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1. Is your internet persona different from your real one?
Yes, but there is definitely quite a bit of overlap. Having been on the internet most of my life (forums, MMOs, etc.), I feel like the two meld together more and more.
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2. If religion attempts to create order by intimidation and fear, which results in repressed anger, and repressed anger can turn into violence, does this mean that religion is the antithesis of order?
Not sure how you can say definitively that religions attempts at creating order result in repressed anger. I've never had an inherent problem with the idea of religion, or even having a set of beliefs. I think that it's humanity, people, corruption, that cause the violence and chaos in this world. Religion is not the antithesis of order (consider Catholicism - you can't get much more order than that). No, I think humanity uses order and systems to promote their own personal agendas, which leads to chaos. Humanity, I think, is the antithesis of order, which is why we spend so much time trying to place order around us ( government, law, games with rules, lines of succession, leaders, followers, etc.).
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3. Is it more “humane” to execute someone than to keep them locked away in a prison or asylum for 20, 30, 40, more years? What if you could choose between say, 40 years or execution?
An interesting question. I've always felt that execution is a kind thing...the easy way out. It's better to let someone live their natural course so they can think about all the mistakes and evil's they committed.
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4. Are apparent physical and mental genetic differences between races generally downplayed?
Yes, because it's politically incorrect to highlight them. Cultural differences are also downplayed. Fact: Black people are more athletic in general Fact: Asian culture lends itself to higher academic achievement and so on...these differences cannot be disputed, but are often overlooked because we want a color-blind society. I, for one, feel that we can have a color blind society while still acknowledging that cultures and races each have different strengths.
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5. If everything we do is driven by our subconscious need to elevate ourselves over as many rivals as possible with procreation as the ultimate goal, is monogamy (and resultant religious rules against fornication and adultery) unnatural; a man-made invention to even the playing field for the inferior?
An interesting concept. I think monogamy is a man made idea, but it is now necessary for society to function.
What do you mean Azelma?Back when we were all dumb apes, we were a nomadic society. Strength was in numbers...so screwing as many people as possible was advantageous. Get the women pregnant, procreate...more kids available for fighting, farming, hunting, whatever. Everyone took care of the kids, everyone worked together.
However, as this whole system of commerce developed (read: capitalism), raising a child became a lot more COSTLY. Why monogamy is necessary now is simple. Think about how much money, time, etc. it takes to raise a child today. You need two functioning (often working) parents to generally have the best chance to raise a child without incident. Even in cases of divorce, one parent will help care for the child through child support. Think about the tax breaks married people get.
Now monogamy is not for the inferior, but for the economically superior. Think of how the gap continues to widen between rich and poor. The rich are marrying the rich, and having kids.
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6. Why the need to increase the penalties for a crime labeled a “hate” crime? Why not just choose the greater punishment and make that the penalty for all crimes of that type (murder, assault, whatever)?
This is just another manifestation of white guilt. Affirmative action, Title IX, the NFL's Rooney Rule, and yes..."hate crimes". The atrocities that were committed to so many races over the years can never be forgotten or fixed. However, we can put laws in place that say "well, since he killed a black guy...it was even WORSE" It just makes us feel good. A bandaid on the open gash that is the history of race relations in the United States.
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7. Do certain words seem more distasteful when a girl says them?
Yeah, because girls are supposed to be more ladylike...less boorish.
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8. Was the U.S. victory at the Battle of Midway more important to defeating the Japanese in WW2 than the development of the atomic bomb?
This could almost be considered a chicken/egg question. However, in my opinion, the atomic bomb won that war. Nothing else would have stopped Japan (save a full-on, successful invasion of the country).