Questions and Answers

Should I have a wash frequently?

• Yes, if I wash frequently I can stave off illnesses.
• No, there is no compulsion for me to wash.
• Yes, if I am clean I stay healthy and cost the state less money.

Are you satisfied with the current water supply and waste water disposal system?

• Yes. We have an efficient system.
• Yes, because it succeeds in preventing the onset and spread of diseases.
• No. From an economical and ecological point of view it could be better.

Is looking good important?

• Yes, because a good-looking person is a healthy person.
• Yes, otherwise I'll have no friends.
• No, because nobody should be discriminated against or given preferential treatment on account of his or her appearance.

What would you do if your friend was subjected to mobbing?

• I would speak about it with my friend and the other people concerned.
• I wouldn't get involved otherwise I would also get mobbed.
• I would advise my friend to contact a professional organisation that deals with mobbing and even lodge a complaint against the people involved.

Are eating disorders a new phenomenon?

• No. Eating disorders have always existed.
• Yes. Eating disorders are illnesses that have arisen in modern Western societies and are constantly on the increase.
• Yes and No. Eating disorders have been claimed to be a sickness that has only been discussed in public during the last few years.

Why do young people take drugs?

• To reach another emotional state or mood.
• Because they have problems, they don't feel good.
• Because it is forbidden by adults and the State.

Do people drink more alcohol now than 200 years ago?

• No. According to statistics, consumption has declined.
• No. Alcohol has always had a place in European culture.
• No. Earlier the state has controlled the use of alcohol in many ways.

Should I be vaccinated?

• Yes, because it has been proven that vaccination prolongs life.
• No. Why should I go and get myself infected?
• No, because nobody will pay for vaccine-related health problems.

Is sex a private matter?

• No. Education can help draw attention to sexually transmitted diseases and avoid unwanted pregnancies.
• Yes. Each individual is free to decide how to live his or her sexuality.
• No, because abuses are frequent and it is important to talk about them.

Can shopping be dangerous?

• Yes. Shopping can become addictive.
• No. Shopping is one way to spend one's leisure time.
• Yes. The shopper is wasting the world's natural resources while promoting pollution.

Is everybody the architect of his or her own success?

• No, because your life is largely shaped by your genes and upbringing.
• No, because you cannot choose the country or the social milieu in which you are born.
• Yes, because we can all take our destiny in our hands and shape our lives.

Should my room be kept clean and tidy?

• Yes. I can't feel good unless my room is clean and tidy.
• Yes. I like my room to be clean but I also need a bit of a mess for me to feel at ease.
• No. My room is my business.

Do we all need a car?

• No, if there are other means of getting around that are safer, cleaner and cheaper.
• Yes. Having a car makes daily life easier and is essential for my personal convenience.
• Yes. Nowadays it is essential to be flexible, independent and fast. This means that you need to have a car.

Are unemployed people lazy?

• Yes and no. Unemployment is the sum of many factors. With suitable training and a flexible attitude, work can generally be found.
• Yes, for the most part. A healthy person can find work if he or she wants to.
• No. The unemployed are the victims of structural changes in society.

How can we protect ourselves against terrorism?

• The guilty parties must be found and punished.
• Tolerance is the best way the reduce violence.
• Nations must ensure citizens' safety as well as possible.

If I had the choice, would I join my country's armed forces?

• No, because joining the army implies a desire to take part in warfare.
• No, because even in peacetime, I disagree with the system of military training.
• Yes, because every country needs an army, and my military service would be a contribution to peace and international stability.

Why are the mentally ill sometimes frightening?

• Mental illness was long regarded as untreatable.
• Even today, ignorance and misconceptions are still associated with mental illness.
• Due to cutbacks in social services there are now more people on the streets suffering from severe mental disorders and not receiving proper care.

How can the lonely be helped?

• Good friends are the best therapy for the lonely.
• There should be places in cities where people can come together and meet.
• The authorities should pay more attention to the problem of loneliness.