A Debate about Debate

i didnt mean a pm but some sort of "report this post" button, or even pm the mod squad?

 

I personally dont think it would work, Im sure the mods keep an eye on threads, especially when they are in debate and start getting lots of posts and pages, its fairly easy to see when a thread is getting a bit hot and heated.

 

Just FYI, most browsers nowadays have built-in spell checkers. In Firefox if you're typing a message and a word gets a red line under it, simply right-click on the word to activate spell check.

 

(...And use the Shift key, please. Some of us have tired old myopic eyes that blur when confronted with a wall of lowercase.)

 

I second this. Who decides what is considered "out of control" behavior? The MODs decide this. And the mods (who do such a fantastic job running the board) have the exact same flaw the rest of us have: they have feelings. They have emotions. And when they are reading a debate thread that they feel strongly about (i.e. A thread about the topic of rape in backstories, or a doll harming themselves, or taking drugs, or something just as life-altering) they are just as likely to become emotionally charged as anyone else on the debate thread. They are just as likely to say something with bad wording, or say something that they don't mean, as everyone else. They make mistakes. It's life. They're human. And the mods are held to a higher standard than the rest of us, like police officers and teachers, they are expected not to have these flaws, they are expected to never become emotionally involved, they are expected to be able to do their job of Moderating without any feeling what so ever. But the fact is that they simply can't do this, and they shouldn't be expected to. We all expect them to be perfect all the time, but they can't be.

So a person who might be considered "out of control" by a moderator might be considered "passionate" by other people. And a person considered "passionate" by a moderator could be considered "out of control" by anyone else here on the board. It all comes from experience in life and on the board. I understand that the Mods have the power to make these choices and ban people, or to warn them, or do any number of other things to control or punish certain members of this fourm, and it is a private fourm, and these were people chosen by those in charge to do a job: and that job is to moderate. I also understand that this is a private forum and they have their own set of rules that doesn't apply to the rest of the world, it's a priviledge to be here, not a right (just like spandex). But the fact remains that some people are going to have opinions that go against the grain of the rest of the board, and this should not be a reason to ban anyone from a debate forum. If everyone with different opinions was removed from a debate, it wouldn't be a debate anymore. This isn't to say that people who name call, or people who make statements about a singular, particular person, that are uncalled for (and could be considered slander), or people who make an attack on a particular person, should not be removed from the debate, or given a warning to calm down. Even a person who makes a group attack such as 'Everyone who likes Volks sucks and is stupid' should be held accountable for it, but we all, like the mods, are human and say things in the heat of debates. (It should also be noted that people who are known to take things personally, i.e. read into something and take something else out of it, such as reading 'I think that white skin dolls are the prettiest dolls ever' and coming up with 'I think everyone that doesn't have white skin dolls has ugly dolls', should be reminded to calm down and think about it. Just because a person has said that the white skin dolls are prettiest, they aren't saying that the normal skin dolls are ugly).

But having one person speak out about their opinion in a debate should not be citicized for it, they should be commended. It's hard to go into a group full of people, knowing your opinion is unpopular, and give good reasoning for it, then be called names, or insulted by people. I believe it should be the people calling names, not the people speaking their minds that are given the 'Shhh, calm it down.' notes.

In threads, I have seen the moderators constantly trying to get it back on track, usually in a tasteful and effective way; I have also see other people, who are being attacked, try to turn the thread back into a proper direction, and then be chastized because they are the focus of a group attack, and it becomes that one persons fault that they are being attacked. People don't ask to be attacked, and it's not their fault if they are (this can be set in different situations, also -- you are NOT asking for an attack if you dress a certain way, talk a certain way, or have a certain opinion about hot topics) being attacked. Unpopular opinions encourage people to become emotionally charged. It's a fact of life. And once one person throws the first tomato, the rest are going to follow.

This all being said, I believe that people who can't control themselves in certain ways should be removed from a certain debate topic (though perhaps not the entire debate forum, as they could be very emotionally charged about the drug use thread, and very calm and reasonable in the scalping thread). But I think that 'controlling themselves' should be better defined. Does this include name calling? Or does it just include the people who are outspoken? Does it include repeating an answer over and over again? What is the 'bad behavior' that would get someone removed from a debate thread? Is the definition going to be changed? Are the rules going to reflect the change? I think that this could be a very good suggestion if well thought out and discussed over a range of moderators, instead of just a handful, and appropriately changed in the rules thread.

And if the moderators are concerned about a certain person running a debate thread, perhaps a post limit should be instated? You can only make ten posts a day on any debate thread? It would certainly slow down the very fast-paced threads that get going, and would keep any one-liners from being tossed around without any meaning. You would have ten threads to get your point across, then step off your soap box and let someone else have a chance. It would keep people from making meaningless, name calling posts, and would encourage them to write a long, full answer to any questions, or debate challanges, and would enhance the quality of the debate.

 

For starters I think your behavior in yesterday's thread was a good example of what should get someone removed. I am simply stunned that you don't see that.

 

i second this


i could end in people thinking someones ignoring them but you could send a quick pm saying my 10 posts are up we will continue tomorrow

 

I think that as reasonable adults we can handle debate without a limit on the post count.

The mods are very capable of handling what they consider 'out of control' behavior, but I think the responsibility also lies on the debaters to control themselves and understand when they've crossed a line.

 

that may be true in some cases but there is some concern about people hi jacking threads



i do agree though we should act more like reasonable adults. myself included


(my computer is being very slow so if it takes a while to reply thats why)

 

I think if you look at it there have been many threads in different debates where someone keeps saying things with out any ramification besides personal beliefs, and constantly making derogatory statements over and over. It's a debate not an opinion column. Debates need to have facts to solidify them, that takes the opinion and gives it more power, or something more to add to a conversation/debate.

Freedom of speech only works until you impede the rights of others, the fact that some one constantly makes it impossible for anyone else to debate/give their thoughts on a subject, well they're denying people the right they have to say what they want/ to let them have their free speech. No one is saying that a different opinion on the matter is wrong.

 

Reasonable adults use correct spelling and grammar. Especially when they know for a fact it drives other people crazy.

 

This. Even if your post is well worded and thought provoking, it holds very little weight and becomes tedious to read if you can't be bothered with basic punctuation and grammar.
(For the strictly English fluent posters, of course.)

 

I think in general this needs to be more encouraged in the forum on whole, not just in the debate section, but especially in the debate section. I know it's already encouraged, but if people do watch their typing more carefully there will, probably, be fewer misunderstandings. Typing clearly and succinctly is really important to getting ones point across.

Of course, I wouldn't want to intimidate anyone who isn't a native English speaker from participating in the debate, but I think most people are generally understanding if that's the case.

 

Whoa, no thank you. Good points are brief.

 

I've never seen a post deleted/user banned from a Debate JUST because their opinion was different... they get deleted/banned because they have proven to everybody that they can't argue nicely.

Outspokenness, like freedom of speech, is a two-way street. Holding the minority opinion in a debate can be quite invigorating!-- However, you have to realize that your opinions WILL have consequences when you speak them, so don't expect people NOT to react. If you can't handle the inevitable backlash, then keep your opinions to yourself. After all, it's not everybody else's fault you don't agree with them. And you can't expect them to agree with you just because you dared speak your mind. (I.e., don't expect them to be impressed.) If the reaction is something you honestly didn't expect, and it's overwhelming, then maybe that's the Universe's way of saying "step back and examine those thoughts, yo."

So many times, it makes me laugh to see people blurt out ridiculous, offensive, ill-thought-out generalizations or flat-out attacks, and then be jumped-upon from 25 different angles, and then start waxing innocent. "What'd I say? Stop picking on meee! Waaa! Teacherrr!" It's just like those guys at construction sites who whistle and make sucking-noises and tell you to back-it-up-and-shake-it-baby... when you go over there and give them what-for, they suddenly act all innocent and wounded. "Hey, I'm just trying to be nice! Can't a guy give a girl a compliment anymore?" Aggressors who get suddenly derailed... they can't turn into victims fast enough.

 

Agreeing with this. I am less likely to read or respond to a wall of text. Also, a good debater keeps extraneous arguments and ramblings out of it.

 

Yes! Imagine a debate in RL where someone talked for 15-minutes straight without letting anyone get a word in edgewise! (Which would be tedious and counterproductive to their own argument, I feel.)

Also: The second you state personal opinions as fact (attacking or degrading those who don't agree) or start letting your emotions run haywire you have lost your argument. For me, debate has always been about a meeting of different intellects to discuss subjects from multiple angles, not "I am right and you are wrong" one-sided conflicts and personal attacks.
That's my humble opinion.