KnightWhoSaysNi
04-06-2008, 12:41 AM
Perhaps a mod might want to merge this poll with this thread (http://64.91.228.42/~rational/showthread.php?t=643) where I made some comments:
Greetings, all. I just saw this thread and I thought I'd chime in. Here's what I wrote recently at the Freethought forum, which summarizes why I thought the FD forums were fairly successful:
- The IIDB had a large userbase. Out of a large populations of users, there were bound to be some people who'd like stick their neck out
- A lot of talented and thoughtful writers such as seebs, PoodlelovinPessimist, Dean Anderson and others frequently got involved to make the debates interesting. Of course, along with the good, you'd get the bad and the ugly such as Jason Gastrich, Bible Thumper, Bible John and Willowtree -- but even they sometimes made a debate entertaining, watching them get pulverized (http://iidb.infidels.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=93010)... :D
- There was enough diversity of opinion in the IIDB present to get debates going. Though non-theists made up the bulk of the IIDB population, there was a sufficient amount of theists (as well as social and political disagreements among the non-theists) to create an environment conducive to gauntlet-dropping.
- Controversial subjects. The IIDB, after all, deals with things like religion, philosophy, science, politics -- topics that ignite passions in people enough for them to stick their neck out in formal debates.
I agree with Dean that TR is still pretty small which may inhibit participation. On the other hand, we have the people. Prolific debaters such as Dean and seebs are present here and people in this very thread expressed interest in participating. And as rav alluded, "if we build it they will come."
Furthermore, some formal debates at IIDB were the result of members inviting people from the outside. For instance, seebs brought in calebnostro from CF to debate homosexuality. If I'm not mistaken, someone brought in Brian Bosse to debate TAG. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I've established a good reputation for fair and organized formal debate moderation, which attracts people from the outside who want to stick their neck out and defend whatever passion they fancy. For instance, last year a Christian from a very aggressive anti-atheist blog contacted me and asked about some formal debate procedures; he had planned to issue a debate challenge but his intended opponent declined.
Anyways, perhaps I'll start a poll in TH and see what level of interest there is. If there's enough interest, I'd be willing to help re-construct the debate rules & procedures in the TH, and perhaps moderate again, should the TR mods/admins and community will it.
I just wanted to determine the level of interest present regarding formal debate forums. What do you think? :)
Greetings, all. I just saw this thread and I thought I'd chime in. Here's what I wrote recently at the Freethought forum, which summarizes why I thought the FD forums were fairly successful:
- The IIDB had a large userbase. Out of a large populations of users, there were bound to be some people who'd like stick their neck out
- A lot of talented and thoughtful writers such as seebs, PoodlelovinPessimist, Dean Anderson and others frequently got involved to make the debates interesting. Of course, along with the good, you'd get the bad and the ugly such as Jason Gastrich, Bible Thumper, Bible John and Willowtree -- but even they sometimes made a debate entertaining, watching them get pulverized (http://iidb.infidels.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=93010)... :D
- There was enough diversity of opinion in the IIDB present to get debates going. Though non-theists made up the bulk of the IIDB population, there was a sufficient amount of theists (as well as social and political disagreements among the non-theists) to create an environment conducive to gauntlet-dropping.
- Controversial subjects. The IIDB, after all, deals with things like religion, philosophy, science, politics -- topics that ignite passions in people enough for them to stick their neck out in formal debates.
I agree with Dean that TR is still pretty small which may inhibit participation. On the other hand, we have the people. Prolific debaters such as Dean and seebs are present here and people in this very thread expressed interest in participating. And as rav alluded, "if we build it they will come."
Furthermore, some formal debates at IIDB were the result of members inviting people from the outside. For instance, seebs brought in calebnostro from CF to debate homosexuality. If I'm not mistaken, someone brought in Brian Bosse to debate TAG. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I've established a good reputation for fair and organized formal debate moderation, which attracts people from the outside who want to stick their neck out and defend whatever passion they fancy. For instance, last year a Christian from a very aggressive anti-atheist blog contacted me and asked about some formal debate procedures; he had planned to issue a debate challenge but his intended opponent declined.
Anyways, perhaps I'll start a poll in TH and see what level of interest there is. If there's enough interest, I'd be willing to help re-construct the debate rules & procedures in the TH, and perhaps moderate again, should the TR mods/admins and community will it.
I just wanted to determine the level of interest present regarding formal debate forums. What do you think? :)