Both India and Pakistan gained independence on the same day in 1947. Since then, Pakistan has had 3 military coups, India none. Considering both countries started out in pretty much the same situation, why is India much more politically stable than Pakistan? (old.reddit.com)
The Islamic calendar is fairly unique among calendars in its lack of intercalation. Not only that, intercalation is pretty nakedly forbidden in Islam to the extent that it is mentioned in the Quran. Why did Muhammad have so much beef with the leap year? (old.reddit.com)
How do you differentiate whether your doubts in your relationships come from your insecurities or whether they come from the other person's actions? (old.reddit.com)
What is the deal with the weird style in which Snow White sings during the famous Disney movie? Was the "warble" en vogue in 1938? When did it go out of fashion to vocalize like this? (old.reddit.com)
If I take a pound of rotten meat and cook it thoroughly, thus killing any and all bacteria, viruses or parasites, then eat it… what makes me sick? (old.reddit.com)
The level of physical activity among preindustrial agricultural workers was immense, and they'd need 2x5 times the caloric intake of modern sedentary people to maintain weight. Did they have access to high-calorie foods? Were they generally feasting on loads of rice, bread, potatoes? (old.reddit.com)
Why is Reddit so obsessed with knowing why people edited their comment? I'm on my phone and didn't catch all my spelling errors before posting. I shouldn't have to explain that. It feels invasive. No one should have to explain that they edited a spelling error or added in a word forgotten word (old.reddit.com)
It is well known that pregnant women drinking alcohol can cause birth defects. Is it also possible for birth defects to be caused by the man's diet before conception? (old.reddit.com)
The US constitution is the oldest active constitution in the world. So why has it not been rewritten and why is it sill so important today? (old.reddit.com)
It's often said that ancient Chinese armies could be considerably larger than ancient armies elsewhere in the world. If true, why and how did they logistically support those armies? (old.reddit.com)
What is the difference in the Covid-19 tests currently available in the US, and which one is best for detecting asymptotic infection in vaccinated individuals? (old.reddit.com)
How did Disraeli become the first Jewish prime minister of the UK in an age of widespread antisemitism, and was that very controversial? (both abroad and at home) (old.reddit.com)
What is the difference between "real" addictions (alcohol, gambling) and "fake" addictions (chocolate, browsing social media). Why is one recognised by psychologists as addiction, but other isn't? (old.reddit.com)
The B-29 Heavy Bomber project was 50% more expensive than the Manhattan Project which created the atom bomb. Why was this so and was this really worth it? (old.reddit.com)
In my language "Avar" straight up means greedy and in english there's avarice wich meams the same, where the Avars known to be greedy? And how did their name bevome synonimus with that? (old.reddit.com)
Why do people say “you’ve got balls” when balls are sensitive and get hurt easily, whereas the word “pussy” means someone who’s a coward but an actual pussy has a lot of strength and can handle so much? (old.reddit.com)
In 58 BC the Helvetii in what is now Switzerland burned their villages and left on a carefully planned migration to southwest Gaul. Why and how could an agricultural society without a strong central government somehow convince or coerce practically everyone into abandoning their homes? (old.reddit.com)
Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner portrays the CIA as so cartoonishly incompetent that it stretches credulity. He seems to have a bias towards casting it in the least charitable possible light at all times. Are his assertions an accurate interpretation of the primary sources he uses? (old.reddit.com)
What happens when an ant gets stuck in a car and I drive miles away and it's released (or any other way it gets transplanted)? Does it search for its home, does it get "adopted" by another colony? Does it die from loneliness? (old.reddit.com)
I’ve been an attorney for less than a year and I’m miserable. I was also miserable all through law school and taking the bar exam. I want to jump ship and enter an entire new field. I want my happiness back. Would this be a huge waste of my time and education? (old.reddit.com)
AskScience AMA Series: We are Cosmologists, Experts on the Cosmic Microwave Background, "The Hubble Tension", Dark Matter, Dark Energy and much more! Ask Us Anything! (old.reddit.com)
UK came out of WW2 substantially weakened and was eventually forced into a junior relationship with USA due to high cost of the war. How did USSR come to become USA's only rival when they received far more damage than UK? (old.reddit.com)
During the time of the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), England was estimated to have 15-20% of the population of France based on medieval demography. How could England wage a war under these conditions? (old.reddit.com)
Did Allied powers make an effort to humiliate and/or intimidate the Japanese delegation during the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri in 1945? (old.reddit.com)
In "Back to the Future" when Marty first goes back in time there is a Mayor running for office he shouts he's running as a "progressive" what would a small town progressive politian looked like 1955? (old.reddit.com)
In the US, if abortion is illegal in some states and legal in some states, rather than wasting their lives, can't people take a bus go to the other state and get the abortion? (old.reddit.com)
For those of you down to your last hair tie, how long has it been since you noticed and have started treasuring it like a very rare diamond? (old.reddit.com)
I know they say it’s never too late to turn your life around, but I am 22 years old, is there still a chance for me to actually be successful and live a comfortable life? I regret not going to college now and I want to go back but feel too old. (old.reddit.com)
Why do Americans use terms such as: Millenialls, Baby Boomers, Generation Z, etc.? Why segregate people like that? I am from a non-English speaking country, and i had never heard those terms until i started attending the American part of the Internet. They sound quite ageist (old.reddit.com)
The slogan "They Can't Lick Our Dick" was used in Richard Nixon's election campaigns. What would typical Americans think of it? Was there a target demographic/social group? Members of which party would have better attitude for "licking the Dick"? (old.reddit.com)
Weimar Germany had laws against hate speech, closed down hundreds of Nazi papers, jailed Goebbels for antisemitism, and even banned Hitler from speaking. However, Nazi ideology still spread, and the Nazis still rose to power. Why did this happen? Does this mean hate speech laws are ineffective? (old.reddit.com)
[NSFW] Am I the only person that likes small breasts on a girl? It seems every guy I meet scoffs at the idea, but I never hear anyone talking about liking smaller ones. Does any other guy feel like that? (old.reddit.com)
[Serious] If you got called to be an employment reference but you knew the person was super toxic to work with, what are some indirect ways you can tell the employer without directly bad-mouthing them? (old.reddit.com)
Why does the American Revolution seem so much less characterized by infighting than other Revolutions (e.g., French, Russian, or Mexican)? (old.reddit.com)
In the show Peaky Blinders, some of the characters who were in the British Army during WW1 were disgruntled after the war. Going as far as throwing their war medals in the river. Yet at the same time proud of their service. Was this attitude common for enlisted English veterans after WW1? (old.reddit.com)
Two separate sections of the Bible describe a male visitor(s) arriving to a town late at night, and being beseiged in a house by mob of rapists demanding to violate them, and the owners offering their own daughters instead. How often a problem was this in the Levant and would it play out like that? (old.reddit.com)
What’s with the ever increasing trend of videos cutting off right as things are starting to get good? Is it something TikTok started? Something for social media in general to try to get clicks? People’s attention span decreasing over time? I genuinely miss seeing fun videos with a good payoff (old.reddit.com)
In England they pay the equivalent of $217.36 for a TV license, but have no commercials. Would you pay that a year, to never have to watch commercials again"? (old.reddit.com)
USA which is considered fairly advanced in women rights have never seen a women leader, but countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh which are considered to be backward in women rights have had women prime minsters. Why is this so? (old.reddit.com)
Are the girls who post “cash for hookup” profiles on Hinge / Tinder legit? I assume some are bots, but has anyone actually ever met up with one of these girls? If so, what happened? (old.reddit.com)
What did Japanese after-action reports of battles look like during WWII, when so many of its island garrisons were wiped out nearly to the last man? Could the Japanese high command even get accurate information from battles like Iwo Jima when the garrison was completely surrounded by US forces? (old.reddit.com)
I’m pretty sure I know why, but I wanna hear from parents or just people who know: Why is there so much emphasis put on kids eating all their food or a certain amount even if they say they’re not hungry? (old.reddit.com)
How is it that they can X ray paintings to see what is under the picture (previous pictures o changes that the painter did)? What's the x ray stopping at? Is it the same kind of x ray that they use at hospitals? (old.reddit.com)
I'm part of a Roman family in 12 BC and we just had a baby. What's the 'sleep training' plan or expectations for the first year? Up all night? Cry it out? (old.reddit.com)
[Serious] What scene from a movie, show or videogame never fails to make your eyes tear up. No matter how many times you’ve watched it? (old.reddit.com)
What is the origin of the square caps worn for university graduation? How did the tradition spread, and when did they become so ubiquitous? (old.reddit.com)
I recently attended a discussion about how Native Americans followed a Sacred Economy model in which they didn't price items, exploit nature, and how they shared everything communally, with no concept of private property--how legit is this? (old.reddit.com)
AskScience AMA Series: I'm Dr. Kate Biberdorf (AKA Kate the Chemist). I'm a chemistry professor that creates huge explosions for stars like Kelly Clarkson and Stephen Colbert, and I also write bestselling science books for kids. Ask me anything! (old.reddit.com)
I speak modern Beijing dialect Chinese. How far back in time could I go in Chinese civilisation before the inhabitants of Beijing were mutually unintelligible? (old.reddit.com)
In 387 B.C., the Persians funded a Spartan fleet to destroy an Athenian fleet, which the Persians had previously funded to destroy another Spartan fleet, which the Persians had previously funded to destroy aother Athenian fleet. Was this brilliant geopolitics or indecision and a waste of money? (old.reddit.com)
Is it true that the trend of women give birth laying down is because King Louis XIV had a fetish for watching his wife give birth and wanted a better view of it happening? I was told this in an EMT class. (old.reddit.com)
If a monk walked into a respectable monastery of the High Middle Ages, carrying books in Arabic, Farsi, or even just Classical Hebrew, could he expect to meet anyone capable of translating them? If he brought the Sanskrit or Chinese classics, would anyone recognize the language? (old.reddit.com)
Monday Methods: more unmarked indigenous graves means confronting even more painful realities. A Spanish translation of our earlier thread on Residential Schools (old.reddit.com)
What would happen if a helicopter just kept going upwards until it couldn’t anymore? At what point/for what reason would it stop going up? (old.reddit.com)
The US has been known as the "world police" but has the US ever actually engaged in an invasion of a foreign nation on a strictly humanitarian rights effort and not to secure its own business interests? (old.reddit.com)
Why is Julius Caesar the most iconic Roman in history despite the fact that he was neither Rome's most prolific conqueror, nor its most powerful ruler? (old.reddit.com)
Is needing 8 hours of sleep a night just a myth? It seems like everyone I speak to gets much less than that! I’ve always slept 8 hours religiously my entire life. (old.reddit.com)
In the eighteen nineties, the book Progress and Poverty was so popular that it outsold every other book except the Bible to American audiences. Today, hardly anyone has read it. What led to the rise and fall of Henry George’s ideas. (old.reddit.com)
With the exception of World War 2, has American intervention ever resulted in a more stable future for any country 25 years down the line? (old.reddit.com)
How were languages translated for the first time, especially for purposes beyond basic conversation? Did some civilizations or nations have a particular method? (old.reddit.com)
In HBO's Rome, battle hardened Centurion Lucius Vorenus is portrayed as sexually innocent and naive. Even as his fellow troops are shown assaulting women at every opportunity How likely would this be for a Roman soldier on campaign? (old.reddit.com)
Why do people blame people who get walked over and taken advantage of all the time for not standing up for themselves, instead of the people who walk over and take advantage of them? (old.reddit.com)
Academia in the US is often called intellectual 'Ivory towers' as an insult. What's the history behind the term 'Ivory towers' and how did it became so widespread as anti-Academia insult? (old.reddit.com)
Women Of Reddit, what's something attractive about a man's personality or something you find cute that makes you smile? Doesn't have to be a partner either. (old.reddit.com)
Have you ever been drunk or high and came up with this truly amazing idea but then became sober and realized it wasn't as amazing as you thought it was? If so, what was the idea? (old.reddit.com)