Positions

Microsoft should not purchase TikTok due to its Chinese connections

This position holds that military conscription should not be banned. It argues conscription serves a nation's security and welfare, gives recruits useful skills and discipline, fosters national unity and pride, and promotes equality by drawing citizens of all backgrounds into shared service.

This position holds that animal milk is unhealthy. It argues that milk can harm rather than help bone health, that farming chemicals end up in it, that many people are lactose-intolerant or allergic, and that it is high in saturated fat.

This position holds that millennials are not lazy but, if anything, hard workers. It argues they take less time off than older generations, build careers around what they love, and tend to value finding purpose in their work over simply maximising how much they earn.

Claims that ALL pornography is harmful to minors are uninformed. It is natural for young people to explore their sexuality; pornography is one way they can do that.

This position holds that Moby-Dick is not worth reading. It argues that the novel is pompous, boring and often incomprehensible to the average reader — unnecessarily verbose and puzzling — and that it is no longer relevant to modern readers.

While money may facilitate and even be a driving factor behind the realisation of unethical acts, it is in no way the principal cause. What is telling is the attitude towards money that the individual, who hopes to attain money, has.

This position holds that morality is absolute, not relative. It argues that an objective moral order exists beyond any particular time, place or culture — grounded variously in God's will, the consistency of core moral standards across history, or Kant's categorical imperative.

Morality relieves more suffering because morality allows others to depend on you and vice versa, it makes everyone feel needed in some way, as well as the fact that for religious people, having strong morals can lead to a pleasant experience after they pass away. Strong morality can also lead to altruism, which can physiologically cause happiness.

This position holds that multicultural literature should not be added to the high-school curriculum. It argues that standard syllabuses already offer enough variety, that the English canon is largely not multicultural, and that teachers may struggle to teach traditions they stand outside of.

This position holds that Narendra Modi is not a terrorist. It argues that he was investigated over the 2002 Gujarat riots and cleared, pointing to the Indian Supreme Court's finding of no wrongdoing as evidence that the charge against him does not stand.

While group and tribal identities have existed for centuries, the particular phenomenon of "nationalism" is most accurately viewed as unique to the nation state.

This position holds that Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK. It argues that unification would reward the IRA and risk the hard-won peace, that Brexit showed the dangers of change by referendum, that most Northern Irish people want to stay, and that the cost would burden Ireland.

Nuclear weapons are incredibly difficult to make. The engineering needed to make nuclear weapons, combined with heavy regulation of nuclear material by oversight committees and other countries makes the proliferation of nuclear weapons extremely unlikely.

Awards are usually granted based on set criteria by the award-granting organization. It is their decision on how clear and open they want to be with those guidelines.

While the idea of selling birth control over the counter may sound like a good idea, there are many potential health risks. Making birth control available over the counter may actually lead to more unwanted pregnancies, as well as other health risks. No drug is risk free, and women should consult a medical professional before taking any form of birth control.

Wealth inequity continues to grow, authoritarian rulers enforce social divides, war continues, and poverty abounds. There is progress in many parts of the world, but society is not becoming more egalitarian.

Giving money to panhandlers is not a crime, as it rests upon the donators' judgment to decide whether or not to give them money and the panhandler's decision on what to spend the money on.

Paper books are not disappearing, because book lovers still appreciate having a physical book in hand to hold, flip through, and read. Some people find it easier to take notes in a physical book, and some books even become valuable collectors pieces (especially if autographed, which can't be done in digital books). Digital books may be more convenient and save space, but real book lovers will want to dedicate a special place for their favorite books.

Parlia maps out the opinions of the world, and while mapping out local opinions would be interesting, it involves expanding both the site and its resources. Parlia's focus is on global and large-scale human issues.

This position holds that Paul McCartney is not dead. It treats the famous 'Paul is dead' rumour as one of pop's most persistent hoaxes—born in a heyday of conspiracy theories and perhaps fuelled by the Beatles themselves—noting the very-much-living star still tours.

To reduce sexual orientation to genetics or hormones reduces it to a binary outcome. Sexuality is not binary, it is fluid and no genetic explanation has been able to accomodate this.

Charisma is a social skill that is learned, just as language is learned. Without proper socialization, it doesn't matter what DNA a person has; they will not be able to communicate effectively or be charismatic if their social skill are not properly nurtured. People aren't born with charisma; it is learned.

This position holds that people cannot communicate through telepathy. It argues that no known physical force could carry thoughts between brains — the brain's fields fade within centimetres — and that every experiment claiming to show telepathy has, on scrutiny, proved methodologically flawed.

This position holds that people respond to audiobooks and printed books in the same way. It argues that a book is fundamentally its words: since both formats deliver the identical text — the same story, characters and ideas — whether it reaches the mind by eye or ear makes no difference.

This position holds that people should not switch to electric cars for the environment. It argues that despite their green image, the cost and effort are not worth it, that better non-powered transport exists, and that generating the electricity itself still relies on fossil fuels.

The story of Mulan is an epic tale of courage, strength, and family honor. In addition, people should support stories that feature a strong woman lead and celebrate Asian representation in media.

This position holds that plastic cannot simply be replaced with eco-friendly options. It argues that no known material matches plastic's versatility, that it is irreplaceable in vital uses such as medical equipment, and that such campaigns often ignore disabled people who rely on straws.

Polar bears are a well-known animal that are commo representatives of artic regions. Recently, there is a belief that polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct soon. However, with the right plan, polar bears won’t be lost to time.

This position holds that political correctness does not harm society. It argues that PC norms protect marginalised and disadvantaged groups, guard against hatred and bigotry, and—since language is formative—encourage the responsible use of free speech rather than restricting it.

This position holds that politics, not religion, is the primary driver behind ISIS. It argues the group uses religion merely as a medium for goals that are political at heart, that fighters are drawn by wider geopolitical battles, and that recruitment hinges on personal circumstances.

Plural marriages should not be legalised as they can have severe consequences for the persons involved and also the state. For example, wives are often mistreated in plural unions. What’s more, the state would have to introduce legislation to ensure all aspects of marriage are fair and that plural unions are afforded similar rights to two-person marriages.