Here are the standard rules, do you have anything to change or suggest? I'll add my thoughts after each:
1. The topic and title of the debate.
I propose a title of "Discussion of the Thousand years found in Revelation 20" this would eliminate the concept of one being for or against something since I assume we both agree Rev 20 speaks of a thousand years. We would simply discuss our different understandings of it.
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.
See above...my position is the Christ returns prior to the starting of the thousand years.
3. The number of rounds within the debate. If each party makes three alternating posts, that would equal a debate with three rounds.
I am open to whatever on this part.
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.
I prefer to go second as I am more of a responder than an initiator and thus alternating would be best.
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.
I am flexible on this as well.
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.
Flexible here as well although I prefer concise over verbose.
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.
Flexible here but scripture and tools such as lexicons and concordances etc trump commentaries IMO.
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.
Let me know what you think.
