799
« on: March 29, 2007, 08:00:26 PM »
In a debate, you do not need to believe in what you are saying, you simply take a point of view and do your darnedest to bring everyone over to the side/opinion you have chosen to promulgate.
In a discussion, you voice your opinions, and you listen to the opinions of others. There does not need to be defense or attack in discussion as there is in a debate.
In a debate, one does not have to honor or respect the opposing position, or the proponent of that postion/opinion.
In discussion, everyone must be considered equal, and the validation of ideas is not so stringient. There is no proof required in discussion, "that's my opinion" is sufficient justification for saying something.
You can, on a debate board set out rules:
All facts must be documented.
No obscene language.
The opinions stated do not have to be your actual opinions.
You may not say anything personal about the others engaged in the debate.
The debate must stay on topic.
In a discussion, people can stray. Discussions are organic. They evolve. In a discussion it is impolite to make personal comments, but there is no preclusion to the odd: "Boy you're dumb."
How can you enforce a debate? Simple, the moderator allows for three warnings of infraction of whatever rules are set out, and on the third infraction the person in violation is erased. I can think of no more humiliating a fate on a discussion board than to have your name up there with a big blank space, or where the moderator wrote: Violator.
(Of course if the person redresses error and infractions they would get set back to zero.)
Debates could even have points or allow other users to vote on who wins.
In a Conversation, usually everyone wins. We all have a nice time, a few laughs and go away satisfied.
Anyway, that is my opinion. Thank you for asking.
Show Posts