The Debate Thread: Topics

[benji]

This is actually a really old idea, originally for a whole section, but it never went anywhere. Basically a focused thread to debate some topic. The "God" topic last year or whenever it was, would be something to think of as an example but pretend one side are not bots. (And the other side doesn't include Al Ka Pwn.)

We've had some other similar threads but never intentionally. And this would work with obvious rules/guidelines that do not call upon anything official, just self-moderation.

There are of course many ways to do it, but at the base I was just going to see if there was interest in it. And if people are interested to suggest some topics to undertake.

Of course I do see some exceptions:
-If it could go in Entertainment Talk and Video Games Central, it's subjective, and thus should be posted there alone since it's less a debate than an exchange of subjective opinions. (Unless you're debating me in which case you're arguing lies against the objective truth.)
-By the same token, if it could go in NBA Talk, it probably just should since threads there can subsist on their own. And nothing wrong with some fun threads there.

Probably should avoid religion, unless we want to do it again just to start. But other than that I don't want to set any guidelines, some far reaching obscure things could be fun. I guess if there's another "regulation" it would be an attempt to avoid something "local" and try to instead to restate that in a broader perspective. (Instead of say "Mexico illegal immigration" or "the Aborigines" trying to describe the base issue and avoid the specific details.) Although those specific details would be important in the actual discussion, just not in the base subject.

But there's plenty of topics, basically ANYTHING that comes to mind.

If no interest, no biggie. I was thinking about getting a few topics, throwing up a poll, then starting a thread from the results.

Of course I expect this to fall apart like the Music Club, if it didn't it wouldn't be the NLSC.

[Lamrock]

I'm not particularly fond of Israel's current exploits. Nor am I fond of that oil spill.

[benji]

Not going against you since I forgot to put it in the OP, but I would prefer if we'd just put these topics in this thread neutral. We can debate them until we setup duels in later threads. (NOW LEGAL IN MICHIGAN BTW!)

In other words, Lamrock's great (no sarcasm!) suggestions would ideally have taken the style of:
-either "the Gaza flotilla affair" or "Israel altogether" (I want to note that I will probably not include anything regarding Israel in the initial poll, same as religion, for much of the same reason. A specific event relating to Israel may however be allowed such as the flotilla stuff. I include and note the whole Israel thing here because of that. I just don't think it's a debate that people will rationally argue, similar to religion debates, and thus almost always descends into something ugly.)
-"latest Gulf of Mexico oil spill"

But if people don't, ignore it (i.e. don't try to debate in this thread), I'll make them neutral (as I can) for the threads. (And I will do my best to provide multiple POVs in the OPs of said topics.)

THE KEY POINT: Just don't debate them in this thread, this is for compiling the topics. We'll debate them later, if there's lots of interest, many at a time!

I just don't want idiots coming into THIS THREAD and trying to debate shit because someone words something wrong. The threads about the actual topic? Well, yeah, let the idiots pour in.

[benji]

Also to note, debates do not need to be held to current events, past things like Iraq, World War II, The Great Depression, The Canadian Failure, U.S. Civil War, etc. are also open, but they may be treated differently. In that they may be excluded from the poll, and simply started alone in that in prior history threads the group was limited to me and Joe and maybe two or three others.

[Andrew]

I don't have any preferred topics in mind at this time, but I'm all for the idea to stimulate some more discussion here in the general sections.

[shadowgrin]

Since I'm sick and tired of cocksuckers in Kobe vs. MJ and Kobe vs. LeBron debates, how about Bird vs. Kobe?

[NovU]

Bird vs Kobe? You wanna kill Sauru? He might die out of stress, arguing against kobelolz for 24/7.

[benji]

Like I said, NBA topics should probably just be started. That section is sorta alright, General Talk needs some life and love though.

[Lamrock]

Well my family was debating last night about whether zoos were immoral/good for the animals or not. That's an idea. Then there's the myriad social issues. Popular ones like abortion, marijuana legalization and gay marriage could be a start.

[shadowgrin]

Nuclear energy as the 'greenest' source of energy.

[cyanide]

The Canadian Failure

wat.

Well my family was debating last night about whether zoos were immoral/good for the animals or not.

For conservation purposes, I think it's good for the survival of the species. As for taking common animals out of their natural habitat and putting them in enclosures, I think it goes against their behaviour and instinctual patterns that might be a concern for future generations.

Nuclear energy as the 'greenest' source of energy.

Not sure if it's the greenest when you consider the environmental factors in creating a nuclear power plant and its potential risk, but it is by far the most efficient and I would endorse it.

[Andrew]

Seems we've got a few topics we could go ahead with.

[cyanide]

Who wants to go first?

[benji]

The Canadian Failure

wat.

I think it's pretty self-explanatory. (Especially the latest where you ignored my "i.e. don't try to debate in this thread" aside! Also: "THE KEY POINT: Just don't debate them in this thread, this is for compiling the topics. We'll debate them later")

If someone has a topic they'd really like to start with, let it be known and we shall go forth with that one. Otherwise I'm going to just assign them numbers in order of their naming (plus some backups I had in-case things worked out as they have) and run the random number generator to pick our first one. Unless we want to do the poll, which I don't think there is interest enough to do, so should just start the launch thread and do polls in the future on this thread after the first couple.

And depending on if I decide I'm tired or not I might go and start one in NBA Talk in about five minutes. (As noted before, NBA Talk topics should just be created probably...but I'm also going to create that Bird vs. Kobe thread just because.)

[J@3]

I'm not 100% sure what's going on but if I get to be racist under the guise of debate you can count me in.

[cyanide]

I suggest each debate thread should start with "Why do you hate ________?"

[shadowgrin]

So the subject for that in NBA Talk could be...

Why do you hate Kobe Bryant and love Larry Bird?

or

Why do you hate Larry Bird and love Kobe Bryant?



Provoking.

[benji]

I'm going to give the above offer for someone to pick the first topic until later today. Otherwise I'll do the random number thing. So if anyone wants something specific to start, let it be known. OR ELSE.

I'm not 100% sure what's going on but if I get to be racist under the guise of debate you can count me in.

You pretend that isn't how this entire idea started.

[Andrew]

I've no preference, so I'll vote in favour of the random number generator.

[shadowgrin]

Nothing wrong with flip-flopping my stance on subjects just to get the debate going?

[Andrew]

No, this is the Internet. The truth must be (and is) told at all times.

[benji]

I'll give you guys a last call on this, but tomorrow LeBron decides and so do we.

I do think the actual threads will get more love than this one did.