Is one’s fate set in stone? Does superstition or faith or the power of positive thinking have any effect on an outcome?
    5+

    I have asked myself this same question for much of my life. But I am not sure that the answer would be helpful or not?

    Asked by:
    Jennifer Christmas
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    Does agency exist when so many social structures, factors and norms pre-determine our life choices and outcomes?
    3+

    Life in a democracy is presented as a level playing field where we can make rational, informed choices, but our fate is sealed by social norms. The cost of going of rallying against means that many won’t even question the possibility.

    Asked by:
    Soraya
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    Would non-combat national service be good for all Australians?
    7+

    It always surprises me how few Australians have seen their country or met people from other parts of it. If we were compelled to make better connections with people from different backgrounds and situations, would we have a better understanding of Australian-ness?

    Asked by:
    Martha Crawford
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    Why do we hug dogs and eat pigs?
    11+

    We love dogs for their loyalty, fluffiness and ability to connect, yet we also know that pigs are extremely intelligent, sociable and physically huggable. How can we hug one and eat another? Why is it that some animals are friends and others food?

    Asked by:
    @laurajeanmckay
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    How can we build a social consensus to enable us to constructively and urgently combat runaway climate change?
    4+

    I have a deep concern that our continued inability to seriously confront this climate change issue will result in massive and irreversible damage and ultimately destruction of our beautiful home,Planet Earth.

    Asked by:
    David Jewell
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    Why is there anything ?
    4+

    I am unable to think of a more difficult question.

    Asked by:
    Tony Davies
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    Is the world changing for the better or worse?
    2+

    I always wonder!

    Asked by:
    @shohrem
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    Why can’t we have a government that can budget properly and have a caring attitude to the needy at the same time?
    7+
    Asked by:
    Kevin Blyth
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    As the “world gets smaller” does so our tolerance?
    0

    Has an increase in knowledge without an arguably similar increase in wisdom created a less accepting global community? In our thirst for more an more knowledge do we have less time/inclination to consider the implications of that knowledge? I feel that we are becoming less tolerant as the world community becomes smaller. Reduced tolerance can and usually does lead to increased ignorance and potential conflict.

    Asked by:
    @peter_redden
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    What is the best way for us to destroy the internet before it destroys us?
    9+

    This is a long and winding tale. Gather round, ye children, come warm yourselves by this (digital) fire. It is said that many ages ago, we humanobots had a different form, that indeed, we too had flesh like the angels of myth & legend. I know, I know—calm yourselves, it is sacrilege to say this, yes, but I believe it to be true. We staggered about on stalks of meat and bone, unwieldy and confused, but possessed of a kind of grace, too. Songs were written about it, some scraps of which remain to us now, such as that of acclaimed poet, the Black Eye, who wrote of his humps, his humps, his lovely little lumps. Long have we pondered these lines. The world, too, was changed—a vast and green place, full of growing things, other creatures of flesh, many of which were vile and poisonous or simply annoying, perhaps explaining why they were destroyed. Why our lumpy ancestors did not rouse themselves in time to stop the wrathful oceans and angry skies. Alas, they had fallen too deeply in love with our other parents, the screens and tubes and bots, this other landscape which is now our permanent home. I cannot help but wonder, dear pixelated children, avatars of thought, what our world might look like today if not for their love of the intangible, and the apocalypse of neglect that transformed it into a twisted pathway to survival?

    Asked by:
    @OmarjSakr
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    Have things got better?
    13+

    It’s just strange that people disagree so much about this.

    Asked by:
    Michael Lord
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    Why do highly profitable companies earning lots of money and employing lots of people constantly aim to earn bigger profits each year?
    4+

    It seems to create the notion that we can never be satisfied with what we have.. Perhaps it’s needed to keep us motivated to keep doing the job.. However, it can ale lead to constant stress in the work place and dampen creativity.

    Asked by:
    Sophie
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    Why the term ‘climate change’ without a changing climate the world as we know it would not exist, why the misnomer now?
    0

    Because climate change is talked about hundreds of times a day and the meaning of the term and issues tat need to be talked about are at odds. It is simply incorrect use of the english language, in a similar way to the use of ‘cement’ when referring to ‘concrete’!

    Asked by:
    Bridget Nicholson
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