What’s your most controversial opinion? **Read OP** **Mod Warning in Post #8023**

Ozymandius2011

While I am a secularist, I think the Church does some good work, like charity, that the government would otherwise have to pay for. This deserves acknowledgement, as does it flaws.

El_Duderino 09

I think the standard of discussion and "debate" has gone to the dogs in recent years. I was shocked to see people describe Charlie Kirk as a good debater and I've been wondering what people think good debate is. I think they mean someone who starts with a conclusion and is completely unmovable from that position even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

I see people on social media say they "debated" their liberal/conservative parent and I wonder why they debated instead of just discussing it with them. Kirk and the media "debates" are not about getting to the truth of a topic. They're about promoting your point of view at all costs. As if you're a barrister arguing a case to the exclusion of any evidence that doesn't suit.

Two people with differences of opinions, rehashing the same talking points they see every night on the news, is not a debate. It's halfwits role-playing the culture wars game as if it's important.

silliussoddius

I used to see those type debate videos pop up in YouTube where someone would get destroyed, skewered, obliterated, left speechless, whatever you’re having yourself etc.

They were usually little more than finding a moron and passing them of as the rest of their entire political opponents.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876837#Comment_123876837

Exactly that! I've seen them too and I presumed everyone knew they were for entertainment. It genuinely never occurred to me that some people thought that was good "debate". We live in different worlds from people who think that's good debate.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123875928#Comment_123875928

The government pays for it anyway!

But the workers get paid less and the service users are given charity instead of rights.

randd1

You should have to pass a citizenship test with demonstrating knowledge about how our government works, our laws, and our civil rights/civil responsibilities and basic general knowledge about the country every 6 years in order to be eligible to vote.

There's too many ignorant and just plain stupid people who have no clue about anything voting for no reason other than what their social media content drives them to vote.

We need an informed public, not a Twitter driven public.

silliussoddius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123888966#Comment_123888966

This isn’t necessarily a new thing, the electorate of the past seemed to be determined if you grew up in a Fianna Fail house etc., as politics in Ireland is very parochial maybe give more responsibility to local councils so there may be more “consequences “ to votes.

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123888966#Comment_123888966

Various means of restricting voting rights have been tried in the past, all with, let's say, undesirable results, sometimes resulting in violent reversal of said measures.

Universal vote and representative democracy are not perfect by any means, they have flaws including the possibility to vote in a autocratic regime that can't be voted out, but they were proven to be the best we can do. We are living in the best part of the world mostly because of them. You will appreciate European culture, freedom and democracy so much more when you'll be in a place where there's none of it.

z80CPU

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876837#Comment_123876837

Sadly not confined to debates in Irish Politics though - this style is used in eviscerations / assassinations too:

Pat Rabbitte used this skewering obliteration on Pat Carey live on Primetime way back over 14 years ago. When the TROIKA were in Ireland.

Jesus Christ. I still have no respect for Pat Rabbitte even if he was on the right track about Carey

randomcorkman

No chance I know but wouldn't it be hilarious if the Nobel committee gave a second peace prize to Barack Obama tomorrow. I think the adjudicated sex offender's head could actually explode.

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123890779#Comment_123890779

After being awarder to terrorists like Mandela and Arafat and monsters like Mother Theresa? Well, in any case Trump will get his next year if the peace holds.

randomcorkman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123890863#Comment_123890863

Hahahaha. Yes, let's give it to Bibi's little boy. The cult never fails to amuse.

randomcorkman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123890779#Comment_123890779

A Venezuelan opposition leader wins. A few more fishing boats going to be bombed in retaliation tonight.

Hoop66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123890779#Comment_123890779

Particularly if they noted that it was in recognition of his unusually large penis.

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123893645#Comment_123893645

Then she goes and dedicates it to Trump, they've given to some very questionable people so if he ever won it he'd be in good company

fergiesfolly

Nobel Peace Prize shouldn't be awarded every year. It should only be awarded when an individual has shown a long term commitment to a lasting peace and be an inspiration to others. Having to find "someone" to give it to every year devalues it's prestige.

JM2300

Eckart Tolle's message is the same as the message of Jesus Christ. The presence and consciousness he speaks of is the God and holy spirit that Jesus spoke of. That's what God is, the universal presence within.

The ego that Tolle speaks of can be thought of as the barrier to God. This is why Jesus spoke of the importance of forgiveness, something the ego can't handle. This is why pride is a sin, pride is a barrier to God as it's a construct of the ego. It brings suffering. Eckhart Tolle and Jesus Christ wanted people to be present and eschew the ego to feel the beauty of the present moment, which is God, and to avoid unnecessary suffering brought on by the ego.

Iscreamkone

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123896471#Comment_123896471

The woo is strong in this one

Hasbaralies

Adherents to modern Democratic/Capitalist(US type) systems are either total morons or sociopaths wanting to own the morons, Socialism requires a very nuanced and intelligent outlook, that's why is less successful in the age of Trump

JM2300

Monster's University is an excellent movie.

JM2300

What is the best example of socialism being successful?

Arseboxing

I'd have more sympathy for Ian Watkins than I would for Charlie Kirk.

Watkins was a serious drug addict who grew up in one of the worst towns in Britain who was consumed by his addiction and likely fell into the depths of human depravity as a result of that addiction.

Kirk had no such addiction issues and simply chose to be a shameless propagandist for the depths of human depravity. He was true believer in those depths of human depravity and his entire act was no better than Joseph Goebbels.

silliussoddius

Ooooh.

The_Kew_Tour

The lads on the "flotilla" are not hero's like I seen so many say. Many of them did it for their own gain. Clapping and getting hugs at the airport and all happy and smiling.

The word hero is not appropriate to them and is a dishonour to true people who risk their lives to help others.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900459#Comment_123900459

Didn't they risk their lives to help others?

The_Kew_Tour

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900463#Comment_123900463

Risk their lives? No. No they didn't.

kowloonkev

Selfie Boat was just a perfect and hilarious description. I really wish South Park would do an episode on these people.

Jack Daw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900463#Comment_123900463

They barely brought any food at all, seemed to be more supplies to keep themselves fed than there was to feed people in gaza.

They allowed themselves to be taken without hassle and have their boats confiscated, real heroes would have ignore the Israelis and tried find a way around them so they could actually smuggle aid in, admittedly doing so would have been foolish and may have got themlselves killed but that is what heroism is supposed to be about , taking risk to help others, not taking zero risk and helping no-one.

It was just a big jolly up for a load of self important "activists" .

fortwilliam

They would have been dreadfully disappointed if they weren't "detained" by the Israeli forces, that was their whole aim along with wheeling out the media whore Thunberg for the likes & dinner party stories they will live off for the rest of their lives.

Heroes?.. no. self indulgent unhelpful distractions.

randomcorkman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900459#Comment_123900459

Like the shitheads roaming Portland in uniform?