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Does Honest Debate Require Anonymity?

Mmm?

  • Yes, honest debate requires secrecy.

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • Yes, honest debate requires distance.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, honest debate requires trust.

    Votes: 7 87.5%

  • No, honest debate requires closeness.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    8
Daktoria

Daktoria

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Is it possible to have an honest discussion of ideas while knowing who you're talking with...

...or do people have to be complete strangers to be willing to discuss issues outside of ulterior motives and special interests?
 
I don't think that honest debate requires any of the 4 choices. When you debate people that you know really well, you can use maneuvers and traps because you know how they are going to respond.

But since it's "honest" I'll pick trust.
 
Daktoria said:
Is it possible to have an honest discussion of ideas while knowing who you're talking with...

...or do people have to be complete strangers to be willing to discuss issues outside of ulterior motives and special interests?
Click to expand...

Please provide your name, address, social security number and we'll talk.
 
Mickey Shane said:
I don't think that honest debate requires any of the 4 choices. When you debate people that you know really well, you can use maneuvers and traps because you know how they are going to respond.
Click to expand...

Do you believe maneuvers and traps are possible without prior knowledge?

To be clear, I'm not just talking about traps either. Many people debate for the sake of consensus, but they only seek consensus with favorites.
 
I think honest debate requires people willing to be honest, no matter what circumstances the debate or discussion takes place under.

There are people on this site who are either liars or have minds so absolutely warped they can no longer distuingish between reality and their political fictional world where only what they agree with is truth, Anonymity only compounds this problem.
 
Jetboogieman said:
I think honest debate requires people willing to be honest, no matter what circumstances the debate or discussion takes place under.

There are people on this site who are either liars or have minds so absolutely warped they can no longer distuingish between reality and their political fictional world where only what they agree with is truth, Anonymity only compounds this problem.
Click to expand...

...so you believe people can only debate when they see things from the same premises?

Do you believe people can debate premises themselves?
 
I picked trust also but I think that there's more than one answer. I think you will get more honesty from some people who are anonymous. Just look at the threads here. You can see people express opinions that they might not express openly to others.
 
NameGoesHere said:
I picked trust also but I think that there's more than one answer. I think you will get more honesty from some people who are anonymous. Just look at the threads here. You can see people express opinions that they might not express openly to others.
Click to expand...

Well by debate, I meant exchange, not just expression.

It seems that a lot of the time, anonymous members get overlooked because they don't have a reputation. People get bored and suspicious.
 
Daktoria said:
Well by debate, I meant exchange, not just expression.

It seems that a lot of the time, anonymous members get overlooked because they don't have a reputation. People get bored and suspicious.
Click to expand...

Then for me it would have to be trust. I want to know that the person is not going to use something I say against me for their own benefit.
 
The only thing honest debate requires is honesty. What compels people to be honest differs from person to person. For some people, it's trust in who they're debating. For others, it's anonymity. For still more, it's conviction or something else.
 
Jetboogieman said:
I think honest debate requires people willing to be honest, no matter what circumstances the debate or discussion takes place under.

There are people on this site who are either liars or have minds so absolutely warped they can no longer distuingish between reality and their political fictional world where only what they agree with is truth, Anonymity only compounds this problem.
Click to expand...


Or just agree to "belong" or agree because its a particular person that said it....or disagrees because a particular person said it....
You can compare it to the "like" button...many hit Like for everything a certain individual says no matter how stupid..wrong or sarcastic...and they wont hit like for others no matter what they say....same mentality
 
honest online debate requires no fear of retribution. that is why anonymity is important.
 
Honest debate requires an honest opponent without extreme attitude issues.
 
Helix said:
honest online debate requires no fear of retribution. that is why anonymity is important.
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Never fear being honest about what you believe...no matter who likes it...theres no one way streets with opinions and beliefs.
 
lpast said:
Or just agree to "belong" or agree because its a particular person that said it....or disagrees because a particular person said it....
You can compare it to the "like" button...many hit Like for everything a certain individual says no matter how stupid..wrong or sarcastic...and they wont hit like for others no matter what they say....same mentality
Click to expand...

I'd "like" this but you're on my revised list of people whose posts I cannot like. Sorry.
 
lpast said:
Never fear being honest about what you believe...no matter who likes it...theres no one way streets with opinions and beliefs.
Click to expand...

some of the political hacks are employers. i never know what flavor of extreme political views my next employer might have. i'm not going to leave a google trail for them to follow.
 
Helix said:
some of the political hacks are employers. i never know what flavor of extreme political views my next employer might have. i'm not going to leave a google trail for them to follow.
Click to expand...

I was thinking in a much narrower sense of political forums such as this...
 
Honest debate neither requires anonymity, nor is it incompatible.

I used to debate in a forum that was a subforum of the music scene here in the Twin Cities. Most of us either knew each other, if not personally, then at least through mutual friends. You were probably in a band with one of them, or someone that was in a band with one of them once. If people hadn't met me in the flesh before, when I did they'd say something like "So you're Rocket..." It also led to interesting situations where after having a row with someone they'd be like "I'm gonna kick your ass after our next show together." I don't think that ever really happened, but the threat was made.

That said, not knowing you people is kind of nice. Though some of you would be interesting to meet.
 
I would gladly provide my name, address, telephone number, and social security number...except for the fact that there are some obsessive wackos out there and I've already been a victim of internet stalking & even suggestions of violence against me.

so for now, while its legal, I shall stay anonymous.
 
Thunder said:
I would gladly provide my name, address, telephone number, and social security number...except for the fact that there are some obsessive wackos out there and I've already been a victim of internet stalking & even suggestions of violence against me.

so for now, while its legal, I shall stay anonymous.
Click to expand...

You would be a damn fool to do that
 
Some people are as authentically themselves online as they are in their ordinary lives, but some are poseurs while others are just crazy. Anonymity brings out the crazy, I think, but it's also protection for normal people.
 
lpast said:
You would be a damn fool to do that
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hell, in the past on other forums I've seen folks post their home & work addresses, even photos of themselves & relatives.

if it wasn't soooo dangerous...it would be hilariously stupid.
 
Last edited:
Daktoria said:
Is it possible to have an honest discussion of ideas while knowing who you're talking with...

...or do people have to be complete strangers to be willing to discuss issues outside of ulterior motives and special interests?
Click to expand...

It is possible to have an honest discussion without anonymity. Though that is not a reason to remove anonymity from the internet.
 
Daktoria said:
Is it possible to have an honest discussion of ideas while knowing who you're talking with...

...or do people have to be complete strangers to be willing to discuss issues outside of ulterior motives and special interests?
Click to expand...

It's possible to have an honest discussion of ideas with someone you know, if each of you are emotionally secure enough to handle disagreements. You can also have honesty with complete strangers if you are willing to disclose your honest thoughts. It really just depends on whom is doing the discussing.
 
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