Conservative (or Liberal, or any other) Only debates...

[Cooky]

Oh, quit being naive. Maybe on paper you have a point but you are talking theory. The truth is you have been on this Forum way too long to be hopelessly delusional about how things work in reality.

The fact is that open debates can -- and routinely do -- reduce the discussion to the lowest sticking point. It goes like this:

CAPITALIST: Let's talk about how capitalism drives innovation.

SOCIALIST: No way! I want to talk about how capitalism exploits workers.

So they end up debating how capitalism exploits workers and nothing much more is said about how capitalism drives innovation.​

Again....

CHRISTIAN: Let's talk about how God is Love.

ATHEIST: You got to be kidding me. You have not even proved that God exists. You need to prove that first!

So they end up debating whether God exists or not.​

Again...

REPUBLICAN: Trump needs to appoint right-to-life judges to the Supreme Court.

DEMOCRAT: WTF? Trump is the most crooked president we've ever had.

So they end up debating Trump's business dealings or some such thing.​

The purpose of protected forums is so people can get past the lowest sticking point. If you don't know that by now, you have not been paying attention.


By the way. If you see someone using such a forum to bash their opponents, then don't whine about it -- report them. That's a violation of the rules. If you haven't been reporting them for doing it, then you have no right to complain about it.

Good points. I can think of some things I don't quite like that other conservatives do and vice versa... It would be a good platform for eliminating noise.

 

[Cooky]

I've been participating in forums like RF since 1998. That's 22 years. The discussion-debate characteristics of all forums have been very similar. In all that time, you are the first poster I've encountered to claim that open debates routinely reduce the discussion to the lowest sticking point.

There are two possibilities: You are either the most discerning forum member I've encountered in 22 years or you don't know what you're talking about. Since the odds heavily favor the latter, I think you're probably spouting nonsense.

Nevertheless, one thing is certain: Accusing me of pretense because I don't recognize the truth of your unsupported claim should tell unbiased readers more about your character than mine.

He seems right though.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

There are several "only" forums I'm able to post in.
They're very seldom interesting.

Hmmm.....
Ya know what might be really useful?
A "Civil Only" forum for any topic.
Imagine a strict prohibition of insulting each other....no
name calling, no insults, no comparison to YECs, etc.
It would take some discipline to remain in it....some
habits to break, but it could be interesting & peaceful.

Then we'd need 'Uncivil Only' too, to maintain karmic balance.
Infractions for polite discourse and use of manners.

 

[Revoltingest]

Then we'd need 'Uncivil Only' too, to maintain karmic balance.
Infractions for polite discourse and use of manners.

@Quagmire has already proposed a no holds
barred forum in a thread floating that trial balloon.

 

[Sunstone]

I've been participating in forums like RF since 1998. That's 22 years. The discussion-debate characteristics of all forums have been very similar. In all that time, you are the first poster I've encountered to claim that open debates routinely reduce the discussion to the lowest sticking point.

There are two possibilities: You are either the most discerning forum member I've encountered in 22 years or you don't know what you're talking about. Since the odds heavily favor the latter, I think you're probably spouting nonsense.

Nevertheless, one thing is certain: Accusing me of pretense because I don't recognize the truth of your unsupported claim should tell unbiased readers more about your character than mine.

Believe what you want to believe.

 

[crossfire]

My observations:

"It's not fair that these people get to talk in a protected area without outside critique!"

So, goes to a less restricted discussion area to discuss topics from the protected area, to be greeted with comments such as this:

"Can you use smaller words? Can you be less technical? I can't follow along!"

**throws up hands** I give up!