Rules for a debate

[Loki]

I realize that everyone including me at one point or another violated some or all of these rules. I’m not trying to be judgmental. I hope that these rules will lead to more interesting debates, the main purpose of which are to present your position and at least listen to the other one; perhaps even learn something in the process.

1. Always back up your position. Don’t say that you don’t like so and so, or you don’t like the way so and so is acting. Explain why you think they’re wrong.
2. When debating with someone, try to rebut their claims. Don’t just say that they’re wrong. Show why they are wrong.
3. Don’t make claims that cannot be validated, unless you have a very strong argument to support those claims.
4. Don’t lie.
5. Don’t exaggerate. It’s ok to say that there are 11x homeless people in country (when there are only 10x), but don’t say that there are 20x homeless people.
6. Don’t make arguments based on assumptions that are not shared by at least some other people, unless you’re prepared to explain those assumptions.
7. Don’t use circular reasoning. Don’t say that something exists because something else says so, when the original thing was responsible for the creation of the second one.
8. Don’t use ad hominem. That means no personal insults. If you have a problem with a certain position, say that that argument is stupid, don’t call the person making that argument stupid. And even if you call the argument stupid, you better be able to explain why.
9. Don’t use the opinions of people who have no credibility as proof for your argument. If no one believes that person, surely they won’t believe you.
10. Don’t misquote people. If someone says something strange in a sentence that only makes sense in the context of an entire paragraph, write that entire paragraph, or at least summarize the person’s position.
11. Don’t use stereotypes to somehow prove your argument. Just because you think that America does everything to get more oil, doesn’t mean that using that as your main argument is proper. Give evidence about the specific situation or precedents on similar situation, and not just some random anti-country x propaganda.
12. Don’t drink and post.;)
13. Don’t make extremely stupid arguments that are based on so many assumptions that if one of them proves false, the whole argument collapses. It usually leads to insults from the other side, most of which are probably justified.
14. Don’t make racist comments. It’s a good of getting yourself banned.
15. Don’t try to refuse an argument by simply saying that someone’s media or their government is biased. Whether that’s true or not, make an attempt to show how it’s biased (in the present and not a century back preferably).
16. Even though this is somewhat contradictory of the previous rule, try not to use the statements of a state-controlled media to prove your argument.
17. Just because someone won the Noble Peace Prize, it doesn’t make them peaceful. It usually means that they stopped being violent for that year alone.:)

Feel free to add more.

[RandBlade]

My suggested rules for a debate.

1: Be civil.
2: Be sensible.
3: See rule 1.

And I strenuously object to one of your first dozen rules ;)

[Citizen Kane]

I'd say the most important thing about what rules you want to apply to your debate is who and what you're debating.

And it usually boils down to this... if you have to set up a list of a dozen rules to ensure you'll have a good, fair, rational debate, don't bother... one of you won't follow them anyway.

[Dragon Reborn the 3rd]

I'd say these are pretty good rules/guidelines.

I've written a few things on this topic before, I'll see if I can find them.

[Agon]

Rules are utterly devoid of meaning if one is broken by even one member, unless threat of brutal force is at your disposable?

I suggest you stop wasting your time on such pursuits.

[Dragon Reborn the 3rd]

Originally posted by Loki
Just translate from Latin this time. Most people here don't understand it.;)
LOL, well, that was one of the ones I had in mind...However, there was a second one...but it got deleted even though it was *not* in the archives. :(

[Dragon Reborn the 3rd]

Here are the rules/guidelines that I asked people to abide by in the thread (now gone :() that introduced the series of debates entitled "Christianity: True or False":

1) Respect your fellow board members. Please do not insult anyone. If someone insults you, please ignore them.
2) Try to be open-minded...do not just discount what someone says. If they say something you disagree with, provide a logical basis for by which you have legitimate grounds for believing otherwise. For example, you don't have to necessarily agree with anything another person says...merely that you at least consider it as a possibility at least for a moment, and afterwards provide logical reasons why you would not continue to support that particular thing.
3) Try to be brief...10 page essays are a bit much to read and respond to...at least if you want adaquate response.
4) Try to keep on topic...For example, if the topic is "Did Jesus really die on the cross?" don't go off arguing that anything the Bible says can't be trusted. That is an argument for another topic.

Luckily I had backed up that part of the thread before I even posted it.

[RandBlade]

RB, being civil doesn't make a good debate if one of the people is stupid or acting that way.Don't be silly, no 'rule' can help overcome someone's stupidity.

And many of your rules are you being stupd or acting that way :p ;). What does #17 have to do as a rule? Its a thinly-veiled argument, not a rule for debate.

[RandBlade]

I still strenuously object to 12 though, you have no idea how many of my posts wouldn't be here now if that was the case (this one included:p). Although I don't really post drunken posts anymore after a small spat a few months back, a large portion of my posts are still after a small amount to drink (or after having sobered up a bit from a lot;))

Anyway, my two rules some up all you've written much simpler and more friendly IMO :p

[Tomahawk]

Nice Loki, this is a good set of rules but there is one problem. Why would people follow them? Those of us that read and agree that they are good rules aren't the problems. It is the spammer/troll/idiot variety that would refuse to follow the rules. It would be nice if we could get everyone to follow the rules but it just won't happen. Anyways, good job. :up:

[termite]

Rules are made to be broken but guidelines are flexible - I prefer guidelines.:)

[termite]

termite, we can call these kangaroos if it makes you feel better

Nah! Then I'd have to shoot and eat the damn rules, even I'd have trouble swallowing that.:eek:

Rules are enforced, guidlines are just that, a guide for the uninitiated.

[RandBlade]

OK then, I still state that there's nothing in your long list of guidelines which isn't in my 2 :p

[termite]

There are times when being sensible makes no sense whatsoever....

...or something like that.:bulb:

[RandBlade]

Being sensible and civil are all you need for a good debate.

And I fiercely oppose #12 and take it as a personal insult! :mad: ;)

[termite]

Originally posted by RandBlade
Being sensible and civil are all you need for a good debate.

And I fiercely oppose #12 and take it as a personal insult! :mad: ;)

Can you back up that position?#1
Show Loki why it is wrong.#2
Are you sure it was 10 pints, not 1/2 pint. #5
You can quote me on that, but since I have no credibility it won't count. #9
You drunks are all the same. #11,#8

Cheers:p

[termite]

Hmm shouldn't there have been some line about steers and queers in that little military sermon?;)

And no, sorry, I just cannot bring myself to salute you Loki.;)

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by termite
Can you back up that position?#1
Show Loki why it is wrong.#2
Are you sure it was 10 pints, not 1/2 pint. #5
You can quote me on that, but since I have no credibility it won't count. #9
You drunks are all the same. #11,#8

Cheers:p 1: Yes because all debates were people are both civil and sensible have not gone into problems.
2: The history of our debates here haven't shown any problems when people are both civil and sensible that shows any reason for this redundant and surely ignored list.
5: I never drink 1/2 pints, thats a womans serving :p
9: Good job I'm not relying on your opinion then isn't it? :p
8, 11: I'm not making generalisations except that people should be sensible and civil.

[RandBlade]

That rule would never affect me since I don't create any rules, and those guidelines were posted when I was completely sober so :p

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by Loki
I don't believe you. A sober person doesn't make a thread about alcoholism.:p Rule number 2: A sensible person wouldn't say anything so silly :p

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by Loki
You violated Rule 8 and 12 by saying that.:p But there are only 3 rules. :p

[earthJoker]

Rule 1: earthJoker is always right

Rule 2: If earthJoker is wrong, see Rule 1.



PS: I just broke rule 12.

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by earthJoker
PS: I just broke rule 12. In case you can't tell from my sig (which you won't obviously if you're reading it on a different date to today), I have too :). Except there are only 3 rules of course so I haven't broken rule 12 as there is no rule 12 :p

[Moridin00]

RB, that new sig of yours is a very scientific way of saying '****, I had a drink!'

:D

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by Moridin00
RB, that new sig of yours is a very scientific way of saying '****, I had a drink!'

:D :D ;)

[Loki]

Originally posted by RandBlade
In case you can't tell from my sig (which you won't obviously if you're reading it on a different date to today), I have too :). Except there are only 3 rules of course so I haven't broken rule 12 as there is no rule 12 :p

So are we ever going to make rule 12 official, or what?

[T3RROR]

bah just shoot your opponent, end of discusion.:D :up:

[BeatConductor]

How about.. Don't be such a biased person?

[Blood & Ashes]

Originally posted by BeatConductor
How about.. Don't be such a biased person?

Bias is what makes debate possible.:confused:

[BeatConductor]

Well when I hear the word "bias", something tells me that some person got brainwashed by someone telling things that might not be true.

I might be stupid on this.

[Blood & Ashes]

Originally posted by BeatConductor
Well when I hear the word "bias", something tells me that some person got brainwashed by someone telling things that might not be true.

I might be stupid on this.

I think bias means you're not objectional. You can't debate if you're objectional.

[Pain-4_Pleasure]

For me, a debate must make a commitment to the truth. After all, this is the way that I learn new information and correct/discard previous information. :up:

[termite]

Originally posted by Pain-4_Pleasure
For me, a debate must make a commitment to the truth. After all, this is the way that I learn new information and correct/discard previous information. :up:

The truth, you can't handle the truth!

:eek:

One mans truth is another mans laughable fantasy - and vise versa.

Points of view differ and therefore the truth differs, particluarly in matters of politics, religion and reality TV.

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by Loki
So are we ever going to make rule 12 official, or what? I was thinking of putting Rule 12 into the new FAQ ;). Good bumpage, I thought this thread would have been long pruned.

Trying to remember what my "**** I just had a drink" sig was. I believe from memory I had a counter showing how many days since I last had a drink (reached ~30 IIRC) and then I ticked it over to 0.

[Philosophy101]

Originally posted by Loki

17. Just because someone won the Noble Peace Prize, it doesn’t make them peaceful. It usually means that they stopped being violent for that year alone.:)


Come on, Jimmy Carter wasn't that bad.

[RandBlade]

Originally posted by BeatConductor
Well when I hear the word "bias", something tells me that some person got brainwashed by someone telling things that might not be true.

I might be stupid on this. Every single person in the world is biased. We all have our own paradigms, our own beliefs, our own experience and our own thoughts. You can't be objective with all that, it's not possible.

[Illusions]

You've just basically outlawed Lewk from posting ever again...

...and what about those of us who aren't attempting to win the debate most of the time...but gain information?

(This not being able to use appropriate smileys is killing me...)

Rule #B: Don't post if you're having a mental/emotional/psychotic episode, unless its to post about your said mental/emotional/psychotic episode.

[DIH49]

Wow. Before I saw the dates I though CK was back.

[Kerberos2002]

-------from Loki's thread-----
8. Don’t use ad hominem. That means no personal insults. If you have a problem with a certain position, say that that argument is stupid, don’t call the person making that argument stupid. And even if you call the argument stupid, you better be able to explain why.

-----------------------
Lol, Loki suggesting that ?? It's like the devil trying to receive the Lord's Supper ;) ;)

[Weiner]

Rules for a debate?

There is only one. Be a master.http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/ups/budaz/jerk.gif