I propose a new section based on "one on one" turn style debate. This would be far more interesting for both parties and a deeper form of debate that cannot be achieved in anywhere else on the board.

*EDIT* I didn't put in a time limit, can another mod please alter the poll?

I voted yes.
I think this is the first online poll I have ever voted in.
It is a worth cause.
I love the idea!
So often points get lost and glossed over because 34 people have posted since I was last on.
However, how would it be implemented?
Seems like a lot of moderation overhead time to play "Debate Police" and keep each debate from becoming a free-for-all.
Would others be allowed to post at all (like cheer-leaders, I guess).
Would there be enforced debate rules?
Would there be wa winner determined for each debate, maybe a poll attached to each debate to vote for points on different aspects, or something like that?

More details, please.

Well, I would imagine that if someone posted a thread in "The Duel" (Not a final name, but a useful for right now), that the first person to post a retort would have all rights to that thread to debate within it. No others can post in that thread, it can be viewed by others, but not posted in. The second that someone besides the two engaged in debate posts a response, their post is deleted, no matter what.

It is a forum for one-on-one serious debate. No posting pictures, no one-liners, just a rich wholesome worth while debate.

No cheerleaders either (Kinda defeats the purpose).

No winners. Just a nice friendly debate.

A suggestion for a name...
A forum I go to has a sub-forum dedicated to debate (not one-on-one, however, I like this idea better) and I like the name they selected:

The Debate Chamber

I guess it would be up to Porfiry on what to call it. But I like "The Duel" better.

Maybe that should be the first topic of the one-on-one debate. :D

I can't see it working. Few one-on-one debates go for more than a few rounds. Threads will die very quickly without allowing anybody else to post, and besides, other people will quickly lose interest in what amounts to private conversation between two other posters.

Would this finally count as the "Bitterness & Vitriol" forum?

No, Tiassa, that's Free Thoughts.

I've been on other sites that have these types of sections. The threads are few, but the debates are rich and original and worth reading.

Thanks for your input though.

Dueling will become a huge ego trip, and there will be people saying, "Why don't you duel me, you *P%$@#%@ !" or "I owned you in the duel."

Unless there are extremelly strict rules and "full-time" moderators, having a one on one debate forum is a bad idea.

I've checked it out on other forums. It sucks.

um, private messages ?
is what it sounds like to me.
we've got that already

"the duel" sounds like a big pissing contest

But "Bitterness & Vitriol" exists as a consideration independent of Free Thoughts; in the practical, however, I agree.

• http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=7614&page=3&pp=20
• http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=5339&page=2&pp=20 (I believe this is the first invocation of the Bitterness and Vitriol forum.)

I suppose that the people have spoken. It's just that debate, for me at least, on this forum, has become impossible. I can no longer express my opinions without being attacked on all sides, all the while being called a liar and a bastard. And then the responses start pouring in "Why aren't you answering my question?!", "You don't have an answer!", "You are wrong and you can't answer!", "Address this!", "Address that!", etc. I would get around to answering people if they wouldn't bog me down with a billion questions about a billion different things.

I remember the last serious debate that I had, it was with Tiassa. It was fun, but I was severly raped by this board and it's members.

I am sure that others on this board probably feel the same way.

I suppose that the people have spoken.
Only 11 people have voted.
Perhaps they haven't finished speaking yet?

Congrats on your vote CC. This is a great idea.

I suppose that the people have spoken. It's just that debate, for me at least, on this forum, has become impossible. I can no longer express my opinions without being attacked on all sides, all the while being called a liar and a bastard. And then the responses start pouring in "Why aren't you answering my question?!", "You don't have an answer!", "You are wrong and you can't answer!", "Address this!", "Address that!", etc. I would get around to answering people if they wouldn't bog me down with a billion questions about a billion different things.

I remember the last serious debate that I had, it was with Tiassa. It was fun, but I was severly raped by this board and it's members.

I am sure that others on this board probably feel the same way.

Maybe the problem lies within yourself. Have you ever wondered about that?

What? I deserve to be hounded because I lean more to the right than I do the left? People in WE&P often question why there aren't more left leaning members on this forum, the answer lies within my last post.

Thanks, Lucy.

What? I deserve to be hounded because I lean more to the right than I do the left? People in WE&P often question why there aren't more left leaning members on this forum, the answer lies within my last post.

Thanks, Lucy.

Apparently your problem lies with the fact that you read between the lines, because how the fuck should I know which side you lean towards, and why would I even care. I thought your problem was that you annoy people.

Can we go back through the old threads and find the first asshat to use the term "cognitive surrender" and tie him up to a post so that everybody can come by and cyber-kick him in the nuts? What sort of uber-dork talks like that anyway? :rolleyes:

I think its a great idea. We should at least give it a chance//

I had the idea of a forum that is unmoderated and people can flame or whatever.. just to get it out of their systems. In theory it would work but after some thought I considered it is a bad idea. This is because arguments on this board (like ad hominem) would leak out to other forums.

"But how does a cyber-duel in a virtual ring end? It could stretch out to infinity simply because the only defeat would be to have the other guy decamp. And who would want to do that?"

Let's say, either one person can concede defeat, a vote can be taken to determine the victor, or after one week of no new replies the other person involved in the debate is declared the loser.

Is this forum going to be implemented or what? I voted for it...

Is this forum going to be implemented or what? I voted for it...


there doesn't seem to be an overwhelming majority...

It's still a majority.

It's still a majority.


The questionable since we can't see who posted. Hence it is possible that a single member voted several times under different names.

And if we would let statistics lose here we might not come to the conclusion we have a majority.

This kind of a majority warrants *at least* a trial period. Couldn't hurt.

I agree with a duel thread, it should be fun. My only question is how do u know u've been challenged? Will you get a PM? Will it say "Directed to X"?

Maybe we should now have poster reply who are actually interested in performing a duel and on what topic. We can then see if it is really a valid proposal.

Sure monkey. I can't way to see what sort of semantic gymnastics you go into trying to convince me that North Korea is not a communist regime. This ought to be rich.

Oh, and then you could explain how anyone who acknowledges different races of people is a racist.

I've got some ocean-front property in Arizona to sell you when we're done. :cool:

Sure monkey. I can't way to see what sort of semantic gymnastics you go into trying to convince me that North Korea is not a communist regime. This ought to be rich.

Oh, and then you could explain how anyone who acknowledges different races of people is a racist.


But I am not interested in debating with you. And the answers to both questions are obvious.

Nice edit.

There would be no debate. I am right, and you're wrong.

North Korea is not a communist regime.

North Korea herself has given up Marxist Doctrine, so no NK is not a communist state. Sorry but I saw it in the quote...

Nice edit.

There would be no debate. I am right, and you're wrong.

I changed it because it was too much off topic.

This is not the duel thread after all, but the poll thread on the desire for a duel thread.

I think it is allowed to correct mistakes. Humans after all make mistakes.

In head to heads on an open forum usually it becomes an absurdity as it breaks down into both parties claiming that everything they say is a score and the original argument disintegrates into trying to prove you really did score with your last comment.

I like the idea, and I think it's worth a shot. If it fails, close it down. But hey, the History forum was invoked ... this forum was invoked ... they're both running, aren't they? :)