Caine

Ever since the decision to start up the true debates again at the beginning of the year, there has been a serious lack of interest in participation in true debates. We have had plenty of users express interest in topic choices and different ideas/rules/guidelines for how to conduct the true debates, but when it comes time for a true debate, it appears that nobody is willing to participate.

I am starting this thread in hopes that more users who are actually willing to participate in a true debate will speak up.

I am welcoming any additional debate topic ideas as well, and if possible, I would like to keep repeat or extremely similar topics to a minimum. A wide range of topics would be appreciated, I'm trying to stay away from typical partisan debates and try to address some topics that don't necessarily hit the typical party lines.

I would appreciate any input ya'll can give me, Thanks.

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This same attitude is going to be the excuse used when Obama loses. Mark my words.

Binary_Digit

I can't help much with topic ideas, but I have a couple of other ideas that might be helpful:

1. Advertise the True Debates more. Maybe 2-3 weeks before the next one starts, send a PM to all DP members as a reminder. Some people only visit one or two forums, so they might not know enough about the True Debates to be interested. Make sure everyone knows that they don't have to pre-qualify or be selected in order to participate, anyone can sign up with a topic they'd like to debate, and they can win a cool avatar. Also, I would add a sticky in the Battlegrounds forum that describes what True Debates are, lists all the rules, and directs people on where and how to sign up.

2. Instead of limiting the entire debate to 1 week, let each debate go as long as necessary for both sides to complete the format. You can somewhat control how long the debate will last by placing limitations on the formats they can agree on, and requiring that posts be made within a certain amount of time since their opponent's last post. If they have up to 3 days to get together a decent argument, the debate may last up to 3 weeks instead of 1 depending on the format, but I think more people with less time to post will be able to participate then.

3. I think when more people become interested and are willing/able to participate, plenty of new topic suggestions will start pouring in. But I wouldn't be too turned off by topics that hit the typical party lines. IMO they're the best topics. People feel passionately about them and that's why they're partisan wedge issues.

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"Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly, I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked about such a thing.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower

ashurbanipal

I'm still quite willing to debate anyone on the topics I posted about. I'd be especially keen to debate on peak oil.

Felicity

What about "true debate" being a sticky in each appropriate forum rather than in a seperate forum. Then those that search via forum interest would take specific issue to that forum's true debate section and others of like interest would find the debate more easily.

I don't know if that would work with moderation of the "true debates"--but then, I'm not really sure what the "rules' are for true debate either (maybe others are clueless too and so that's why there's little interest.)

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While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. ~*Leonardo Da Vinci*~

Goobieman

I'm willing to debate anyone regarding:

Gun control. I will take the pro-gun side.
NMD. I will take a position favaroable toward the NMD
Election 200: I will take a position that the decisions from the SCotsUS were sound and that the resutil of the election was legitimate.

Format, etc, are open to negotiation.

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Peace is only possible once the benevolent have destroyed the malevolent.
-- Goobieman

1069

What's a true debate?
Like a one-on-one debate?
I might try it.

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"I do love this idea that one can scream and scream and scream, with that utopia just one more scream away."
~ Scucca

niftydrifty

i want to debate Goobie! the "resutil" of "election 200" ... is debatable.

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"I admit it. The liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures." - Bill Kristol

Red_Dave

Im certainly still up for it. I got a pm saying i had one "booked" earlyer this month but it never materialised.

Gardener

You're talking about the little incident transpiring between Septimius Severus and Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, right?


Might that be a wee bit esoteric for the assembled hoards here?

Caine

Thats cause I never received a response from the person who had expressed interest in that topic previously........Sorry I never got back in contact with you about it.