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What's the difference between discussion and debate?
Amber:
Theory building (no disagreement allowed) vs. (contrary opinions welcome) ?
bobtheskull:
--- Quote from: Lightsabre on February 07, 2007, 08:38:28 PM ---Everyone who's posted has seemed to say that discussion is collaborative, and debate is with opposing views.
But I see some issues trying to split these on a board.
FOr instance, if you have a 'discussion' topic, does that mean no one is allowed to disagree? Might make for a very boring thread.
What if somone starts a 'discussion' topic on, say Murphy getting the Sword, and someone else wants to point out the virtues of Thomas getting it. Is that changing it to a debate?
Or if someone wants to debate Murphy/Thomas, does this mean a new thread has to be created specifically for that purpose?
I think most threads have a mixture of discussion/debate in them, and that works.
Everyone seems to have a different definition, and I worry that if we set a 'discussion corner', people will start reporting everything that doesn't seem to agree with their theory.
Case in point, I thought bobtheskull was happy to debate the topic with me, till he suddenly said he wasn't.
--- End quote ---
I wasn't. As I said in the thread in question, I was pointing out a possible explaination of how magic would work in terms of summoning circles. You started to debate on your own in a decision to rip apart my ideas without offering your own.
I felt I *had* to respond to your debate thrusts until I just said the heck with it, and it wasn't worth trying anymore.
Regarding the sword, it's a discussion until one person suggests Thomas should get it and why, and someone else starts tearing down their argument in order to prove why not.
--- Quote from: Amber ---Theory building (no disagreement allowed) vs. (contrary opinions welcome) ?
--- End quote ---
Contrary opinions are welcome, but how one states it is important.
Stating "you're wrong. It can't be the way you describe it because..." is *generally* debate.
Obviously there might be exceptions, for example in a long discussion one might point out a fact that the other missed or forgot. (for example, in another thread here, a question arose as to wards on the doors to Harry's office in the books vs show. There was discussion until someone was able to get the info specifically from the books. I said something about how I seemed to remember there were, until someone else pointed out politely that it was static electricity that Harry had felt.)
Stating "I see what you mean. I disagree though. My own opinion on how this fictional magic would work is like this though." is discussion.
One is decidedly unfriendly and leads to angry retorts. The other generally doesn't.
Using statements such as (no offense intended here Lightsabre) such as "end of story" is a debate tactic used in dismissing the other's argument. It comes across offensively.
ashton:
--- Quote from: bobtheskull on February 07, 2007, 07:35:15 PM ---I gotta say, Ashton nails the difference between discussion and debate.
However, I don't really like how he used my nick here in the examples. I've never called anyone names here. I called one person a hypocrite but it's hardly the same as calling someone stupid.
Ashton, did you really view my posts like that or were you simply writing an example?
--- End quote ---
Absolutely not. Nothing in my post should be construed as reflective of anyone's actual position. I was just going with the names from the thread. I love you all equally.
Hummus?
Amber:
Debate isn't necessarily angry or unfriendly, bobtheskull. I'm not sure I agree with that method of distinction.
bobtheskull:
--- Quote from: ashton on February 08, 2007, 01:14:27 AM ---
--- Quote from: bobtheskull on February 07, 2007, 07:35:15 PM ---I gotta say, Ashton nails the difference between discussion and debate.
However, I don't really like how he used my nick here in the examples. I've never called anyone names here. I called one person a hypocrite but it's hardly the same as calling someone stupid.
Ashton, did you really view my posts like that or were you simply writing an example?
--- End quote ---
Absolutely not. Nothing in my post should be construed as reflective of anyone's actual position. I was just going with the names from the thread. I love you all equally.
Hummus?
--- End quote ---
Thanks, but no Hummus until I get to know you better. I'm not that kind of guy. (eep, now I wonder if there aren't unfortunate connotations to my chosen username.)
Thanks for clearing that up though. I didn't *think* I was posting in the manner of your example, but one can never be sure.
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