New section idea

**Thorsen** · 06-26-10, 02:54 PM

So how about this new section eh? I'm really looking forward to posting here a lot. Good to see all the usual suspects here to engage each other in debate and reasoning (And hopefully less trolling).

So here's my idea, and tell me what you think. I'd like to set up a semi-formal debate between two volunteers on the forum. If this sounds boring and no one wants to that's cool. I love debates, but I might be alone in that.

The way it would work, if we did it. Is I would present a list of topics like this:

Government/Universal Healthcare Pro|Against
Gun Control Pro|Against
Withdrawing from Iraq Pro|Against
Homosexual Marriage Pro|against

Etc.

Then I'd wait for two volunteers to post in the thread with the issue they want to debate, and which side they want to be on.

Give each person a week to prepare their case. Post a new topic with a poll, I'll lay down the rules of the debate, and the two debaters go at it. At the end of the debate, everyone could vote on who they thought did better in the debate, and discuss the issue with them and each other.

So, tell me what you think.

**GReYVee** · 06-26-10, 05:40 PM

Two issues I would foresee.

1. Others not reading your rules and interrupting the flow of the debate (by posting)
2. Voters may just choose the side of the issue they agree on as the winner.

You'd probably need a way of unlocking the thread (lots of people lack the netiquette to pull this off).
And a way to mask the topic of the issue. (Ie replace Lets talk about god with, lets talk about bread).. than reveal the actual topic at the end. Lol I know sounds weird but that seems to be the best way to get a truly unbiased vote out of people.

**Kraker Jak** · 06-26-10, 11:12 PM

I like the idea, its just im a talker...its hard for me to really debate with a keyboard...

**Thorsen** · 06-27-10, 12:44 AM

It seems like we wouldn't have too much trouble with interrupting posts. I have faith in TPG that people will be able to follow simple instructions.

As far as just voting for what you agree with. I guess that's true, and in fact likely. But it's no different from a real debate where people will often do the same thing. The key is who can sway the fence sitters.

As a real example, I am a fence sitter on human induced climate change. If someone (Pote lol) could argue decisively enough that it is a real threat, I would easily vote for him, and in fact, change my opinion IRL.

In the end I would love to see people learn from this, and hopefully it could bring about a more peaceful, fact based, organized debate attitude in the forums, as opposed to the trolling and name calling.

**Kraker Jak** · 06-27-10, 01:25 AM

How about we make the poll the 2 names of the debaters. And everytime we read thier post, and feel they made a good point, we make a vote to that person. Like a points system?

**Thorsen** · 06-27-10, 11:26 AM

Hmmm can you make a cumulative poll like that?

**GReYVee** · 06-27-10, 11:52 AM

Most likely plug in for that would be rating posts. (would also prevent someone from just spamming the counter)

**Imisnew2** · 06-27-10, 11:56 AM

Interesting idea.
I suppose if this a simple once-a-week debate, then you could get a mod to hide any random peoples post until it's time.
However, if the actual debate part went on for more than a few hours... that would be too much for the mods imo.

**Fovezer** · 06-27-10, 12:18 PM

I think this could be a good idea, but it would be hard to do and I don't know about voting on who "wins." Winning a debate is a very subjective decision and people are going to vote for the person who has the same views as them every time, guaranteed. You'd either have to accept that it would just be a drawn-out debate between two people, not really any different than most of the divisive threads here, or have someone bring up an issue they are truly undecided on and have someone take each side and answer that persons questions with that person eventually declaring who he thought supported their side the best.