A Formal Conservation of Debate/Space

[Yoda]

In the interest of lessening confusing and chaos, I suggest that all the little arguments drifting around about race, ideals, religion, evolution, etc, be formalized to a degree. Certain rules set in place. I say we organize things just enough to clean up the messier, more troublesome aspects of the current arguments, and finally hash out who believes what, why, and why they think the others are wrong.

I've got some proposed rules, but all will be treated Democratically. I think this could do wonders to reduce confusion and simply have it out without any anger or misunderstandings.

Who's in?

[rubyblood]

Me
I was on the Speech/Debate team!
Can we do it LD style?

[Yoda]

Dunno; what's LD? :D I've heard it used as an ancronym for many things.

Cool, glad you're in. The MoFo Debating Society may actually take shape. :D

[Sir Toose]

I'm in, post the rules and we shall debate them first.



:D

[Yoda]

Originally posted by Toose
I'm in, post the rules and we shall debate them first.



:D
:rotfl:

This'll be fun. :D

[The Silver Bullet]

I'm in and thrusting orgasmically.

[rubyblood]

LD= Lincoln Douglas

[Yoda]

I'm unfamiliar with those. Enlighten me, and anyone else here who hasn't heard of them, if you're willing! :)

EDIT: I just looked into it a bit, and it seems pretty vague, but straightforward. If I've understood correctly, then yes, I'd be cool with it. :)

[firegod]

For the most part, I think I'll just do what I've been doing: express my opinions and reply to other opinions when I feel the urge to. Misunderstandings will happen whether there are rules or not.

[The Silver Bullet]

Sigh.

:rolleyes:

[firegod]

*BURP*
:drevil:

[Sir Toose]

So what's up with this?


Are we gonna throw down or not?


I'll start, then.

I Do believe in a higher power. I also believe that organized religion bites. It's corrupt/corruptable and responsible for more pain than it's worth. I think modern organized religion is a catalyst for divisive thought and I think it feeds negative emotions regarding differences in beliefs.


Discuss

[The Silver Bullet]

I agree.
Organised religion is evil.

[Yoda]

Originally posted by The Silver Bullet
I agree.
Organised religion is evil.
I do not agree. I agree that organized religion is every bit as fallible as man...but not MORE fallible. I believe people use religion as an excuse for evil the same way they do any other thing. To me, that doesn't make it evil. The institution itself is sound, but abused. I wouldn't say that cars are evil, even though they cause many deaths each year. I would reserve the term evil for the drunk drivers, if I were to use it at all. So in that respect, I disagree severely.

I would also disagree with the opinion that organized religion has done more harm than good. I think it's goodness merely comes in smaller doses. Despite what many people would have you believe, organized Christianity does not merely boil down to the Crusades, The Salem Witch Trials, and the Spanish Inquisition. There is much good throughout...you just have to look for it, because anti-religious folks won't be throwing it at you quite the same way as those three events, for example.

So, I partially agree. I think organized religion is a good thing, but it's as susceptible to corruption and mistakes as any other human organization as things stand right now. Unfortunately. I think that WILL be remedied in time, however. I certainly hope so.

[Herod]

Wasn't this thread supposed to be about the rules , or the idea of forming rules for debating on MoFo? As opposed to the argument that Toose has started. If this scuffle is going to get bigger, I'd suggest that you guys move the debate to the Religion thread.


Anyways, I'm not quite prepared to form guidelines for MoFo arguments, but I'm hoping someone elses is, thusly making these things a tad more refined.
Well, maybe I am, here goes:

This will be done as a sort of recommended post-template...

Part 1:
This part of the post will be concerned with debating the relevant posts before you. Heavy quoting is smiled upon, and highly recommended. You can use this part of the post to tear apart other peoples arguments.
Please keep in mind, that seperate paragraphs should be used for debating seperate arguments, unless they are essentially the same.
Example:

Originally posted by TravistheFly
I disagree, I thonk pancakes are related to the lords work.
Travis you are an idiot.

(new paragraph)

originally posted by Jimmythegun
Jesus would support me eating waffles, I'm sure. And if I decide to kick a baby on the way to eating my waffles, I'm sure that would fit in under the waffle-eating category.

You too, are an idiot.




Part Two:
This is where you will get to the meat of your argument. Although allusions to part one are allowed, they are not recommended.


Part Three:
Conclusion.
This should be where you tie your argument into the other peoples, make all the necessary connections to justify part Two, and in essence, wrap up your posts.


Tidbits:
Being petty is a plus. Point out bad spelling, grammatical errors, or sentences that don't make sense, go nuts with it.

Be logical. If you are illogical, other MoFo'ers have the right to say that you are fat and smelly.

Stay Humorous. People dissagreeing with you, or sometimes even making fun of your posts, are most likely not making a personal attack on you. Keep a sense of humor.





Well, that's the best I can muster right now. Feel free to criticize, as I'm not yet far enough removed from having written it to decide wether it's good.
We'll see what happens.

[rubyblood]

i agree with Herodotus

[Sir Toose]

Oh my

I do apologize. I thought that all arguments were being relegated to a single thread. My mistake... shall I respond to your smelly posts ( ;D ) here...or shall we move the arguments?

[Yoda]

I'd mostly agree: if you have any notes, keep them before or after the meat of the arguments. And quote HEAVILY. No doubt that. And if you're quoting more than one person...specify the difference somehow.

I feel oglibated to specify some sort of rule on insults, but I doubt that would work out all that well, as we're all going to feel the need to call each other "ridiculous" at least once. Hopefully it won't degrade into anything lower, however.

[Herod]

You got me. My post was being smelly.












and fat.

[Sir Toose]

No worries, Chris... it appears that we're all a civilized bunch.


(For now)

[Herod]

So, whatever happened to this thing?
I spent all day slaving over a hot stove in order to form these guiedlines, and no one seems to notice...
It's almost enough to motivate me to have a torrid affair with our pool cleaner, Ramon.