[*Thick Book of Rules*] (Read before you proceed)

[anatujang]

Welcome all to the Debating Hall! Where the battle of words are enforced. You may choose to sit down and watch a debate or join one to help fight and show off your skills!

What kind of topics should be in the Debating Hall?

The Debating Hall should only be seen with topics that contain a debating subject or an extended discussion. Things such as "Hi! =D" should not be seen here. That is for the main page and will be moved there with a warning PM to the creator.

What is the difference between a debate and an extended discussion?

A debate is a discussion consisted with an affirmative side and a negative side. Both side should have the same number of member. On the other hand, extended discussions are just topics in which the readers respond to an idea and give in-depth opinions or responses. Extended discussions should not turn into a debate. If it is then please create a new debate outside of the extended discussion topic. Another difference between the two is that a debate will end while an extended discussion have no end (it just continues to collect opinions and ideas on the topic).

If interested in joining a debate or creating a debate topic then please read Debating Topic, but if you're interested in creating an extended discussion topic then please read Extended Discussion Topic

The Crew in charge of this forum: shadowsoul_777

 

[anatujang]

Debating Topic

-A debate is a discussion which is consisted with an affirmative side and a negative side.

-A debate should not be based on an open-ended question (example of an open-ended question: What do you think can be done to stop Global Warming? --> this belongs to the extended discussion topic)

Creating a Debate

Your debate page/topic should follow this format...

Quote:

Debate Topic

Background information about the debate topic (who, what, when, where, why -> the most basic stuff). And possibly a link to articles that will give others better understanding of the topic.

Affirmative Side: (the side that agrees with the topic)

1.
2.
3.

Negative Side: (the side that disagrees with the topic)
1.
2.
3.

[* -> each side should have the same amount of member for the debate to be able to start. The amount of member on each side can vary from 2-3. The author of the topic should check back often to see who applied for which side and which position then place their names in order of who debates before who.]

Debate Roles/Definitions/Order

Roles:
-Introducers = is definitely the first person to speak before any member in the team. He/she introduces what the team will be standing for and possibly what the team will be talking about during the debate. He/she can start saying why people should agree/disagree with the topic (depending on which side they're on). Introducers are needed on both sides.
-Normal debater = a person/people that gives the rebuttal speech. A normal debater may also apply for the introducer position.

Definitions:

-Cross Examination = a period during the debate when the person not giving the next speech questions the person that just finished speaking for clarifications on things. The person being questioned must answer. (The object for doing this is to expose the flaws in the argument of the opposite side)
-Refute = to prove a person wrong
-Rebut = to refute by evidence or argument (when a normal debater rebuts, which is usually towards the end of the debate, it is his/her time to summarize everything that he/she have said throughout the debate since it will be the last time he/she will be allowed to speak.)

Order:

Please read the reply posts below for debate order...

Applying for a Debate

Applying is easy! Just post a reply to the topic saying: which side you are on, what role you want to apply for, and order of speaking if applies. Read above for role description and debate order.

Example of Application:

Quote:

I would like to join in with the negative side. I want to be a normal debater and if possible, I want to be the second debater.

Winning a Debate

How you win a debate depends on how good your arguments are. After the debate is over, the creator should go back to edit their first post and put in a poll. The question should be: Which side wins? There should only be two options: 1. Affirmative Side 2. Negative Side. Set the poll for 14 days. After 14 days, come back and see who wins. You may vote for your own team.

Rules

--Follow Gaia's TOS

--No swearing please (at all)

--The author of the debate should put [recruiting] at the topic of the post when in search of participants for the debate, [on-going] at the topic of the post when there is an on-going debate, [deciding] at the topic of the post when in search of vote to decide the winner, and [fin.] at the topic when the winner is decided.

--The author of the debate may choose to not join in with the debate he/she created, but should be the one to provide information on the subject

--The Crew and only the Crew will be the one to start the debate after checking that both sides are congruent by posting the word "start" in red

--Each member of each side can only rebut once throughout the debate and his/her rebuttal speech should not be separated into two posts.

--There should only be one person conducting the cross examination for one person. (No two people asking questions at the same time, so whoever posts their questions first will get to be the cross examiner for the person that just finished speaking. But remember to put everything down in one post since you can't go back to edit it.)

--A cross examiner can not be the person that is speaking next in the debate.

--Cross examiners should put all of his/her questions in one post so that the person being questioned can put his/her answers in one post as well.

--When a person is giving his/her rebuttal speech, there should not be any more questions directed to the opposing side.

--Think carefully when writing your rebuttal speech and think twice before posting your speech because you can not go back and edit it.

--Your speech can not be more than 1500 words per post

--A debate should not last longer than two week. If it does because one member is not responding then tell a Crew. He/she will PM asking him/her what is going on.  

[anatujang]

Extended Discussion Topic

-An extended discussion is a topic which promotes long discussion and questioning of others' thought on the subject
-The topic may be open-ended questions

Creating an Extended Discussion Post

Your post should look something like this...

Quote:

Title

-What you want to talk about and questions about it..This may also include some background or a link to an article, but the you should not depend solely on the article

. Summarize and write it here. The link is only there for reference and for those who wish to look at the issue in detail.

[* -> you should not copy and paste an aritcle into your post because it extends the page wastefully and will drive people away from your post.]

Then as a reply to the post..

Quote:

The author should provide his/her opinions on the matter.

Rules

--Follow Gaia's TOS

--Refrain from swearing if possible, but if you did swear then it better be mild or else you can get yourself banned

--Refrain from making an extended discussion post that is a yes/no question or a right/wrong question

--Absolutely NO short answers in the extended discussion post. You should provide reasoning with your answer and not just a "I agree" phrase.

--Don't extend the page by quoting all of someone else's long answer when you only need one sentence.