Controversial Questions

Question 1

Which technology should not have been invented?

Answer 1

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 2

Do women have any systemic privilege due to their gender?

Answer 2

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 3

Do men suffer any systemic oppression due to their gender?

Question 4

Of all the beliefs you hold, which is most likely to be considered barbaric in 150 years?

Answer 4

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 5

What political viewpoint is the most difficult for you to empathize with?

Answer 5

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 6

What’s the most controversial political or social opinion you hold among your own social group?

Answer 6

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 7

Which of your beliefs would be the most difficult to change, even in the face of overwhelming evidence?

Answer 7

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 8

Which stereotype is actually pretty accurate?

Answer 8

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 9

You can make a designer baby. Would you rather optimize it primarily for intelligence or for happiness/optimism?

Answer 9

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 10

Do you believe in astrology? What about psychics?

Answer 10

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 11

How do you feel about the #MeToo movement?

Answer 11

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 12

How do you feel about Elon Musk?

Answer 12

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 13

How do you feel about Donald Trump?

Answer 13

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 14

Should drugs be legalized? All, or just some? (which?)

Answer 14

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 15

Who should be the one to pay on a first date?

(And if it is not split evenly on the first date, then after how many dates should the other person start paying half?)

Answer 15

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 16

What is the definition of a woman?

Answer 16

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 17

Should trans women (born men) be allowed to participate in professional women’s sports?

Answer 17

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 18

Should men still be the primary providers in a household?

Answer 18

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 19

Do you think the world is better or worse because of religion?

Answer 19

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 20

Should abortion be legal? If so, in what cases (or all)?

Answer 20

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 21

Should government insurance pay for birth control?

Answer 21

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 22

Do we allow too many immigrants into this country, or not enough? What should be the appropriate immigration restrictions?

Answer 22

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 23

Is polyamory morally wrong? If so, does that mean that all humans who existed before marriage was invented were morally questionable?

Answer 23

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 24

At what age should kids be allowed to use social media?

Answer 24

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 25

What should social media platforms do about racist or bigoted hate speech online?

(Where to draw the line on “freedom of speech”?)

Answer 25

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 26

Should standardized testing be abolished?

Answer 26

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 27

Should cell phones be allowed in classrooms?

Answer 27

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 28

Should teachers or guards have guns in schools for protection?

Answer 28

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 29

Should children be allowed to choose their gender?

What about getting gender-affirming surgery (before, during, or after puberty)?

Answer 29

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 30

Should affirmative action be abolished?

Answer 30

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 31

Should public schools be allowed to teach creationism?

If so, how should it be presented vs. the theory of evolution? How much time should be given to each?

Answer 31

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 32

Should prisoners have the right to vote?

Answer 32

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 33

Should college be free for everyone? (Paid for by taxpayers)

Answer 33

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 34

Should the United States maintain diplomatic relations with countries that violate human rights?

Answer 34

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 35

If there were another mandatory war draft, should women be required to register?

(In the name of modern equality)

Answer 35

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 36

Should the United States prioritize renewable energy over traditional sources?

Answer 36

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 37

Should commercial whaling be banned? If so, why not ban hunting deer or fishing?

Answer 37

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 38

Should gambling be legal? If so, should there be any restrictions?

Answer 38

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 39

Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?

What about protein powder? Or caffeine before a game? Where to draw the line?

Answer 39

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 40

Should schools ban any books?

Or could all books be a good source of educational discussion, even if they are inappropriate or morally wrong?

Answer 40

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 41

Should there be a term limit for elected officials?

Answer 41

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 42

Should this country require a background check for all gun purchases?

Answer 42

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 43

Should this country adopt a national gun registry system?

Answer 43

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 44

Should the death penalty ever be used? If so, for what crimes? And for juveniles?

Answer 44

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 45

What should be the rules for transsexuals using public bathrooms?

And does it matter if they’ve had gender reassignment surgery yet or not? If so, who should “check”?

Answer 45

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 46

Should there be a minimum wage?

What if the higher minimum wage increases unemployment, by making it harder for some companies to hire more workers?

Answer 46

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)

Question 47

Should facial recognition technology be banned in public places?

Some say that the advanced video camera technology helps police solve crimes, find missing/kidnapped persons, and find suspects on the run.

Others say it is a violation of privacy and a risk of government overreach.

Answer 47

(Remember to be respectful of others’ views, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions. It is perfectly ok to pass on a question!)