New Thread Type Idea - Soliciting Feedback

[RightinNYC]

So I was thinking about this a bit earlier today and wanted to bounce it off of you all to see what you think about it:

DP is outstanding for political debate, and is the best place I know of to come and have a good discussion about any of hundreds of different issues. However, people generally stick to debating things that they already know at least something about and are often hesitant to get involved in a discussion about a topic that they feel unqualified to comment on.

What about if we had some threads that were specifically designed to be a place to inform people about particular issues?

What I'm envisioning is threads about particularly interesting issues that people might not know too much about, but would like to learn about. The purpose of the thread wouldn't be to really debate an issue, but to post links to relevant and high-quality sources that would help casual readers to really understand what the issue is about and the different political approaches toward the problem. The threads would be moderated so as to keep the focus on informing people of the facts of the issue rather than arguing about biased viewpoints or 10 second soundbytes.

I think I'm going to do a test run on one or two issues that are somewhat non-controversial in order to see what people think. I'm envisioning these threads as being long-standing resources that could be updated as new information comes out and could add a new aspect to that of DP's already outstanding allure - that of a high quality news/research aggregation site.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Criticism?

[bhkad]

Information is already available but because people are lazy and or stupid I think your idea is a good one but the people who need it the most won't make use of it anyway.

I'm in a mood where I'm hating stupid people as opposed to just tolerating them.

[RightinNYC]

The first one is up:

http://www.debatepolitics.com/immigr...tml#post626188 (DP Issue Thread: Immigration)

The topic is immigration. I'd love it if anyone who cared about either the issue or this type of thread would head over there and add some information. If you do so, please remember to maintain a neutral tone and provide links for your sources.

Thanks a bunch!

[Lachean]

Originally Posted by bhkad

Information is already available but because people are lazy and or stupid I think your idea is a good one but the people who need it the most won't make use of it anyway.

"Whatever information there is, exists, it is out there. People should decide for themselves, they will, it is not my role to decide for them, that would be morally presumptuous."
- Thank You For Smoking

Originally Posted by bhkad

I'm in a mood where I'm hating stupid people as opposed to just tolerating them.

For once I can agree with you. After a long hard day I like to come home, open a beer, and assert my intellectual superiority over someone....

Originally Posted by RightinNYC

Thoughts? Suggestions? Criticism?

I think the issues warranting the most attention are going to be the most likely to be crashed by some flaming partisan hack or mindless zealot.

However, a clear concise list of facts and sources, as well as the talking points on either side of any issue would make it easy to point out those who are not actually debunking the issue they oppose.

[RightinNYC]

Originally Posted by Lachean

I think the issues warranting the most attention are going to be the most likely to be crashed by some flaming partisan hack or mindless zealot.

Agreed, but I have no reservations about deleting posts that I don't think add value to the thread.

However, a clear concise list of facts and sources, as well as the talking points on either side of any issue would make it easy to point out those who are not actually debunking the issue they oppose.

This is what I envision as an eventual end goal - a comprehensive thread for each of many different topics that gives some background about the issue, why its important, different considerations, arguments for both sides, competing studies that indicate possible resolutions, and the stances of various politicians on the issue.

I think it would make for a heightened level of debate pretty much across the board.

[Lachean]

Originally Posted by RightinNYC

Agreed, but I have no reservations about deleting posts that I don't think add value to the thread.



This is what I envision as an eventual end goal - a comprehensive thread for each of many different topics that gives some background about the issue, why its important, different considerations, arguments for both sides, competing studies that indicate possible resolutions, and the stances of various politicians on the issue.

I think it would make for a heightened level of debate pretty much across the board.

No pun intended?

We'll then I am all for it. I have already tried this thought with threads such as "Logical Fallacies: How to argue" and "What Atheism Isn't" but it seems no matter the facts, some zealots ignore the OP and rant anyways.

[talloulou]

It might be interesting to have a "fact" section for certain threads. A section where just facts are listed and nothing else. No tone, no opinion, no expert waxing and waning but just these are the facts we know for sure..... I'd personally love it if the cable news channels did this. Just sort of listed the undeniable agreed upon facts before allowing the talking heads to just go off.

[1069]

Originally Posted by talloulou

It might be interesting to have a "fact" section for certain threads. A section where just facts are listed and nothing else. No tone, no opinion, no expert waxing and waning but just these are the facts we know for sure..... I'd personally love it if the cable news channels did this. Just sort of listed the undeniable agreed upon facts before allowing the talking heads to just go off.

Frankly, that sounds boring as all hell.

[talloulou]

Originally Posted by 1069

Frankly, that sounds boring as all hell.

Not to me. I'd like to hear facts and come to a conclusion on my own before hearing what others think. Sometimes I'm not sure if I think what I think because I really think that or because I've been conditioned to think that. So much of the news these days is delivered with spin. I'd hate to think I agreed with someone because they had mastered the art of spinning while the awkward geeky guy who doesn't articulate well is the one who really knows what he's talking about.

Honestly I've heard people talk and come to the conclusion that I agree with them and think a certain way only to catch myself and realize I don't know all the facts, I was never given the facts, and then if I'm interested enough I go do a little research and I always hate to find that I had been agreeing with the fool all along 'cause he came off more personable.

[Psychoclown]

This sounds like a great idea and can be a really useful tool to those who use it. I do agree those probably most inclined to use it are probably the ones who least need it, but at least its there.