Slight rule change proposal

The name of this forum is DebatePolitics. Seems pretty straightforward but I think there needs to be a small clarification. Debate is a formal discussion with the ultimate goal of seeking truth. However, I have noticed that some members of this site are more interested in spreading disinformation and in some cases outright lies.

I concede debate has room for emotional arguments but not outright falsehoods. If individuals are allowed to spread falsehoods then the foundation of the debate is destroyed. With the introduction of lies, a debate loses all of its value.

As a community, we should be more concerned with truth-seeking rather than trying to cover for our favorite politician. Additionally, there are multiple recent examples of individuals posting knowingly false information to the internet and causing real-world harm.(Pizzagate, Van Bomber, etc)

I propose the following rules to be added to the site guidelines:

• Do not make any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation. Do not use any false writing or source knowing the source contains materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements.
• When making claims of underlying sources, provide a link or other citation to allow verification.

I believe that the existence of these rules will raise the quality of the debate on this site.

EDIT: I also believe the enforcement of this rule needs to only be taken in blatant cases.

You seem to be asking for the impossible - that DebatePolitics moderators become "fact checkers" for any and all assertions (assumptions?) contained within each post. Taking that even one step further, you seem to wish the "validity" of linked material to become the responsibility of the poster, and by extension the moderation staff, for including that link.

For the sake of example - would making the assertion that abortion is murder (or homicide) be prohibited under your proposed "just the facts" rule change?

How about asserting that those on the left include many (or most) socialists or those on the right include many (or most) racists? What, exactly, is the definition of "many" and how would one determine "most" (of those in one's own household, within a chosen city or must it be a worldwide majority)?

Tough to enforce, and it puts the DP staff into a condition of having to evaluate each post and linked article (or whatever source) in every single thread of the forums to the point of making the judgement on "blatant cases" of disinformation and lies. Even if reduced to just evaluating what is reported it still turns into a nightmare of dealing with legitimate complaints vs. complaints where someone simply disagrees with something suggesting the post and/or the link is a lie without providing a source for "truth."

Way too problematic to apply a simple rule to.

Then you get into theology, philosophy, political theory, sciences and this is amplified dramatically.

I have unintentionally posted false information and misleading videos. The result? I got my ass handed to me as soon as other posters looked into it. Now if I liked the propaganda and refused to concede I was wrong, that would be a personal failing and eventually posters would see me as a troll or a partisan hack. I think it is relatively self policing. This isn't Facebook where you can recede into your bubble and post crap to your like minded friends with abandon and unfriend those who contest your claims. Posters can and will call you out on your crap.

BlackJackal; said:

However, I have noticed that some members of this site are more interested in spreading disinformation and in some cases outright lies.

Click to expand...

True enough.

However, interpretation/enforcement of your suggestion would be very problematic and extremely unwieldy.

as in every other circle of life, buyer beware

if someone uses a source, either you read and trust, or you read and dont trust....your choice

if that source cant be verified then that probably answered your question as to the veracity of the site

but asking that each post, each source, each poster tell the absolute truth

sorry....just not going to happen

this is the human race.....

Not happening. Glad I can help.

Moderator's Warning:

Such a rule wouldn't work at all. As other have stated, this isn't even remotely viable.

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