Hitchkok wrote:had her post been somewhat less cryptic, and somewhat more reasoned (as beffiting a post in the debate section), i would have.
anyway, it is not a personal issue, but a public one. therefore i see no reason to keep it private.
Fair enough.
Mordack wrote:A better solution might be to have a disclaimer on the debate section; similar to the one which the GC currently has. That way people with strong views who are likely to be offended will have an idea of what they're getting in for. Curtailing intelligent debate to placate a small minority isn't a good thing.
Curtailing intelligent debate? Have you looked at the section of late? If anything curtailed intelligent debate, it is the increasing presence of 'religious' arguments. The dogmatic mannerisms of the section's population preclude actual debate. Unless you would consider repeating your arguments ad nauseam "
because they're right" intelligent debate, but that would surprise me.
As for placating a minority.. I have yet to see a smaller subset of forum members placated by any other measure.
Debate is a game/type of conversation of give and take. The debating groups have forgotten this, and have retreated into their Holy Fortresses (for calling them 'houses' would be an understatement) of Dogma and Fallacy.
Zeratul wrote:those religious debates are boring unless there is at least one person playing the role of an prior of the ori...
And
that is in part the very core of the issue. People are too invested in their own mindset, too convinced that they should convince others that their frame of reference is the only frame of reference with the potential of revealing the Ultimate Truth.
If only people
would play the role of 'Prior of the Ori' or carry any other argument that is not their own.
The debates involving religion are unproductive. In fact, they are a hindrance to actual intelligent debate, defying the very definition of debate by their sheer unwillingness to allow for other opinions. People cannot dissociate with their argument, and are as a consequence unable to accept other arguments occupying 'the same space'.
Dr. House wrote:There is no need for such a rule, it's pointless and flies in the face of "intelligent discussion."
Really? The population of the debate section has shown not to be able to handle the category of subjects, instead of debate, the threads have become pulpits for repetitive arguments. Not 'boring', no.. non-debate. And non-debate does not belong in the debate section. Does it?
It is not a matter of 'boring'. It is self-degradation. If you want a free stage to spew self-centered non-arguments, regardless of your audience who have come to the section with as stubborn a thought as your own.. that can be arranged. Self-degradation is fine, if you must. But do not defile 'Debate' by degrading it along with yourself.
Debate is not a clashing of multiple Immovable, Unchangeable Bulwarks of Dogma. Debate is an exchange of ideas. Give and take, to the enrichment of us all.
We have been sliding down this slope, and it is about time that ended. Unless you have mind-shattering arguments why this gradual devaluation should be allowed to continue? As Thriller knows, I
am open to other thoughts.