affects that of your child.

Between overpopulation, parents having kids they are incapable of providing for and just horrible parenting, I believe there are enough valid reasons to at least consider my point of view, what is needed is to sort out the moral kinks and the technicalities of it (for example, id never tell someone to kill their child because they have too many, nah if you give birth to more then is allowed, consider yourself fortunate). How to prevent people from having kids illegally would be a headache...Probably involves some intrusive scientifical procedure which I'm not sure I'd be ok with.

Let's just say I believe in the above, not sure how it would be executed though.

Controversial opinion #2: I believe a good monarchy>democracy any day.
A king has been bought up from birth to do their job, they do not care about pleasing the majority or playing mindgames since they have a personal stake in the country and its future success.
The kings interests is his own and that of his legacy, so would be less susceptible to exterior influences, so for example,lobbies wouldn't be the driving force in politics like they are today (something which undermines the entire political process imo and has been the source of more laws then you'd think...)
The problem is when you have a bad or crappy king....

But seriously I'd rather be ruled by 1 elite bloodline born for the role then be ruled by a class of elites with conflicting agendas and narrow vision.
Also having 1 ruler will enable him to focus on a grand strategy, something a democratically elected leader is unable to do simply because they are only in their post for a few years, and this period is spent fighting other political forces to get their way, ultimately resulting in very little getting done.

 

[The Funslinger]

EDIT: Posting screw up. See below.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

I'm pro-choice and see nothing wrong with abortion

I strongly dislike babies

as well as the people who treat them as trophies, proclaiming "See?! I've accomplished what society expects of me! I am SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOU!!"

I do not believe humans are made for monogamy, and applaud promiscuity

I also do not believe in TRUE LOVE

Nor do I consider relationships to be the ultimate 'state' for a human being

Consequently, I consider marriage to be a load of horse-bollocks

The abrahamic religions should die in a fire

Fuck celebrities

I have little respect for those who drop out of school without a very valid reason

90% of the entertainment today is shit, except with TV and movies, where the number is 99%

Spoiler: Extremely controversial and sick

H-bomb africa to put them out of their AIDS-filled misery, then repopulate it with people who understand the importance of condoms and such

 

[The Funslinger]

Snip

If it interests you, I'll explain the stem cell thing in more detail, though still fairly simply. There are different types of stem cells, in different places. For instance, there are stem cells on the inside of your cheek. That's why if you take a DNA test, you swab the inside of your cheek. When wounds heal, it's stem cells that become the new flesh and such. Thing is, these stem cells are only partially unspecialized. It's the embryonic stem cells that are completely unspecialized and could be used for anything with the right science. That's why they're so important.

Snip

Well to be honest, I couldn't care less if being gay is/isn't a choice. If it isn't, fair enough. If it is, it's certainly not a choice I would begrudge anyone, as I don't see anything wrong with homosexuality on any level.

Well since there's been a thread that asked what opinion you had that others disagreed with, I'm taking it a step further. What opinion do you have that might cause outrage? (game hate when among said game's fanboys not withstanding.) If you feel the need, spoiler it, and put in the spoiler tag who it may offend.

Spoiler: devout religious people

I want to preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of culture and tradition, and for that reason, I do believe that various religious practices and ceremonies should continue due to their traditional and cultural value. However, while tradition can be important to maintain the identity of your people (If you're that kind of person) I do feel that when it comes to logical and scientific decision making, religion should not be factored, and until it is removed as a factor from important decisions like this, humanity is being held back. This can range from decisions of logic and safety, like the use of condoms, to steps in science such as Stem Cell research. While I appreciate the philosophical and moral aspects of this, the religious aspect of such an opinion is only getting in the way of dealing with it reasonably. I would say that the best solution would be some kind of checkbox when donating sperm, or eggs to a fertility clinic. Removing the emotional attachment a pregnant woman might feel towards the life growing inside her will help I realize it sounds a little harsh, and am only stating it as a step in the right direction. If I had to give a historical example, I would point out how several interpretations of religion forbade the dissection of humans, and it was only with the founding of the Greek city of Alexandria that things slowly came about to a more logical point of view.

It isn't my intention to pointlessly offend, and I have tried to state my argument in a reasonable way, suitable for a level headed debate.

Edit: Also, the forum posting button freaked out on me, I don't know if it'll mess stuff up.

Thank you for making this thread... It really shows me just how damned stupid some of these people are.

Uh... You're welcome? If you're talking about the people who use religion to block science, a lot of them were just raised like that, and it's difficult to abandon an entire belief system. That said, there are people who are just infuriating. (see people who use the argument "it's just the theory of evolution", or act condescendingly about it and call it a fairy tale) I'd admit they're dumb as bricks any day. That said, if you want something to laugh at, go and dig up the thread about portal 2 "promoting anal sex", click the link to where it originated from, and read away. It's either huge trolling, or severe delusion.

 

[lSHaDoW-FoXl]

I believe an implementation of a parent license or a child policy is needed globally.
I've heard the argument "reproducing is a fundamental human right" and I think that's BS since it goes beyond your individual right and affects that of your child.

Between overpopulation, parents having kids they are incapable of providing for and just horrible parenting, I believe there are enough valid reasons to at least consider my point of view, what is needed is to sort out the moral kinks and the technicalities of it (for example, id never tell someone to kill their child because they have too many, nah if you give birth to more then is allowed, consider yourself fortunate). How to prevent people from having kids illegally would be a headache...Probably involves some intrusive scientifical procedure which I'm not sure I'd be ok with.

Let's just say I believe in the above, not sure how it would be executed though.

Controversial opinion #2: I believe a good monarchy>democracy any day.
A king has been bought up from birth to do their job, they do not care about pleasing the majority or playing mindgames since they have a personal stake in the country and its future success.
The kings interests is his own and that of his legacy, lobbies wouldn't be the driving force in politics like they are today (something which undermines the entire political process imo and has been the source of more laws then you'd think...)
The problem is when you have a bad or crappy king....

But seriously I'd rather be ruled by 1 elite bloodline born for the role then be ruled by a class of elites with conflicting agendas and narrow vision.
Also having 1 ruler will enable him to focus on a grand strategy, something a democratically elected leader is unable to do simply because they are only in their post for a few years, and this period is spent fighting other political forces to get their way, ultimately resulting in very little getting done.

On opinion #1 - You sir . . . you're insane!

And yet I think your suggestion is brilliant. One flaw in your view though: The government would abuse this law to make money off people who want to be parents. Hell, there'd probably be a fucking parent tax.

Opinion #2 - Disagree. Being born through a 'royal blood' probably puts them in the wrong mind set. Besides, if they live a life of luxury and decadence they probably won't see eye to eye with anyone beneath there own source of income. . . But I do agree with you that democracy sucks.

 

[The Funslinger]

I'm not talking about murder; I'm talking about euthanasia. As an encouraged choice

Because it's way fine to encourage someone to put down their child like a sick puppy. 'Hey, lady, that child of yours looks a little slow. Maybe we should kill it. You know, for their sake. It may be smiling now, but really it's in agony. Do the right thing; kill little Jasmine.'

Oh yeah, that's pretty encouraging.

I've a better idea! Instead of talking about how to help people and save the world, why not, you know, do something about helping people? Maybe not sitting behind a computer preaching the ethics of murdering the disabled and coaching others into a reproductive cycle you find pleasing.

But hey, it's just a thought.

Christ Almighty... Not a 'little slow'.
If your newborn child shows the symptoms of having an utterly debilitating congenital condition, then you should be made aware of the fact that he/she will never be a human in anything other than the taxonomical sense. What you do after that is your choice, but you should not expect unconditional help. The human body is capable of producing multiple children. There's a slim chance that every one will grow up in pain, unless it's a genetic condition, in which case you should think twice about having kids.
Why exactly should everybody pay for the parent's choice to raise a genetic train-wreck?

Nice of you to assume that I preach ethics via a keyboard all day, though. Please list your humanitarian efforts, and I'll try to match them.

Duclinea, if you're going to debate this, at least try and listen to the points the other person makes. I for one studied Euthanasia extensively, and support it, as long as it isn't used in a corrupt sense. Imagine this situation: You had an accident, and were doomed to be bed ridden your entire natural life.

You were going to be tube fed, and have your bowels mechanically emptied. The rest of your life was going to be spent in that hospital ward, lying in that same position day in and day out. Chances are you'd succumb to depression, and it's just cruel to leave someone in that situation. Although it can be argued that a human life is worth more than that of a house pet (we are more intelligent, feel a wider range of emotions and are more sentient, etc.) the reason why we put down animals is because they are in a state of irreversible suffering. If we are above animals, why don't we deserve to make that choice?

As for babies, if you know for a fact that they're going to be living in a state of perpetual suffering, it's more than a little cruel to force them through that ordeal. While it can be argued that they should be able to make that choice, our laws aren't currently geared up for that, and even if they were, it would still be a fairly literal hell of a wait for the child before he/she is considered old enough to make that choice. It's really something you can only understand if you are in such a condition or have a loved one in that condition. The closest you'll come is to go and see people who are disabled in such a way and how it affects them psychologically.

To sum up: you're generalizing putting people out of their misery as killing people with any remote defect like some Aryan race thing. Euthanasia is not Eugenics, though.

 

[MetalDooley]

Gonzo porn should be banned. Watch it and tell me it shouldn't. I was actually listening to an interview from a woman who did a study on the masturbating habits of men and how it affected their sex lives, and the ones who used Gonzo (SeeL Violent, degrading, dangerous porn) tried to bring it in to the bedroom. They found it was harder for them to climax by just have vanilla sex and the women who allowed it (or felt intimidated in to it) felt disgusting afterwards. I'm aware there are fetishes out there, but violent stuff that's out there already is doing more harm than good. (ALSO, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST PORN BEFORE YOU ASK)

"Gonzo porn" is just an term used to describe any porn shot from a first person perspective(similar to FPS games except it's usually a penis in view rather than a gun).The only real difference between gonzo and other porn is the camera perspective.Gonzo =/= violent,degrading etc.

OT: This is probably only controversial to Irish people but I believe that Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK indefinitely

 

[Frankster]

Glad to see some are sympathetic to my first idea I do get quite a bit of "you're a monster! how dare you want to prevent people from having kids" when I express it.
They often cite human rights to me, but I counter the child's human right is every bit as important as them and they are the ones that concern me the most.
Children after all are the future, and giving them a bad start in life is the start of a recipe for disaster.

One flaw in your view though: The government would abuse this law to make money off people who want to be parents. Hell, there'd probably be a fucking parent tax.

Unfortunately...Yes T_T And this will lead to corruption and a circumvention of the law, weakening the whole system and likely forcing harsher rules on those who do follow the law.
Eugh we really are our own worst enemies...

I guess what is needed is a goverment genuinely out for what is best IN THE LONG TERM, and this I believe is one of the natural flaws of our current goverments, we are far too short sighted, which brings me to opinion #2

Aye, monarchy ain't without its possible pitfalls. The kid could grow up to be a spoilt brat and using the country as his personal playpen for 70 years or so....
Let's say the kinks need to be worked out here too

Perhaps royalty need to go through a vigorous trainning scheme, IIRC the most famous and applauded kings of the past often had great teachers during their childhood.
Taught by the wisest men of the land, given a rigorous education in aspects of life most relevant to ruling a nation and being instilled moral values to uphold...
It's a lot to ask from a kid I guess :\

Meh, opinion #2 needs a rework, all I know is I despise how influencable our democratic system is, being pushed around by a few very powerful individuals ><

 

[Newfie]

I think that Apocalypse Now is the best movie that Francis Ford Coppola has ever directed, even more than Godfather Part 2.

 

[SinisterGehe]

I think that all emotions, sexual desires, religion and "stupidity" should be removed from the humanity - in order for human to gain the next step in evolution and harness new powers and expand from world to world. This would be achieved by taking people who will not accept the "fact" and move them to some small continent with only small amount of resources for them to survive (They would stay alive and healthy, but unable to anything else. Let them be there with their religion and sexuality until they realize what fools they have been. I don't want any be killed because of their opinions/views/beliefs/sexuality/lifestyle/whatever.

Also Human is an animal but is advanced as an animal. Animals do not equal Humans. Animals are stupid and driven by their primal instincts and desires- Human can choose how he acts, regardless of hes "animal instincts".