Aberystwyth Open, Aberystwyth, Wales, 5 April 2014

Aberystwyth Open, Aberystwyth, Wales, 5 April 2014

• R1: Info: Scientology is a set of beliefs founded in the 1950s by Science Fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard The church of Scientology has gathered controversy for its practice of auditing, a process which requires large sums of money to advance through the levels of the church, as well as a belief that psychiatry should be abolished The US currently recognises Scientology as a religion, whilst European nations such as France have  characterised the movement as a cult. On the 2011 UK census, over 8000 people registered themselves as scientologists Recognising a religion grants legal protection from discrimination and considerable tax breaks and financial  benefits Motion: THW officially recognise Scientology as a religion
• R2: TH regrets the popularisation and commercialisation of counter-cultural or oppositional sub-genres of music (e.g Gangsta Rap or Punk music)
• R3: Info: For the purposes of this debate, the definition of strong AI is “A computer or robot with the intellectual and emotional intelligence, communication skills and consciousness equal to, at least, the level of a human” Asimov's three laws of robotics are: 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot may not injure its own kind and defend its own kind unless it is interfering with the first or second rule This is a suggestion, based on systems proposed in the past. Feel free to use other moral frameworks, provided this is made clear in the first minute of the PM's speech Motion: Upon the creation of strong AI, THW hardwire AI units with an unassailable and unalterable moral code
• R4: Info: Conversion therapy is a range of treatments that aim to reduce Same-Sex Attraction and increase Opposite Sex Attraction. Such treatments have been criticized for being pseudo-scientific, but proponents maintain that the treatments are successful, coining the term “Ex-Gay” In all western liberal democracies, Motion:This House Would ban gay conversion therapy
• Final: In a world where the technology exists, This House Would erase all the memories of individuals who have committed serious crimes and replace them with a fabricated set of memories, instead of sending them to prison