Full Version: Debate effectiveness
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer Simpson.
Here at AD the posts fly pretty fast and furious. Sometimes the Moderators have to reign it all in and keep it
at a respectful level.
Yet the effectiveness of a debate doesn't always seem clear. Everyone has their prejudices and are not easily swayed.
So what is the effectiveness of a debate. How can you judge whether a debate is constructive and with purpose and when
is it just a flame war.
They do not always appear so on the surface. There are many debates where each point and counterpoint is just
restrained flaming."Facts" and references are presented Ad Nauseum and for every point made it is nullified with
another conflicting point.
To reference that Great American Homer, when do the facts matter?
How do you establish the validity and relativity of "Facts'.
Given time one can find a reference or quote or "Study" for any occasion.
Debates are often restrained to the "Factual" but are often won on the emotional level.
It was once asked if you have changed your opinions because of arguments presented here at AD.
Yet since the WOT the level of partisanship and Factions has markedly increased.
So the questions for "debate" are
How should the "Facts" be judged for validity. Can there BE a Gold standard?
When does emotion trump factual and should it?
(After all if we all decided issues on the logical level we'd be vulcans and probably dull.)
How effective is AD at debate.
Can a clear winner be established in an ongoing debate?
as an after thought
(Not to over work Mike)
Can you think of any ideas(such as a Poll type vote system where arguments could be judged) to establish a winner?
QUOTE
Ok guys, lets try not to let the debate get too personal. We all have our own biases and positions on these issues
(or else this site would be hella-boring.) smile.gif
Lets debate the facts, not people posting.
--Ultimate Joe (or else this site would be hella-boring.) smile.gif
Lets debate the facts, not people posting.
Here at AD the posts fly pretty fast and furious. Sometimes the Moderators have to reign it all in and keep it
at a respectful level.
Yet the effectiveness of a debate doesn't always seem clear. Everyone has their prejudices and are not easily swayed.
So what is the effectiveness of a debate. How can you judge whether a debate is constructive and with purpose and when
is it just a flame war.
They do not always appear so on the surface. There are many debates where each point and counterpoint is just
restrained flaming."Facts" and references are presented Ad Nauseum and for every point made it is nullified with
another conflicting point.
To reference that Great American Homer, when do the facts matter?
How do you establish the validity and relativity of "Facts'.
Given time one can find a reference or quote or "Study" for any occasion.
Debates are often restrained to the "Factual" but are often won on the emotional level.
It was once asked if you have changed your opinions because of arguments presented here at AD.
Yet since the WOT the level of partisanship and Factions has markedly increased.
So the questions for "debate" are
How should the "Facts" be judged for validity. Can there BE a Gold standard?
When does emotion trump factual and should it?
(After all if we all decided issues on the logical level we'd be vulcans and probably dull.)
How effective is AD at debate.
Can a clear winner be established in an ongoing debate?
as an after thought
(Not to over work Mike)
Can you think of any ideas(such as a Poll type vote system where arguments could be judged) to establish a winner?
CLOSED - there is too much here to debate. If you would like this to be an assessment of AD-specific debates, please start the topic in Comments & Suggestions. Otherwise, please restart the thread with more general questions that fit under the heading "General Political Debate. Thanks 
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