What’s it all about, Alfie?
    2+

    I have always found it to be a most poignant song/question and I wanted to ask it again in a milieu where it would be wrestled with a tad. With the 24 hour news cycle constantly informing us yet increasingly we have no clue as to what is really going on in the world.
    is viewing events the best way for us to understand the world? Or should we be looking deeper?

    Asked by:
    Tess Maskell
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    Are cockroaches attracted to human tears, and if so, why?
    4+

    I need to know, and so does the whole of humanity. What exciting ramifications might come from an affirmative?

    Asked by:
    Terry O'Loughlin
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    Does ‘good taste’ really exist?
    8+

    CouldĀ the legitimisation of the guilty pleasure mean the end of judgmental music criticism (good riddance!), or are new hierarchies of taste emerging?

    Asked by:
    @mrconnorobrien
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    Why doesn’t the school age start date follow the calendar year?
    1+

    Only in Tasmania does January 1 remain as the school start ‘cut off’ date. There’s a variety of dates (30 April, 30 June, 1 May) in the other states. This produces classes with kids with different birth years and different sports age groups. Is this truly beneficial or just confusing?
    The old WA and Qld model of starting in the calendar year the kids turned 5 seemed simple and logical. In that old model, finishing the year they turned 17 helped keep alcohol out of schools and moved kids into careers, jobs and life earlier. Has the change to the school age model of ages 5-18, beginning in the first quarter demonstrably improved our national education standard?

    Asked by:
    Cathy Cornish
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    Cheryl Strayed: What gave you the strength and power to take those first steps onto the PCT?
    6+

    Because I’m trying to take the first steps on an exercise regimen for the first time and first steps in writing a book and first steps in renovating parts of our house and it’s also a source of interest to me where people draw strength, for a lot of aspects of life.

    Asked by:
    Terry
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    Should one use accepted scientific facts or your intuition to form an opinion about a person or issue?
    5+

    Many people form opinions not based on the facts. Women are often told to trust their intuition to empower themselves. Opinions not based on the facts lead to actions. These actions can harm.

    Asked by:
    Sylvie Leber
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    How can we improve our powers of persuasion?
    3+

    We seem to spend a lot of time telling people they’re wrong (and even stupid) – in politics, in the media, on social forums. Nobody ever seems to change their mind. It all seems a bit boring and pointless. Can we change the way we communicate and actually have an effect?

    Asked by:
    @pinknantucket
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    Is gender equality possible?
    15+

    Because I am a woman. All women suffer because of gender inequality. Both men and women would gain if gender equality was a reality.

    Asked by:
    Kathryn Anthony
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    Why are children’s illustrators not considered to be real artists
    5+

    I teach, research and write in this area. Children’s illustrations are often people’s first encounter with art.

    Asked by:
    @bespokeshespoke
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    Why isn’t it mandatory for MPs to use the public services (schools, healthcare etc) they are charged with providing for the rest of us? Wouldn’t that improve them lickity split?
    21+

    I believe that public institutions should be protected and invested in, and that those in power could use some further incentive to provide for this.

    Asked by:
    @tashludowyk
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    How can we restructure the economy so that a living wage is no longer labour-based?
    12+

    What with robots, computers, and all the other “help” we’re creating, not to mention jobs going offshore and/or “cheap labor” coming in from offshore, not to mention whole industries (manufacturing, mining) imploding, it looks as if it won’t be long before a goodly portion of the jobs will have disappeared. When three-quarters of working people can’t find a job in countries like Australia, surely we can’t rely on the old solutions of throwing them (us) a little dole money and calling them (us) bludgers (or leaners, if we’re being polite). Is it even possible to restructure the economy so that people can live well without working (or inherited wealth)? What would that look like? How would we get there?

    Asked by:
    Sandy Sanders
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    Is the answer to despair hope, or action? Is there anything you can’t add lemon zest to?
    6+
    Asked by:
    @reallykazcooke
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    Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
    0

    Makes a better world if we heed this question.

    Asked by:
    Christine Day
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