the effect of forums on the art of debating

I'm sorry to say I really am cold. I could probably kill someone in cold blood and sleep without nightmares. Thats just how I am. Emotions don't usually affect me unless anger or lust. I am just saying that no matter how much you have against porn thats not going to make it go away or mean that you haven't looked at it. Yes we have lost our sense. I am apart of the future, people should start regretting their mistakes and trying to change them or alter them instead of altering us. I fear they are a tad too late.

 

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SkippingStones,

fair point but it's not really related to this thread. It's obvious this is important to you, you may have a more focused discussion in this area if you start a thread about that specifically.

Porn only entered this discussion to illustrate an unrelated point.

 

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Ah, okay I will keep that in thought next time. I won't start something that may cause an alteration in discussion..sorry

 

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It just occurred to me that I've misnamed this thread. As I've already said, I personally get good debate that challenges my preconceptions (at best) but I'm sure it's different for everyone.

Can I rename my thread here? I'll guess I can only try and see what happens. OK, here's a name that better asks the question I'm curious about:

What do you get from forums... what brings you back?

 

Are you asking to rename your thread, or telling us?

 

The hope for humanity, and signs that not all is lost

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On a side note, I feel guilty for posting so much in such a short time, even though I feel my posts have been helpful to me and the various debates. Should I feel this way? I don't want to seem like a postwhore. Then again, 'seeming' is an interesting concept for discussion- some other time and place.

 

There's a lot of intelligent posters who contribute intersting debate and well-reasoned arguments, and there's a lot of dogmatic assholes who do nothing but recycle inane stereotypes and strawman arguments.

 

Hmm not sure if I should be offended -shrugs- Too tired at the moment to care...

 

As many non-conversable fanatics as there are here, a few people have put out well reasoned arguments that have acutally made me think and change my opinion. That's the reason I come back.

 

so that's what you get from forums and why you come back?

EvilSquirrel,

I wasn't asking you to name it, my new question/thread-point is what I said in my last post and just asked StarOfEight.

 

Ah, sorry. I'm kind of distracted and reading fast. -rubs eyes- Besides the fact its about 2 in the morning where I am.

 

bingo! I could have used you about an hour ago. Your quote pretty much sums up why I come but in a much more efficient way.

 

In public forums you can see exactly what others are going to see and read when you are writing a post, this is not true of speaking in a debate. You have to think on the spot while saying it, you do not have the liberty of reviewing what you are going to say as people can only respond after you have posted, they cannot challenge or interupt you while your in mid flow. You also have alot of time to make up the debate and alot of time to respond, this is also not true in a speaking debate where again you have to think on your feet and you will usually not have access to hard facts to back up your points.

So I see public forums as something different from a proper debate in real life. Its more casual.

Character assisnations are just a part of life, you will experience it directly or indirectly anywhere you go. There will always be someone judging you for what you believe or the way you look etc, thats not exclusive to debating.

 

I like forums because most people are much more open to say their opinions. In real life some may fear to say what they think, because friends, family and others may take it as an insult or feel a deep dislike to those opinions. But in the internet, there is no real clue who is writing what. Someone might be my friend, but I would perhaps not recognize him because the views he displays here are very different from what he says in the real world.

 

I have to say, the invasion of fanatics over the past three, four hours may discourage me from making future returns. That being said, I think the majority of posters are intelligent, reasonable people.

Side-rant:

And that right there is the problem with everything in life ... a few fuckin' assholes, doin' there damndest to ruin it for everyone else.

 

I tend to think of "debate" in a much less formal sense but I see your point. Thats why I changed my thread title a few posts back.

 

Personally, I landed on Sciforums because I was curious about a few things and seeking some facts. I wanted to find intelligent people discussing certain topics and for the most part, I found it. That is part of what keeps me coming back. Just reading topics.

Admittedly, I was surprised by the number of arguments and ban-wars that take place and as someone said, the number of posters who are just here to screw things up. Still, that is not enough to dissuade me from reading or perhaps participating in an interesting discussion.