Debating

[Nebulous]

Debate forums. Most forums have them.. Most members partake in a debate here and there....
I find it hard to believe that some people still haven't figured out how to debate yet.
People tend to personally attack each other instead of tackling the actual topic.

In a debate you present your opposing arguments against the other person's opinions and not personally attack each other. Isn't that how a debate is supposed to work? What are your thoughts?

 

[1029384756]

Debate forums. Most forums have them.. Most members partake in a debate here and there....
I find it hard to believe that some people still haven't figured out how to debate yet.
People tend to personally attack each other instead of tackling the actual topic.

In a debate you present your opposing arguments against the other person's opinions and not personally attack each other. Isn't that how a debate is supposed to work? What are your thoughts?

Nice saying. I absolutely agree with you. Debates are made for arguments against opinions.

 

[Azza12342]

In my opinion a debate is a exchange of viewpoints from two or more different people for and against the topic, they will each hear each others argument and have literally minutes to write up what they are going to say, responding to what the opposer has just said, the only exclusion of this would be the introduction/s. Online debates do not follow this criteria, infact they are just full of insults and mislead information.

 

[Nebulous]

In my opinion a debate is a exchange of viewpoints from two or more different people for and against the topic, they will each hear each others argument and have literally minutes to write up what they are going to say, responding to what the opposer has just said, the only exclusion of this would be the introduction/s. Online debates do not follow this criteria, infact they are just full of insults and mislead information.

Sadly this is a true fact in most cases. 😕
People who can't control themselves should just stay away from debate forums.

 

[Fergal]

Lots of posts deleted. Please keep this thread on topic. There is no need to refer to other controversial threads.

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks for clearing that mess up Fergal. 🙂
Back on topic,
I think it's possible to be passionate about something while actually sticking to the subject of the topic instead of resorting to childish name calling and making false assumptions about the other person.

 

[hcfwesker]

I always love debating, and just waiting for the other party to crack, and resort to offensive language, personal insults, and just sinking themselves further down the argument they know they can't handle.

2 things I don't do when debating, is cuss, or personally attack the member. I may challenge their knowledge and incoherence on the subject; but never resort to name calling or cussing them out.

The ones that break, are the ones that can't debate.

 

[wednesday]

Im sorry Theezy..it was a valid question, please forgive me, no intention of offence.
Anyway...this subject covers debate, how do you feel a debate should be handled?

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Are we debating about debates?

 

[AnAccount]

Are we debating about debates?

I would say that we are.

 

[Watch Me Sink]

I was just asking that as a question, but I don't think we are. So, to answer my own question, no.

 

[Fergal]

Human nature is to defend oneself by attacking another, even infants push / hit things away from them if they get too close. Personally I believe no debate can ever happen without some personal attacks, though it is bets to keep them at a minimum. A debate is designed to be fro people to throw out their thoughts, and counter other's points as best they can. At some point it will reach an area where neither side can really "debate" any more, all facts are laid out for everyone to see, but there isn't any "facts" or "all truth". If the debate goes on, it will mostly be consisted of personal attacks.

The plain and simple fact here is, if you can't handle a debate (the risk you may be offended personally) then you shouldn't enter into any topic or area that permits them :shrug:

I agree with everything you say except "no debate can ever happen without some personal attacks" I have lots of discussions with people that don't involve personal attacks. Don't get me wrong I'm no saint and some of my discussions do unfortunately include attacks that are not helpful. I understand why it happens, but does it really need to happen? Surely people can discuss the message and not the messenger.

In my opinion discussions often get personal because one party brings something into the discussion that is not relevant to it. To use a not so clever example, a discussion between a couple on who's turn it is to cook dinner can very quickly lead personal attacks if one party starts complaining about the other party always being late.

 

[Sam!]

None of my forums have ever had a Debate Forum, and functioned fine. Nobody can manage every thread and every post, and those debates soon turn into arguments, which can quickly get out of hand. We can all survive without having some kind of debate, and if that's all you want then you can go elsewhere.

 

[Murder he Wrote]

Gave up debating on forums a long time ago, I've always noticed there tend to be a handful of users who come along thinking they know it all, and bulldoze their opinion until everyone gets tired, gives up and leaves the topic.

Seems a lot of people these days can't see past their own opinion.

 

[Nuke]

I have a debate area, but noone debates XD

 

[Stephon]

Get with the times. /Sarcasm

 

[krushrpants]

The members we chose to promote to staff were actually most active in our debate board. They more than proved that they could handle themselves and remain cool in certain situations because they - some entirely exclusively - posted there.

So in short, I dont have to worry about it all that much because most, if not all of my staff members are active (at least reading topics and posts) in the debate board on my site.

 

[Fergal]

Debate forums can be damaging to a community if they are not carefully managed. When debates get heated and tempers flare members can often feel personally insulted and some of them may leave your forum. The worst thing about this is that they may well be leaving because of an argument that was off-topic or not related to the main theme of your forum.