Sarah Louise jumps on the "lazy debating" bandwagon! (General)

Member Name: Sarah_Louise

Product:	General
Date:	29/06/04 (302 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some of you may agree

Disadvantages: .... and no doubt some will disagree!

Heil Jill Murphy for coming up with this ?challenge? (of sorts!) Who was I to turn this opportunity down? Here?s what she had to say....

?I thought we might all like to play lazy debating. So here are a few issues for you to think about - and write about. By filling this in, we get to distil our views into just one paragraph. I rather like this idea, because I am a lazy opinionator, who doesn't like to plan or research, but just likes to type as the mood takes her. I have lots of strong opinions on current debates, but I'm just too lazy to sit and properly structure an entire piece on any of them. A few gut reactions in one paragraph is a format that suits me fine. So, here goes??



● Do you believe in life after death?

I would love to say that I did believe in life after death. I'd love to be able to believe wholeheartedly. Having such a strong belief in this topic must be very reassuring, being able to live your life "knowing" you'll never actually die...

Sadly I can't. I do believe that there MAY be something after death but I don't believe this with 100% certainty.

I'm fascinated with the whole field though (hence I started a paranormal research group to look into paranormal phenomena scientifically.

http://www.nwpr.org.uk

[sorry but I couldn't resist a personal plug!]).

As of yet, I've not experienced/got evidence of anything that proves life after death with any certainty. We have however captured some strange footage (genuinely strange, not just the orb cr*p you see on the TV!) There is certainly a lot more to this world than meets the eye and a lot is (as yet) unexplainable. But is this life after death? Time will tell I suppose!


● Should smoking be banned in public places?

I don't think so, no. Despite not being a smoker myself, I have no problem with anyone else smoking. (A
lthough I'd much rather my mum didn't for her own health). I must admit, I don't enjoy breathing in other peoples' smoke in a public place but as long as they don't go out of their way to breath in your general direction (e.g. enforcement of "smoking" and "non smoking" zones in Pubs, restaurants, etc) then I don't see that it should be banned.


● Is capital punishment wrong?

This is a tricky one. I'm not sure what I believe on this one to be honest. On the one hand I'd say "yes" while on the other I verge towards "no". Of course it?s not a pleasant thought to think of people being killed for committing a crime (often 'petty' crimes in other countries too). But at the end of the day, imagine someone murdered your mother, father, brother, sister or children. The murder was awful, you saw it with your own eyes. You only just escaped death yourself. Would you not want to see that person punished in the harshest way possible? I know I would. I wouldn't feel guilty about it either. So long as I knew with 100% certainty that the person being punished was the guilty party.


● Should cannabis be legalized?

Yes! I've never tried it personally but I don't see any harm in legalizing it. Much like cigarettes and alcohol. It's a form of "recreation" in the 21st century so why not go the whole hog and legalize it? Hell, just legalize the whole drugs scene. There are ALWAYS going to be people using drugs, no matter how dangerous they may be or indeed whether they are illegal or not. People will always overdose and indeed die from this "recreation" but by legalizing them, I fail to see how this would prove to be any more problematical as it is currently. People die all the time through smoking related illnesses, in drunken brawls and other such similar forms of ?recreation?. I dare say the dr
ugs scene is no more dangerous. It would be less dangerous if it was all made legal as it?s the dealers you have to be careful of these days.

Sensible use/distribution/rules associated with drug usage (e.g. not allowing people to inject themselves in public places for instance) would be sufficient in my opinion.

Those who want to try drugs will try them whether they are illegal or not.


● Is beauty only skin deep?

Hell no! Traditionally "beautiful" people may well be indeed beautiful and pleasing to the eye but at the end of the day, would you want to spend the rest of your life surrounded by people who are as thick as two short planks and extremely vain, spend ALL their time shopping for make up and have no interest in anything other than Maybeline?

Of course such "beautiful" people can be intelligent and have lovely personalities but the same goes for less "beautiful" people too. Personality is what counts in the long-run.


● Do animals have rights?

Of course they do!! This is something I feel EXTREMELY strongly about. Having been a HUGE animal lover all of my life, I really do find it difficult to comprehend how people can treat animals cruely. Deliberate cruelty is a major pet-hate of mine. I really can't begin to explain what I'd like to do to such people that inflict such cruelty on animals. (Lets just say it could not be aired on TV!)

When it comes to animal testing, I disagree with it. I completely disagree with testing makeup, shampoo, washing powder, etc, etc. on animals. I also disagree with testing drugs and medicines on animals. I'm not saying that we shouldn't aim to test such products in one way or another before applying them to humans but I really don't think animals should be used for this purpose. Not only is it cruel to the animals involved but it is also (largely) a pointless routine.
The vast majority of drugs testing is useless on animals because (quite logically), animals and their metabolisms are VERY different to that of humans. Granted, chimpanzee's are 97% the same as us genetically but their appearance should be enough to show that each % counts for a dramatic difference. (After all, we don't look ALL that similar to chimpanzee's do we? And that?s just the outside appearance!!)

Another large gripe I have with such testing is the doses used. Why give a guinea pig 1000 times the daily dosage limit (recommended for humans) to see if it harms the guinea pig? OF COURSE IT WILL! It you're giving it 1000 times the daily dosage limit recommended for humans then it will MANGLE the guinea pig. Ok, so you've proved that it's not a good idea to over-dose on the product but what have you achieved? All drugs will do us harm if we overdose on them so what is the point in testing the theory time and time again?

With advances in science, it would be far better to test the products on what they are going to be used by. I.e. humans. I know I'd volunteer if the opportunity arose. I'd not really have any qualms about dying through such testing because we'd be closely monitored. They'd not overdose us by 1000 times the daily limit just to see what it does to us then, would they? Of course not. Because we're not animals after all, are we? <rolls eyes> (sorry but I feel strongly about this!)


● Does Britain still need a monarchy?

Ummm, I've never been sure on how to answer this one. I don't really have any strong feelings either way to be honest. The monarchy don't do me any harm so I see no harm in them staying around for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, what have they done for us exactly? (Lately I mean).


● Should fox hunting be banned in England and Wales?

In a word, YES. As I'm sure you ha
ve gathered from the previous animal question, I really hate animal cruelty of any kind. And ripping a fox to pieces is a form of cruelty. I don't care how many huntsmen and women tell me that the hounds kill the fox quickly and that it doesn't suffer. I really don't believe this AT ALL.

Indeed, not just fox hunting should be banned. All hunting for recreation and "commercialised" hunting should be banned. I don't have a problem with a farmer shooting an animal that is deemed to be a pest if it is going to kill his/her livestock but any other kind of hunting should be banned.

The whole fox hunting field is a bit of a farce really. Like I say, I see no problem in killing the odd fox if it is being a pest but claiming that they are doing the nation good because foxes are pests is just stupid. Since when did 20 or so riders, chasing after a fox with a pack of dogs, letting the dogs rip it to pieces and then smearing the poor animals' blood over the riders do the nation any good? The pests still remain. Of course there is the theory of "survival of the fittest" and that hence a lot of the animals killed in such hunting instances are older or ill foxes but NOT all.

It's just a ludicrous form of "pest control" for horse riders to have a bit of fun with.

I'm a horse rider myself. In fact the yard that I help out at (and have done for 8 years now) has some horses that go hunting. The yards' owner and two of her children participate in hunting occasionally. It's one thing that I refuse to participate in. (NB. for the majority of the time they don't hunt though, it?s not predominantly a hunting yard).

And do they hate foxes or think they're pests or take joy out of seeing animals being ripped to shreds? NO. The only reason they go hunting is because of the enjoyment factor from the riding perspective. I must admit, galloping over open c
ountryside, jumping over hedges, trotting through a village with a load of other horses, through streams, etc, etc. would be great fun and indeed a real adrenaline rush. I'd do it myself, if it weren't for the outcome....

So they just do it for the fun factor. I?m sure there are many others who are the same. So what exactly is the point in killing a fox at the end of it all?


● Should Britain join the Euro?

I don't know to be honest. I don't know enough about the whole Euro debate to answer this properly to be honest. I have no strong feelings either way.


● Should all fire arms be banned for private use?

No. My dad owns fire arms (and has done most of his life!) He was brought up on a farm and so has been brought up around guns. He developed an interest in them at an early age and as soon as he was old enough to own a gun himself, he trained for his fire arms certificate and bought a gun. He now owns a couple. He's a responsible person though and keeps them locked away securely. (You have to have the Police out to check your house and where/how you plan to keep them so they're perfectly happy with this). He uses the guns to shoot at targets in a local gun club and he also uses it on a friends' farm. (Much to my disgust. He knows I disagree with it but he doesn't listen!)

So, I can of course only speak for my father. I see no reason to ban them. He's not done anyone any harm. Shooting animals that are pests on a farm is useful to the farmer and shooting at targets at a local gun club is a hobby. Just like me and my horse riding. Should I be banned from keeping a horse?

However, I do think there should be tighter/stricter controls on fire arms. It IS easy to gain a certificate and indeed purchase a gun. It should be made harder in my opinion. This would, if nothing else, put off the yobs that obtain guns for a bit of &quo
t;fun". As for those idiots who go around shooting wildlife (of the non-pest variety) or indeed peoples pets or people they come across in the street for "a laugh". Well the same should be done to them in my opinion. Simple as that.


● What is your opinion on legal prostitution?

I see no harm in it to be honest. Much like the cannabis question earlier. It's always going to occur so why no legalize it? Who is it harming? (NB. of course those participating in prostitution are taking risks but who else does it harm?) On the whole they don't do anyone any harm other than themselves. (Naturally sexually transmitted diseases are liable to spread). But they'd do that now when prostitution is illegal anyway.

With legalization (just like drugs), the industry could be regulated properly.


● Are we living in rip off Britain?

Definitely! (Or so I'm told!) I've never actually been abroad (yet!) but I've heard all about prices abroad. I think its disgusting the prices we're charged for practically everything.

My friend has recently moved over to the US to work as a groom, she's been telling me about how much cheaper everything is over there. I'm seriously considering joining her!


● What is your opinion on pornography?

Again, I have no problem with it personally. What people get up to in their own time is of no consequence to me. Looking at pornography doesn't generally do anyone any harm. And taking part in pornography - well I suppose it?s a job! Each to their own on that one I suppose.

Child pornography or that where one (or more!) people are not consenting is not right though.


● Is genetically modified food right?

Technically I could write a whole essay on this! Having studied A-level Environmental Science (I did my exams yesturday!) We've studied GM
crops in quite a bit of detail, looking at the moral and ethical aspects to it as opposed to the financial aspect. I also studied A-level Biology two years ago so I've also studied it back then from a biology angle.

So....

Q: Is genetically modified food right?
A: I don't know! (Of course that wouldn't get my 30 marks in my exam(s)).

However, the fact is, NO one knows for sure.

GM crops are still new to this world. We do not know what effects GM crops will have on the natural environment. We do not know how many knock-on effects such meddling with nature will have on the environment. We don't know what they will do if GM crops cross pollinate with non-GM crops. We also don't know what would happen if the 10th generation of GM crops will not suddenly start developing some chemical that is toxic to humans. We don't know what such crops will do to our insides in the long run.

Until that day comes, no one will know for sure whether GM crops are right or not. Until that day, we can only speculate.

However I'd personally edge on the side of caution, we all know what feeding the remains of sheep and other carcasses to cattle can do....

And who would have thought the effects would have been that dramatic?

Time will tell I guess....

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