PLEASE READ FIRST: Rat Ring Rules and Procedures

[Jet Black]

I. Introduction

Welcome to The Rat Ring! A goal of the Talk Rational discussion board is to provide an environment for intellectually stimulating debate and discussion of religious, political, philosophical, moral and social issues. The following Discussion forums, Philosophy, Evolution and Origins, Science/Skepticism, Secular Issues, Politics and Religions, all provide venues that are conducive to this goal. These forums, however, may not be suitable if members prefer more rules, structure or restrictions. Some members may prefer one-on-one debates without interference from other members. Some may prefer to have more time to reflect on an answer to an argument while ensured that the intended recipient is still following the thread. The goal of The Rat Ring is to accommodate these preferences in the form of formal debates or discussions.

The Rat Ring forums are divided into two areas: The Rat Ring Proposals forum for setting up proposals for formal debates/discussions and The Rat Ring where the actual formal debates/discussions take place. The rules and procedures for these forums are described below in detail.


II. Rat Ring Proposals forum

The Rat Ring Proposals forum serves two purposes. First, it provides a venue for participants to declare challenges or invitations for formal debates/discussions. Second, once a challenge or invitation has been answered, the participants go on to construct and clarify mutually acceptable parameters. The proposals forum is not where the actual debate/discussion of the topic takes place; this takes place in The Rat Ring.

Declaring a challenge or invitation can take the form of "calling out" another member or declaring it open to anyone who might be interested in getting involved. Any member is welcome to declare or respond to a challenge/invitation. Other members, not involved in a challenge/invitation, can participate in proposal threads provided that they are contributing relevant comments and suggestions.

*Rat Ring Proposals Tip*

Not every TR member bothers to follow what is going on in the Rat Ring Proposals forum. When declaring a challenge or invitation, you may want to raise attention to it. If you declare an open challenge, then we recommend subtly mentioning it in an existing thread related to the topic of your challenge in the regular forums. When "calling out" someone, we recommend sending a private message, alerting him or her of your challenge.

A. Formal Debates/Discussions setup

A formal debate occurs when two participants who assert opposing positions wish to challenge each other's evidence or logic with substantive criticism and defenses. A formal discussion, by contrast, is not necessarily as antagonistic. It can be based on things such as a comparison of differing perspectives, an educational conversation between a layperson and an expert or some other form of less confrontational dialogue. A formal debate/discussion must be constructed according to the following eight parameters:

(1) Topic/resolution
(2) Participants, positions and sequence
(3) Scope
(4) Length in rounds
(5) Maximum statement length
(6) Time limit between statements
(7) Start date
(8) Additional criteria

These parameters are explained as follows:

(1) Topic/resolution:

The topic of the debate or discussion must be based on an issue pertinent to the Talk Rational Discussion forums (e.g. philosophical, scientific, secular, political and religious issues). The topic must also avoid the characteristic of having too narrow a focus and/or a lack of substance. If the participants have chosen a formal debate format, then typically a resolution statement is used to frame the argument of the affirmant (e.g. "Resolved: the earth is 6,000 years old").

(2) Participants, positions and sequence:

All of the participants and their positions in the formal debate/discussion must be identified. In a debate format, usually it is the case that one person will affirm a position and the other will take the negative and oppose. Debates can also be set up where each participant presents both a positive case and defense for their particular position along with a critique of the opposing position. Multi-participant formal debates (i.e. "tag teams") are not permitted. The exception would be a 3-way debate/discussion, if the participants involved hold mutually exclusive positions. Finally, the participants must specify who posts first in a round, if applicable.

(3) Scope:

The scope refers to the focus and concepts to be explored in the formal debate/discusssion. Participants may wish to specify the sub-topics that they want to explore which can either be general or specific. For example, if the debate was about the age of the earth, the scope can be very general (e.g. geology and astronomy) or very specific (potassium/argon radiometric dating, distances to stars, and the cosmological redshift). In addition, the participants need to ensure that they mutually agree on what they intend to debate/discuss in order to avoid a misunderstanding. The quality of a debate/discussion depends on the participants' mutual agreement and understanding of important terms and/or what goals they wish to accomplish.

(4) Length in rounds:

Each round in a formal debate/discussion consists of a statement from each respective participant. The minimum number of rounds permitted is three and the maximum is ten. Participants can opt to confine their concluding statements to merely a summary of the debate/discussion rather than introduce new arguments. Participants may also opt for a tentative number of rounds, modifying it later during the course of the debate.

(5) Maximum statement length:

Rat Ring participants must set a limit to the amount of text permitted in their statements in words (5,000 words is the maximum setting that can be chosen). Note that the word count is a limit, not a target. The word "quote:" that appears automatically when using VBB coding to quote material is not counted in the total word count. The use of numbers, symbols and quoting an opponent's words would be considered as part of the word count. Statements must also have sufficiently abundant content. For example, statements consisting solely of the words "Why?" or "Who says?" will be declined. Images can also be used as long as the amount and size are not excessive.

(6) Time limit between statements:

Rat Ring participants are expected to respond within a particular time frame to each other's statements. For example, if the time limit chosen was a week, then a participant is expected to reply within a week of his or her opponent’s last statement. For debates/discussions with concurrent statements (see section III), participants are expected to submit their statements within the time limit from the date proceeding the last statement of the previous round.

(7) Start date:

The start date is the date that the moderator will set up the formal debate/discussion thread. The participant going first is expected to submit his or her statement within the time limit specified from parameter #6. If the participants are ready to start immediately and do not require a start date, then the formal debate/discussion thread will be set up as soon as the moderators are able to do so.

(8) Additional criteria:

Unless otherwise specified, a formal debate/discussion assumes a standard format. Each participant takes his or her turn sequentially each round. The participants may wish to use special formats such as concurrent statements, question-answer dialogue, rounds set aside for specific topics or a multitude of other options. In addition, the participants may wish to implement specifications such as variable word limits per round and/or restrictions such as limits to citations, links and quotes.

B. Official Approval and Amendments

Once the participants have agreed to all of the parameters (each participant will be be asked to confirm the final details), and the parameters meet the moderators' approval, the proposal thread will be closed and a new thread will be set up in The Rat Ring on the designated start date. Please note that a participant can only take part in one formal debate/discussion at a time, although he or she is free to set up the parameters for future debates. Participants may make a request to the moderators to amend a formal debate/discussion parameter during the course of the debate/discussion, but the change requires the consent of all involved parties.


III. The Rat Ring

A. Basic Procedures

The Rat Ring is where the actual formal debates/discussions take place. As noted previously, after participants have finalized their parameters in the Rat Ring Proposals forum, the moderator will set up a debate/discussion thread in The Rat Ring on the designated start date. Only moderators are able to start threads in The Rat Ring. After the formal debate/discussion thread is set up, the participant going first may post his or her opening statement (or both participants if the debate/discussion is concurrent). A formal/debate discussion will end when the all of the rounds have been completed. If a participant forfeits or withdraws from a formal debate/discussion, then his or her opponent will be granted the opportunity to make a concluding statement for the last word.

The Rat Ring is fully moderated. When a participant submits a statement, it is invisible to everyone until validated by a moderator. Only the participants and moderators are permitted to post in the formal debate/discussion threads. Unauthorized posts will likely be sent to the Rat Ring Gallery (see part D). General chit-chat, complaints to the moderator, and peripheral announcements like "I'll have my post ready Saturday" are not permitted. Complaints to the moderator should be communicated by either private messages, the Town Hall or In Confidence.

Note: Unfortunately, a subscription to a Rat Ring thread will not work. Subscriptions do not work properly in a fully moderated forum. If you wish to be notified of Rat Ring posts, you can request that a moderator send you a private message.

A fully moderated forum can be useful for formal debates/discussions with a concurrent posting format. In a concurrent debate/discussion, participants submit statements on their own time, within the time limit. Once all of the statements have been submitted from each participant for a round, the moderator will validate them, making each participant's statement appear simultaneously.

B. Extensions in formal debates/discussions

Formal debates/discussions can potentially span weeks or even months. A participant may have a life emergency, vacation, or other matter that can present a minor interference with his or her involvement. Participants can make a request to the moderators, preferably as well in advance as possible, for an extension of reasonable length. If the debate is between 3-6 rounds, then a debate participant is entitled to one extension. If the debate is between 7-10 rounds, then it is two extensions. We are reluctant to grant additional extensions beyond this amount.

If it is the case that a participant may frequently encounter other life priorities that may interfere with his or her involvement, then we insist that the time limit between statements be made long enough to accommodate them. Overall, we request that TR members, before committing to a formal debate/discussion, take reasonable foresight of his or her future schedule to ensure that other life priorities will not significantly interfere with his or her involvement.

C. Parameter Violations

During the course of a formal debate/discussion, parameter agreements can be violated. Moderator responses depend on the severity of the violation. These can take the form of a warning, a declined statement, or at worst, a forfeiture. Repeated violations may result in a forfeiture at the moderators' discretion.

All of the rules and guidelines from regular forums apply to The Rat Ring. Flaming, insults and other uncivil behaviour are strongly discouraged. If a participant has already forfeited more than one debate, or if he or she has a consistent history of rule violations, then that person may, at the staff's discretion, be banned from participating in The Rat Ring indefinitely. Described below are some common parameter violations and how they are generally dealt with.

(1) Off topic material:

If the content of a statement in a formal debate/discussion is significantly off-topic or outside the scope then a statement can be declined and it will have to be re-submitted.

(2) Exceeding the word limit:

If a participant posts a statement with a length greater than the designated word limit, the moderator's response will vary. If the statement exceeds the limit by a mere 1-10 words, then no action will be taken. If the statement is 11-100 words over, then the participant will receive a warning (future statements between 11-100 words will be declined). If the statement exceeds the limit by greater than 100 words then the statement will be declined and another one must be re-submitted.

(3) Time limit expiration and grace periods:

If a participant fails to post his or her statement within the designated time limit (generally, up to 12 hours of leeway is permitted past the deadline), the debate does not come to an end. The participant will be granted a three-day grace period. If the grace period expires then the participant forfeits the formal debate/discussion. Please note that there is a penalty of one day per subsequent late statement. The deductions operate as follows:

1st statement overdue: 3 day grace period
2nd statement overdue: 2 day grace period
3rd statement overdue: 1 day grace period
4th statement overdue: no grace period (i.e. forfeiture)

(4) Use of sources:

Plagiarism and copyright violations are strictly prohibited, which can result in a forfeit. We strongly recommend that sources, quotes, data, etc. be properly referenced. Failure to do so may result in a statement to be declined in a formal debate/discussion. "Arguments by URL link" are also not permitted. Websites can be used as citations, but merely pointing to a website as a form of argument or rebuttal is not appropriate. All important concepts that are pertinent to the formal debate/discussion should be discussed in the body of the statement.

(5) Other situations:

It is impossible to have a rule that addresses every potential situation or problem that might occur during a formal debate/discussion. Many situations may require the moderators to make a judgment call and perhaps bend the rules on occasion. The moderators will consult fellow staff when difficult or uncommon situations arise to assist in their decision-making.

D. The Rat Ring Gallery

The Rat Ring Gallery thread allows the rest of the TR membership to comment on a formal debate/discussion as it progresses. The Rat Ring Gallery thread will be set up and stickied in a regular discussion forum that relates to the topic being debated or discussed. We ask that participants refrain from posting in the Rat Ring Gallery until the debate/discussion is officially over.


IV. Conclusion

The Rat Ring Rules and Procedures is an evolving document that can be amended as we grow more experienced moderating formal debates and discussions. Also note the Rat Ring Moderator's Handbook if you would like to understand how a formal debate/discussion might be moderated. We would be happy to take feedback from the Town Hall to improve future versions. If you have no experience with formal debate/discussions or feel confused about anything in the rules and procedures, then the moderators would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Overall, we hope that The Rat Ring provides an intellectually stimulating venue for TR members to observe or take part. We look forward to your participation!

Sincerely,

- The Rat Ring Moderators

Ver. 1.6