[Dragonman]

After all of the debates in the debate forum, I figured this would be a good way to let them compete in an event for a reward. Just a fun thing to do, not sure why you seem upset by it. It has nothing to do with your court system like you said on Aim

I believe that's your answer Ruckus.

Base is trying to host a fun competition, so if you don't have anything positive to say about it and don't want to participae, just don't post in this thread.

[Goto]

Draggy has a good point Ruckus, the debates go in the contest, not in this thread. How about we just leave it there, it was just a misunderstanding that has been resolved now.


On a more related note, I have similar concerns to those that Draggy posted earlier. (hehe, he's really on the ball today)

There are many topics that one side might know vastly more about, or that both sides will feel strongly in one direction about, and so that may well influence their ability to debate it. While this will happen anyway, it could well be reduced if the topics are set by you. It makes it a bit fairer on everyone if the topics are handed down from above, plus that's how most debating contests work anyway. Not sure I agree that doing 'fictional' debates works better, factual ones tend to be more interesting/informative.


As for whoever said that there is likely to be Bias, that is very difficult to avoid. It's a hard task to look at something objectively, without aiding it with what you believe about a subject. However from what I can see Base is doing his best to minimize that as much as possible, by only having himself judging. I'm sure he'll just be judging us on how solid our argument is, not on whether we're right or not.

[JGJTan]

Due to some persuasion by Goto... I'll have a go.

[Goto]

Good thinking JGJTan, oh Master Debater.

[Raktor]

I'm the Master Debater

I usually just get angry in debates and yell because people won't listen to my side of the arguement, so I think I'll pass

[serpharimon]

Eh.. I'll join, I'll see if I have the time.

[Crescens]

Eh, s'pose I'm in.

A few questions and comments about the methods, though:

- How can people be sure that the biases of a unilateral judging system won't be factored in? I don't see how limiting the number of judges eliminates biases.
- Didn't we sort of turn away from having forums named after people? That's why "Rylkan's Insanity Board" is now just "Insanity Board", etc. Think you might need to pick a different prize, as doing this would move in the opposite direction of the one we've been moving the forums in lately...
- Doesn't defining debate as an official contest with winners and losers create the potential for resentment and conflicts? In its current fashion, it's brought a great deal of traffic to the forums; I don't want that turned around by overly competitive systems...

Just some thoughts about it.

[Baseballl]

About the topics issue, this was my main problem to begin with. My idea is to have you guys pick your opponent, maybe a friend in the competition. Then I will post a list of possible debate topics and you guys can chose which ones would be good or bad. Another possibility is to turn this into a team competition, but would be very hard to score.

As for being bias, I've noticed that debates can get out of hand and I wouldn't want another judge in at that time. I made this competition so that you would be scored on your evidence and argument, not your opinion.

Cspace agreed that naming the Debate Forum after the winner for a month would be a good reward, but if someone else would like to suggest other rewards feel free to do so. This would only be a temporary forum change.

The main goal of this competition is to teach those who debate topics how to do it in a mature and respectful way. I'm not looking for this to become a conflict, since I want to show people how to disagree without insulting someone.

[Crescens]

There should be deductions from one's score for ad hominem arguments, also. Attacks should generally be directed specifically at one's argument, while personal attacks should be avoided.

[Baseballl]

Yep, all personal attacks will be a deduction in points or an automatic DQ if it happens more than once.

[Dragonman]

Yes, the reward sounds like a good one for a forum competition.

I hope I don't debate Regulus, his vocab is too big for me. Me and Serpharimon have a score to settle in who's the better debater/arguer.

[Baseballl]

Registration will close today, we need an even number. Get your friends to sign up

[Traver]

Meh I guess I'll try then, even though I tend to get frustrated when debates draw out too long -.-

[Baseballl]

Last chance to sign up people

[Ruckus Fox]

Perhaps, Draggy, and Goto, you didn't see my point. I know very well what this is for and why. But misunderstanding? I don't think so...If it was, he would have apologized...But he didn't. I figure it just ignorance is bliss. I said from the start, have fun with it, go for it, I don't mind. But you haven't heard my end yet, and even when I told you not to judge me, you still did. Sick..Just sick.

---Ruckus the Rogue