Civil Debate - Page 2

rat156 · #21 11-03-2010, 04:21 PM

Excerpt from a PM I sent to Mike re Voldemort...

"Locking the thread was the right thing to do as people can't seem to have a civil debate anymore without reverting to name calling.

Oh well, I was enjoying the argument (but I did pay for the full half hour...)"

Wonderfully circular guys.

Cheers
Stuart

DavidU (Dave) · #22 11-03-2010, 05:10 PM

http://www.mindspring.com/~mfpatton/sketch.htm

GrampianStars (Rob) · #23 11-03-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidU

http://www.mindspring.com/~mfpatton/sketch.htm

wipes tears from eyes

seeing is believing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMlv3ripSM
ahh! living in the 70's (sorry Skyhooks)

Some people on forums not quick of intellect are too gauche to leave when they become morally vexed by others responses.

marki · #24 11-03-2010, 09:08 PM

Well the way I see it is that you all have the right to MY OPINION

. Like waving a red flag in front of a bull....I will be off now........

Mark

dugnsuz (Doug) · #25 11-03-2010, 10:15 PM

I enjoyed the "Speed doesn't kill" thread apart from the name calling towards the end.
Reckon a poll should have been attached to that thread to assess the % of people who would have supported (or not) the central premise.

As for civil debate on online forums...forget it. Things always degenerate into farce when polarized opinions are at play. Fun to watch from the sidelines I must admit. Things are a bit more heated and personal for those involved though! Doesn't matter in the end as its all hot air which eventually slowly cools.
Nighty Night!!
Doug

mithrandir (Andrew) · #26 11-03-2010, 11:08 PM

As I've said before, civility and thinking before submitting goes a long way to making a difference of opinion a debate and not a slanging match. You are much more likely to have a constructive thread if people remember that.

Both sides carry baggage into the debate. You might think the opponent's comment is lacking in intelligence and intellectual rigor. They think the same of you. Keep it polite or keep out.

Two guests nearly had a punch up over dinner when a discussion touched a raw nerve. Being face to face doesn't guarantee better reactions.

Peter Ward · #27 12-03-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

I enjoyed the "Speed doesn't kill" thread apart from the name calling towards the end.

Yep have to say I was enjoying it too. Name calling leaves me unfazed, those that do simply show a Neanderthal nature & a lack of a critical thought process.

Philosophy 101...make a statement, test it's truth by finding the exception, modify the statement to account for this & test again.

After several loops you can find something that resembles "truth"....unfortunately this rudimentary process is not taught in schools....(yes, I know that last bit may be false

)

sheeny (Al) · #28 12-03-2010, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

......and shows once again our systems can be misguided by PC spin, rather than good analysis.

"Peter Ward's war on PC Correctness"... sounds like a TV show... I think I'd watch it!

Go for it, Peter

.

Al.

rat156 · #29 12-03-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

I enjoyed the "Speed doesn't kill" thread apart from the name calling towards the end.
Reckon a poll should have been attached to that thread to assess the % of people who would have supported (or not) the central premise.

As for civil debate on online forums...forget it. Things always degenerate into farce when polarized opinions are at play. Fun to watch from the sidelines I must admit. Things are a bit more heated and personal for those involved though! Doesn't matter in the end as its all hot air which eventually slowly cools.
Nighty Night!!
Doug

We would need a before and after poll, what you thought before any arguments were presented, then after say five pages of to and fro. It would be interesting to see if anyone's opinion changed in the slightest.

Cheers
Stuart

AndrewJ · #30 12-03-2010, 09:03 AM

Just for a spooky closer on the prev thread
Was listening to 774 in Melb last night and the
exact same argument was being discussed.
Ie the talk put out by the safety boss of Mercedes.
That discussion remained civil, but both sides of the
argument appeared again, and both sides totally
one eyed

Andrew

taminga16 (Greg) · #31 12-03-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

After several loops you can find something that resembles "truth"....unfortunately this rudimentary process is not taught in schools....(yes, I know that last bit may be false

)

Some years ago I recall Gough Whitlam speaking of Malcom Fraser after a discussion became contradictory, when Gough said 'that the problem of arguing with Malcom was that he said things twice and thought that they were true'.

Greg.

xelasnave · #32 12-03-2010, 11:09 AM

We are never wrong

but perhaps have not made our point entirely clear so that others must agree

.
alex

sjastro · #33 12-03-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rat156

We would need a before and after poll, what you thought before any arguments were presented, then after say five pages of to and fro. It would be interesting to see if anyone's opinion changed in the slightest.

Cheers
Stuart

A gladitorial contest with audience participation. Trolls would have a field day.

Steven

xelasnave · #34 12-03-2010, 11:23 AM

I am happy to judge the merits of all issues and decide which view is correct if that helps avoid the druge of a poll

alex

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #35 12-03-2010, 11:37 AM

Well, I was just waiting for one more post from Peter before admitting I was about to change sides...

AstralTraveller (David) · #36 12-03-2010, 02:11 PM

There seems to be a view that a debate is pointless unless someone 'wins' and the other party conceeds defeat. As has been said that is very unlikely, to say the least. However I wonder whether that really is an important metric.

I have changed opinion on a few things over the years, often as a result (at least in part) of participating in a debate or listening to one. But I have never put up my arms and said 'you win'. It tends to be that exposure to different points of view affects ones thinking over time. So lets continue to have debates but keep them civil debates, not civil wars!

avandonk · #37 12-03-2010, 02:14 PM

I have seen some absolute pearlers.

Aircraft on a treadmill, will it take off?

Helicopter on a turntable, will it take off?

And last but not least, what colour is a tennis ball!

And I still reckon the tennis ball is green! So there!

Bert

TrevorW · #38 13-03-2010, 10:02 AM

It's like the man on the soapbox and the hecklers in the crowd you'll never get the hecklers to agree with your point of view no matter what however people with open minds will evaluate your comments, make a decision, then either stay or walk away

UK1 (Rob) · #39 13-03-2010, 10:27 AM

Is that why on TV Debates they have Ray Martin and the Worm ??/

AstralTraveller (David) · #40 13-03-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UK1

Is that why on TV Debates they have Ray Martin and the Worm ??/

No. The worm is to make Ray look better. It doesn't work.