Debate Forum Request...new rules, please read

DaveGS4 · 12-01-04, 08:49 AM

I've had a number of PMs and complaints about the tone and I'd almost say venom that seemed to permiate the debate forum of late. I hoped that it would stop after the election was over and that after a reasonable amount of 'celebration' time this forum would return to its normal state of intellectual conversation with at least a little respect shown to the person you are debating with.

It doesn't seem to be happening.

With your help I hope to change this. We'll start off with some simple changes to the way posts are started and requests for subject changes. If that doesn't work we'll try something else or shut the forum down.

1) No more 'one link / one liner' threads. This means the person starting the post must put a little more effort into explaining their personal position or thoughts around a subject than simply posting a link to another forum or quoting some far left or right wing news source. We will lock or delete any threads that begin that way... if it's worth debating, the thread starter needs to spend more time introducing the topic than pushing the paste button.

2) The election is over, now please move along there is nothing to see here. A couple of weeks of celebration is expected, but IMO more than that comes across as plain and simple gloating. Let's remove the election rhetoric from signatures please and end the debate about the results.

I understand from time to time a relevant election-related topic may emerge and that's OK, but put a filter on it. Is it something you're posting just to inflame by pointing out how unreasonable, stupid or plain crazy the opposition is OR is there actually something that can be intelligently discussed by both sides in your topic.

3) How about some new topics? See something in the news about stem cell research or land development? How about discussing some topics like these without making them all about the administration's policies. What does it mean to YOU not to your party.

Google will net you plenty of new topics if you can't think of anything beyond Bush v Kerry:
http://www.debatabase.org/
http://www.debate-central.org/
http://www.floridaforensics.org/Curr...ate_Topics.htm
http://debate.org.uk/topics/home.htm (religious)
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/hsdebate.html

4) Show more respect. Notice I didn't say 'a little more' respect' because I think a LOT more respect is needed than that from what I've read recently. Many of our members have simply stopped participating in this forum because of the impolite attitudes displayed. If the person you are debating with was sitting right across from you at a table sharing a drink and discussing this topic, would you talk to him/her like that?

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Doing some research on debate topics sources I found a pretty good description of what this forum SHOULD be about:

Quote:

Debate is a powerful means of encouraging critical thinking, personal expression and tolerance for the opinions of others. IDEA offers students and teachers the opportunity to examine issues affecting their lives and their communities. Participants come to recognize that free and open discussion is essential to the establishment and preservation of open and democratic societies.

Let's try please.

1SICKLEX · 07-14-07, 10:20 AM

5) Keep threads ON TOPIC, specifically, do not make non-related Anti-Bush, Anti-War comments in threads where that is not the topic.
There are enough threads where you can post your thoughts on our president and the war. Please do not post your thoughts on these two subjects in threads where these topics are not being discussed.