What happened to debating on the debates thread?

[grannywils]

I just happened to stop by today, as I occasionally do, to see if there was anything new on the debates forum. And I discovered that there was not... I did not actually check the date; but I don't think there have been any new threads started in a couple of weeks.

 

I was just curious if anyone had any idea why that might be.

 

There is a major hurricane happening on the southern coast of the United States. (I guess that isn't much of a debate topic, now that I think about it...) The Republican convention has just started. There was a somewhat controversial candidate recently selected by the Republican party to run for Vice President. Everything I read these days tells me that voter registration is going to Hades in a handbasket, but I don't see any mention of these issues.

 

Anyway, I just wondered, if the "debate" thread had lost it's oomph or if we were all taking a siesta. I, for one have been remodeling my house, and it looks like I'd better get back to it... :blush:

 

 

[Ghogiel]

Siesta for me.

 

 

I wanted to post up about that BBC story, the one they promptly took down that showed the western backed Syrian 'rebels' releasing a hostage, but unbeknownst to him they had rigged the truck they sent him home in with explosives and tried to use him as an unwitting suicide bomber. Media bias at it's best.

[mizdarby]

I just happened to stop by today, as I occasionally do, to see if there was anything new on the debates forum. And I discovered that there was not... I did not actually check the date; but I don't think there have been any new threads started in a couple of weeks.

 

I was just curious if anyone had any idea why that might be.

 

There is a major hurricane happening on the southern coast of the United States. (I guess that isn't much of a debate topic, now that I think about it...) The Republican convention has just started. There was a somewhat controversial candidate recently selected by the Republican party to run for Vice President. Everything I read these days tells me that voter registration is going to Hades in a handbasket, but I don't see any mention of these issues.

 

Anyway, I just wondered, if the "debate" thread had lost it's oomph or if we were all taking a siesta. I, for one have been remodeling my house, and it looks like I'd better get back to it... :blush:

This particular thread has been motivational to me, I love the cut and thrust of a lively (but healthy) debate, and pop onto the debate part of the forums regularly, looking for new debates to cut my teeth on.

I had noticed an apparent drop off in the volume of new topics, so motivated myself to begin a new debate, although I much prefer to participate in other peoples debates. There are some very talented debaters within these forums, so have opened my eyes to opinions that I hadn't even thought of.

One thing I had noticed, at least on one topic, is the indication that the debate forums are "hanging on by a thread", which perhaps is making some people a little nervous about raising topics, which might be considered emotional charged, or at least has the potential to degenerate into a slanging match. The funny irony is that those same emotional charged topics, are often the liveliest and most enjoyable debates, before they collapse in a flurry of name calling and get locked.

Thanks for the motivation.

[grannywils]

mizdarby, thank you once again... for your observations and for your expression of same. I could not agree more. 'nuff said.

[HeyYou]

This thread is what kinda did me in. Some of the accusations there, and the 'solutions'...... were just so unexpected, that it kinda poisoned me on even wanting to participate at all.

 

Another reason behind my lack of participation was to see if by NOT participating here, if we would see an increase in folks that DID participate, as was put forth as a theory by a few posters in the above mentioned thread. From what I can see, it didn't work out that way.....

 

But, I find this place rather addictive....... So, here I am. :)

[Vindekarr]

I post every now and then but I don't like how vicious a lot of debates here get. Too much screaming and "YOU'RE WRONG BECAUSE REASONS AND THAT MAKES YOU AN IDIOT!!!!!" and general hatefulness. I'd come back if the place quieted down, but I don't like engaging with the sort of spite that's been flying around lately. From a relative outsider's perspective, the debates forum feels like a place dominated by a small slice of people who seem to beat down any newcomer seemingly for the reason of being "right" It's an extremely unwelcoming section, and I'm not surprised few post here. Edited September 1, 2012 by Vindekarr

[Sync182]

I sneak a peek occasionally, but generally I stay away because I don't want to find myself in a position where my reaction to someone's post migt get me banned. :armscrossed:

[Kendo 2]

I post every now and then but I don't like how vicious a lot of debates here get. Too much screaming and "YOU'RE WRONG BECAUSE REASONS AND THAT MAKES YOU AN IDIOT!!!!!" and general hatefulness. I'd come back if the place quieted down, but I don't like engaging with the sort of spite that's been flying around lately. From a relative outsider's perspective, the debates forum feels like a place dominated by a small slice of people who seem to beat down any newcomer seemingly for the reason of being "right" It's an extremely unwelcoming section, and I'm not surprised few post here.

 

That in a nutshell.

[Tidus44]

I post every now and then but I don't like how vicious a lot of debates here get. Too much screaming and "YOU'RE WRONG BECAUSE REASONS AND THAT MAKES YOU AN IDIOT!!!!!" and general hatefulness. I'd come back if the place quieted down, but I don't like engaging with the sort of spite that's been flying around lately. From a relative outsider's perspective, the debates forum feels like a place dominated by a small slice of people who seem to beat down any newcomer seemingly for the reason of being "right" It's an extremely unwelcoming section, and I'm not surprised few post here.

 

That in a nutshell.

 

Hit the nail on the head.

[Kendo 2]

And there are those who walked away out of disgust. They turned their backs on the whole section.