Debate or Conversation

[Resha Caner]

So which do you think is more typical of this forum?

 

[Buy Bologna]

I think your poll should have more options.

 

[elopez]

I would say a little of both. A conversation is different from a debate but I don't think that's unheard of on this forum. Though, this is a philosophy forum and debate is bound to happen.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

I was a lurker for many years here. And I rarley see "debates". Discussions may have people giving diffrent response and replying to those. But its never been a crazy forum where everyone attacks everyone else.

 

[quatona]

So which do you think is more typical of this forum?

I can´t tell which is more typical.
However, I can tell you what I am seeking here and what I think is the best approach to philosophy.

First off, I don´t think that "debate vs. conversation" is a particularly well chosen dichotomy. I can blame that on myself because in the other thread I was saying something to the effect of "I don´t want to debate - I want to have a conversation.", which sort of implies this dichotomy. This was a sloppy and unprecise wording on my part (intended to give you an idea rather than to be the definitional basis for a new thread).

Since you have warned me that you might perceive the request for definitions as offensive I will work from my own definitions.

Debate is, of course, one form of conversation. Debate is about winning, about defeating your opponent.
What I am seeking here may be described as "reasoning together". Discussions where the participants are partners rather than opponents.

 

[Resha Caner]

I think your poll should have more options.

I'm sure there is a whole spectrum of possibilities, but I picked those two for a specific reason. Note that I also left the definitions of the two categories unstated. I would consider a "debate" to be absent of emotion and ad hominem tactics - at least people would try to make it that way - as opposed to an argument, which tends to be more vicious and personal.

So, what are your thoughts on the different options?

 

[Resha Caner]

I would say a little of both. A conversation is different from a debate but I don't think that's unheard of on this forum. Though, this is a philosophy forum and debate is bound to happen.

Yes, I do realize some people just drop in from time to time to make comments. If I get that impression of a post, I just take it for what it is.

 

[Resha Caner]

I was a lurker for many years here. And I rarley see "debates". Discussions may have people giving diffrent response and replying to those. But its never been a crazy forum where everyone attacks everyone else.

Do you mean arguments? Or do you mean you don't see formal debates (i.e. with explicit rules)?

 

[Resha Caner]

Debate is, of course, one form of conversation. Debate is about winning, about defeating your opponent.
What I am seeking here may be described as "reasoning together". Discussions where the participants are partners rather than opponents.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[quatona]

You invited me to give my expectations in this thread. Thanks!
As of now, I don´t have any.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Do you mean arguments? Or do you mean you don't see formal debates (i.e. with explicit rules)?

I meant here, we do haev debates, but civilized ones (with rules). That other forum told everyone there was no rules. So debates turned into attacks, gang ups and downright evil things. One guy killed himself from a debate he had on the forum where the guy told him God was a lie and then found the guys facebook page and tore into him about his <bleep> family and stuff like that. Ugh. I hated that forum.

 

[Lord Emsworth]

So which do you think is more typical of this forum?

What do you mean by this forum? CF in general, or the Philosophy subforum? With respect to the former I have no opinion. Wrt the latter, I'd have to say debates are really absent. Conversation do happen though. Whether conversation is what characterizes this subforum though ... hmmm

ETA: Gave my vote to "Conversation".

 

[Tielec]

Dialectical conversation if I was being kind. Debate if I was being realistic.

 

[Resha Caner]

What do you mean by this forum? CF in general, or the Philosophy subforum?

I meant the philosophy subforum.

I'd have to say debates are really absent.

Hmm. Do I read some disappointment in this statement? Are you wishing there was something more?

 

[Lord Emsworth]

Hmm. Do I read some disappointment in this statement? Are you wishing there was something more?

There is no dissappointment; I am not really all that fond of debating. YMMV of course as to what debating exactly means.

And as to your second question, things can always be better. But that is not to say that this forum weren't fine already. It is not stellar, but that is ok.

 

[drjean]

I am wondering if you selected "forum" to mean this particular category, or the board/website itself.

For me, this area of thought is relative. I was on a site with the same name, different type of designator and compared to that site, this is indeed a conversational site. However, I am finding so much antagonistic arguing here that it would be hard to advertise the site as a conversational one, imo.

As for the philosophy forum, it doesn't need to be a debate forum at all. Adults can (and should) converse in civil manners, especially when contemplating the deeper thoughts of life (again, imo). Having differing opinions and concepts, coming at ideas from different angles, well that's what we philosophers do. If we only argued all the time, what fun would that be?

I have yet to find a thread on site that explains the proper way to post and share ...other than the caution to reference the OP and not the other member's comments. I have to imagine that many people simple don't know the art of conversation and thus need to be taught.

be well.

 

[Catholicism]

So which do you think is more typical of this forum?

Well...I haven't posted in five years or so...

But aside from that I would suggest a little of both and some of neither. Therefore I voted, "No Opinion."