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Formal Debate Guidelines
Introduction
Welcome to the Formal Debate forum and sub-forums. The Formal Debate forum is for debating a topic one-on-one with another member. Like all other forums here at CF, regular forum rules apply for this Formal Debate forum, the Formal Debate Proposals sub-forum, and the Formal Debate Peanut Gallery sub-forum.
The Topics:
The formal debate forum is open to a wide variety of topics, from General Theology to Politics. Controversial topics such as abortion, homosexuality, and same-sex marriage are allowed, however, the peanut gallery discussion threads for controversial topics will be moderated. The formal debate forum is open to all members, Christians and non-Christians alike. Moderators reserve the right to exclude any debate topic if they decide it is not suitable for Christian Forums. Moderators reserve the right to moderate any discussion thread in the peanut gallery.
The Proposal
Start a thread and explain the topic you wish to debate or discuss. We recommend placing within the thread title the overall topic you wish to discuss and specify within the thread what aspects of that topic are of interest to you.
We recommend that you not make the proposal too overly specific, as your debate partner may want to structure the debate in a slightly different manner. It is generally better for the debate partners to come to some agreement on the guidelines of the debate together. If you begin with a less specific topic it allows more flexibility in finding a debate partner.
You may wish to PM certain members and ask if they are interested in your debate, or you could start a thread in the appropriate forum related to your topic to reference the debate proposal and invite members to your debate.
The proposal thread will be used by the two parties to discuss and agree to the rules for the debate. There is a standard set of rules (see below) that may be used by members if so desired. The standard rules may also be used as a starting point and changes made to it in agreement between the members. If the standard rules are not used, the following rules need to be established before the debate may commence:
1. The topic and title of the debate.
2. The members who will be participating in the debate and what positions they will take. Someone will usually affirm a position and someone else will oppose.
3. The number of rounds within the debate. If each party makes three alternating posts, that would equal a debate with three rounds.
4. Whether the posts will be made concurrently or alternating and which party goes first. Generally the affirmative position goes first, but this is flexible.
5. Time limit between posts. You may select any length of time (within reason) as a maximum amount your opponent may take to formulate a response. If the time limit is 1 week, that means within one week of the affirmative making his/her post, the opposing position needs to reply. The post can be made earlier, of course.
6. The maximum length for each post. You can set a limit of say 1000 or even 5000 words for each post in a round. The length is the upper limit.
7. Whether or not quotes and outside references are allowed. Please note that all quotes will fall under the 20% copyright rule, but the participants may decide to disallow quotes or limit them to a certain amount of the overall word total.
8. And, finally, the start date of the debate.
These rules need to be agreed upon by both participants and approved by a moderator.
Once a debate is accepted by both parties, the proposal thread is closed and a moderator creates the debate thread in the Formal Debate forum, with a link to the proposal thread. A discussion thread is created by a moderator in the Peanut Gallery for non-debate participants to comment upon the debate. The posts in the peanut gallery discussion thread may be moderated depending on the topic.
The Formal Debate
Please note that the Formal Debate forum is fully moderated, which means that when a participant of the debate submits a post the post is invisible within the forum until approved by staff. Only the debate participants and the moderators may post in the formal debate threads.
If you are participating in a concurrent debate, your post will wait to be approved until the opponent has submitted their post. If not, it will simply need to be approved for compliance with forum rules and the specific debate rules before moderator approval.
Extensions may be granted if a participant has missed a debate deadline and that will be upon discussion with a moderator and the other participant.
Participants in the debate are discouraged from posting in the Peanut Gallery discussion thread until after the debate has concluded. Once the debate is finished, the discussion can continue in the peanut gallery discussion thread.
If there are any questions, feel free to PM any of the moderators responsible for this forum. This forum has been created to provide the avenue for more in depth discussions of certain topics between a limited number of people.
Please enjoy.
Standard Formal Debate Rules
1. One participant will argue the affirmative side of the topic; the other will argue the negative side.
2. A moderator will open the debate thread once the proposal has been agreed two by both parties.
3. The debater for the affirmative side will make the first post, presenting his or her main arguments.
4. The debater for the negative side will then reply with his or her own introductory post which presents his or her main arguments.
5. There will then be exactly three alternating follow-up and rebuttal posts from each debater, in which the debaters may address and refute points made by the other person, or bring up any additional information as needed.
6. Each debater will post one concluding post, summing up his or her side of the debate. Following the concluding posts, the thread will be closed by the moderator.
7. Debaters each have exactly three days to respond to the other members post. If they do not post in the required time limit, the debate will be declared finished, and the thread closed.
8. Debaters may not post more than five posts in total. There will be an intro post, three debate posts, and a conclusion post.
9. Debaters may include links to any supporting information, quotes, or references in their posts as long as those external sources stay within the 20% copyright rule.
10. Individual posts may not exceed 1500 words, including any quotes or supporting material.
11. Debaters may not post in the peanut gallery discussion thread until after the conclusion of the debate.
Introduction
Welcome to the Formal Debate forum and sub-forums. The Formal Debate forum is for debating a topic one-on-one with another member. Like all other forums here at CF, regular forum rules apply for this Formal Debate forum, the Formal Debate Proposals sub-forum, and the Formal Debate Peanut Gallery sub-forum.
The Topics:
The formal debate forum is open to a wide variety of topics, from General Theology to Politics. Controversial topics such as abortion, homosexuality, and same-sex marriage are allowed, however, the peanut gallery discussion threads for controversial topics will be moderated. The formal debate forum is open to all members, Christians and non-Christians alike. Moderators reserve the right to exclude any debate topic if they decide it is not suitable for Christian Forums. Moderators reserve the right to moderate any discussion thread in the peanut gallery.
The Proposal
Start a thread and explain the topic you wish to debate or discuss. We recommend placing within the thread title the overall topic you wish to discuss and specify within the thread what aspects of that topic are of interest to you.
We recommend that you not make the proposal too overly specific, as your debate partner may want to structure the debate in a slightly different manner. It is generally better for the debate partners to come to some agreement on the guidelines of the debate together. If you begin with a less specific topic it allows more flexibility in finding a debate partner.
You may wish to PM certain members and ask if they are interested in your debate, or you could start a thread in the appropriate forum related to your topic to reference the debate proposal and invite members to your debate.
The proposal thread will be used by the two parties to discuss and agree to the rules for the debate. There is a standard set of rules (see below) that may be used by members if so desired. The standard rules may also be used as a starting point and changes made to it in agreement between the members. If the standard rules are not used, the following rules need to be established before the debate may commence:
1. The topic and title of the debate.
2. The members who will be participating in the debate and what positions they will take. Someone will usually affirm a position and someone else will oppose.
3. The number of rounds within the debate. If each party makes three alternating posts, that would equal a debate with three rounds.
4. Whether the posts will be made concurrently or alternating and which party goes first. Generally the affirmative position goes first, but this is flexible.
5. Time limit between posts. You may select any length of time (within reason) as a maximum amount your opponent may take to formulate a response. If the time limit is 1 week, that means within one week of the affirmative making his/her post, the opposing position needs to reply. The post can be made earlier, of course.
6. The maximum length for each post. You can set a limit of say 1000 or even 5000 words for each post in a round. The length is the upper limit.
7. Whether or not quotes and outside references are allowed. Please note that all quotes will fall under the 20% copyright rule, but the participants may decide to disallow quotes or limit them to a certain amount of the overall word total.
8. And, finally, the start date of the debate.
These rules need to be agreed upon by both participants and approved by a moderator.
Once a debate is accepted by both parties, the proposal thread is closed and a moderator creates the debate thread in the Formal Debate forum, with a link to the proposal thread. A discussion thread is created by a moderator in the Peanut Gallery for non-debate participants to comment upon the debate. The posts in the peanut gallery discussion thread may be moderated depending on the topic.
The Formal Debate
Please note that the Formal Debate forum is fully moderated, which means that when a participant of the debate submits a post the post is invisible within the forum until approved by staff. Only the debate participants and the moderators may post in the formal debate threads.
If you are participating in a concurrent debate, your post will wait to be approved until the opponent has submitted their post. If not, it will simply need to be approved for compliance with forum rules and the specific debate rules before moderator approval.
Extensions may be granted if a participant has missed a debate deadline and that will be upon discussion with a moderator and the other participant.
Participants in the debate are discouraged from posting in the Peanut Gallery discussion thread until after the debate has concluded. Once the debate is finished, the discussion can continue in the peanut gallery discussion thread.
If there are any questions, feel free to PM any of the moderators responsible for this forum. This forum has been created to provide the avenue for more in depth discussions of certain topics between a limited number of people.
Please enjoy.
Standard Formal Debate Rules
1. One participant will argue the affirmative side of the topic; the other will argue the negative side.
2. A moderator will open the debate thread once the proposal has been agreed two by both parties.
3. The debater for the affirmative side will make the first post, presenting his or her main arguments.
4. The debater for the negative side will then reply with his or her own introductory post which presents his or her main arguments.
5. There will then be exactly three alternating follow-up and rebuttal posts from each debater, in which the debaters may address and refute points made by the other person, or bring up any additional information as needed.
6. Each debater will post one concluding post, summing up his or her side of the debate. Following the concluding posts, the thread will be closed by the moderator.
7. Debaters each have exactly three days to respond to the other members post. If they do not post in the required time limit, the debate will be declared finished, and the thread closed.
8. Debaters may not post more than five posts in total. There will be an intro post, three debate posts, and a conclusion post.
9. Debaters may include links to any supporting information, quotes, or references in their posts as long as those external sources stay within the 20% copyright rule.
10. Individual posts may not exceed 1500 words, including any quotes or supporting material.
11. Debaters may not post in the peanut gallery discussion thread until after the conclusion of the debate.
