PF Debates: Will You Participate?

That's great. Then they'd/we'd obviously lose. That would be good, right?

 

If I make a suggesation, why don't we try this on a small scale first? Let's find out if it works, and how we can make improvements first, before we jump into this.

 

We have a debate section, but it's not really promoted or known.

I haven't really suckered anyone into that pit with me..

 

well, how about we try right now, in one of those threads? I'll play the opposite role of whatever the topic is?

 

It's not genuine if you're faking. name three of your political stances, random or whatever; I'll find one to fight LOL.

 

First off, I don't see why people who don't want to participate should have any voice in it. They don't need to participate. That doesn't mean others shouldn't be allowed to.

Second, it's transparent. A number of them even started out supporting it. Then they saw that liberals supported it, or they got browbeat by their buddies or something, and now they oppose it... That's not a real opinion, that's just this weird reactionary thing the right does... The other day Frodly and I had like 10 conservatives here debating AGAINST free trade. All it takes now is that if a liberal here supports something, all the conservatives oppose it, even if it is something absolutely central to conservative ideology like free trade... It's hard to put any weight on an "opinion" that is formed that way...

Click on one of the numbers and you get the list. It's pretty much straight party lines. With one exception, all the "no"s are conservatives, all the "maybe"s except one are conservatives, three of the "yes"s are conservatives, but one or two of them claim to have voted that way by mistake...

To be fair, several posters, including myself, have explicitly exempted you and several other high quality conservative posters from the critiques of the right wing posters in general. The quality of your posts is, of course, as high as any liberal on here.

 

This will be fun.
I'm pro-gay, minority, etc. rights.
I think history needs to be taught more in school.
The american revolution caused more pain in the world, than good.

 

Funny, because in a thread just a few days ago you said I was always polite. Apparently trinnity defines trolling as disagreeing with her. If that is the definition, I have no problem with it!!

 

I can't actually debate any of those three things with gusto. I'm sorry to be picky, but three more?

 

that's okay, I know you're from China, how strong are you at Chinese history?

 

Some posters are attempting to have a rational discussion of the issue and certain other posters seem more interested in sniping. The terms of service forbid my mentioning them by name but they are found on both sides of the issue. I think most of us recogize them and suggest the thread might be better served if we simply ignore them and do not respond to their posts.

 

I just explained it limits political discussion, it does not add to anything it's two people. It is merely people wanting to be ''Showcased''. Now do not get me wrong, I believe anybody that feels they really need something like this to prove themselves should pursue it, do it in a Group. That's where it belongs.

It's stupid that something that is this Exclusive and holds so little interest is not in group. That is whats wrong,,,Look at the numbers, you are lucky if you have five actual debaters, and they are almost all Liberal. It is a ''Special interest group'',,,correct? So why are we bothering arguing, put it in group where it belongs and keep our site open to everybody.

The problem is that you are not letting members into a thread, and that is what makes it out of the norm for this site, and therefore exclusive. Why must somebody be ''blackmailed'' into debating one on one to be on a thread, since when? The two posters do not need a thread all to themselves, what the hell is this? This is something you do in a group, and that's why group has the ability to Exclude people, and the thread you are using does not....correct?
In fact if the thread could talk it would say;;

''Hey Pal, there is no Exclude button here, you got the wrong place. Hang a right , two lefts and you will run into the Group section....Park it there!''...........LOL

You could then invite whoever you wanted, that's what you want, right? You guys would be happy, and we would not have to change the the Forum, it remains open posting to everybody. Can you explain to me what's wrong with that?

You guys remind me of Greta Garbo.....

I vont to be Alone~~~~~

 

You are wrong. I clearly differentiate between conservative dolts and other types of conservatives. This post summed up my point well.

I have not attacked all conservatives, I have only attacked a very specific type of conservative. The type who dragged this thread into a partisan gutter. The ones who make lists of liberal posters, most of who are among the better liberal posters, and then claim they are all trolls.

The thing is, I recognize that type of poster exists on the left as well. It just so happens that they, for the most part, are not the posters listed. I think the same thing about the liberals at this forum. But the numbers are more favorable, mostly because conservatives are free to break rules much more freely(as is evidenced by the fact that Trinnity's post listing who she considers trolls not only didn't get her banned, but hasn't even been deleted) and liberals are banned for breaking the rules. That means only the best behaved liberals are capable of sticking around, while only the worst right wing trolls get banned. My best friend is a Republican, and he is the smartest person I know. My Dad is a Republican, and he is my favorite person in the world. My mother, grandparents, uncles, and most of the people I am close with are Republicans. I do not think badly of Republicans. I think badly of a very specific type of unthinking morons who frequent this forum. Then they attack us without hesitation, and then you claim we are being mean for responding. I am sorry, but that is nonsense.

 

We have what is being proposed already, in the debate section. Do you oppose that? I mean it doesn't take anything away from other forums and threads; it's just something added to the forum.

 

It's interesting the poll results pretty much reflect the political mix in America. The percentage of liberals is a little high... but we've got intl influence to account for that.

What's it gonna be mods? Are will we just keep arguing about this subject into infinity?

 

I think Flounder has explained our position quite well. We feel the issue affects everyone, those who would participate and those who would not. I, for one, do not appreciate being told, if I choose to not accept a challenge I am forbidden from participating in a particular thread.

You are making an assumption based on your personal political bias. I could just as easily say that liberal posters are exhibiting a hive mentality by voting for the suggestion en masse.

Your own numbers show that conservatives are more diverse in their opinion and liberals are more monolithic. They fly in the face of what you posted in the previous paragraph.

That's a rather back handed compliment. You are saying that my post are good enough to almost be considered of the caliber of posts by liberals. I prefer to consider them to stand on their own. Would you take it as a compliment if I said your posts are good enough to have been written by a conservative?

 

To save EPV the trouble, I'm reminding people that the poll was never intended to be a vote on whether it would happen. It is a poll on who will participate when it does happen, and help refine the manner in which it would be conducted.

 

That was amusing, but so many of the modern conservatives have different priorities than what the Republican party used to stand for. They talk about the free market constantly, but actually have no interest in the free market except when it conforms with their ideological goals.

I said maybe, because I truly don't like the idea of judging debates, simply because as evidenced by this thread, I don't think unbiased judging is possible. My objection in this thread has not been that people don't like an idea I like, as I don't care about this idea. My objection has been to the behavior of some posters on the right. Making lists of posters, and deeming them trolls is against the rules of this forum, and yet many joined in with glee. Such behavior is indefensible, and yet Frogger is shocked by our behavior, but says nothing about their behavior which precipitated it.


Ps. There are a number of left wing trolls who hate me, because I do not parse words with them. I out trolls of all ideological backgrounds, it would be nice if people on the right did the same. The problem is, when people like Southpaw try, they get run off!!

 

I've had a few interactions with you and they went well. On this thread I've seen a side of you I had not seen before.
I've had no problems with you one on one. I can't help what you posted here.
It's not personal............

 

Can we all please address the discussion in a productive manner, please, rather than attack the way other members post. This is not a thread to insult each other, so a little respect toward one another would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

That's what we plan to do, as the first few will determine the status of future debates (if at all). We anticipate quite a few tweaks here and there in order to try to make things better, which could include scrapping judging all together.

 

Sorry, I didn't see this post. I'm pretty strong on it but I'd prefer to make it something everyone can understand at some level.

 

I don't see how it would possibly affect anybody that didn't participate. I haven't seen any arguments presented for how it would, but please direct me to the post where you think Flounder made one.

We don't really have a masse to be en here. Out of 54 votes cast only I think 12 are liberals. The other 42 are conservatives. This is a hard right forum, so there aren't really any mass anything going on on the left here.

I don't think so. No and maybe are almost exclusively conservative, yes is almost all liberal. Seems like a pretty clear party line vote to me.

I said "as good as any liberal", not "good enough to be a liberal".

 

Then if I may, I would suggest establishing a club first. This could for "training" judges, picking good topics, etc. Would you say to this?