Misc./Non-WoW Debates

[Fafnir]

I do enjoy a good discussion or debate about pressing issues (or not so pressing issues), but I am unable to discuss several topics because:

I am usually here at work, at an elementary school, and, like most schools, we have a draconic web filter, preventing me from opening many articles or videos

Posters usually will just post a link and say something like, "I can't believe it."

and

I only have so much time between classes to open an involved article and get into it.

Now, I frequent Penny-Arcade, and you might not know it at first glance, but it is one of the most efficient and well-run forums I've ever been a part of. Their way of doing things is if you have something to discuss, post a link, then post the article in the body. Highlight the important parts. Then give your opinion and open it for discussion.

I think this way would open up more discussion instead of just going *Link* "I'm never going jogging again!!! LOL"

I may not be in charge of moderating it, but I still think it would be a good idea.

[Grayslin]

Personally I agree. I think if people feel a (link/video/article/website/etc.) is worth sharing, then it should also be worth putting in more than three seconds' effort to share it.

Give us some indication of what it is. If it's an article, repost it in the body of your post - not everybody has the ability to follow every link.

[Izrail]

I agree with both of you and have grumbled about this in the past. It is one of the reasons that the YouTube thread was made, so those who are not as picky can spam each other out of everyone else's way.

[Broxigan]

I agree. And usually, if I link an article, I will usually try to post in in quoted...for people like Evanthe...who can't see stuff at work. Usually. It does slip my mind, but I do know ALOT of people here just sort of...

*link*

OMGLOL

And sometimes it is not the best of places to click. Bleh.

[Taknar]

Isn't this why we have the politics forum? Upping the rules on that forum to match the standard being described seems fine to me.

[Broxigan]

Political Forums =/= General discussion debates.

[Taknar]

We've been having non-political discussions in there for weeks now. Especially since the US elections are behind us, the initial focus of the forum has taken a backdrop. I still prefer it for any kind of intellectual discussion though because ones that take place on this forum outside of it tend to get out of hand very quickly.

For Fafnir's idea to work, it would have to be as heavily moderated as the penny arcade and the politics forum are anyways. We've already seen that people complain about that on the general discussion forums here.

[Fafnir]

For Fafnir's idea to work, it would have to be as heavily moderated as the penny arcade and the politics forum are anyways. We've already seen that people complain about that on the general discussion forums here.

Heavily moderated? Not necessarily, and just because a few people whine about the moderation does not mean it is overmoderated.

All you'd need to do is add a little announcement that said something like, "Hey, if you want to talk about an article or media that you are linking, include the text of it and highlight the important parts, then add your thoughts." How is that being heavily moderated?

If it can be done on a forum roughly 100 times larger than TNG (with roughly the same amount of moderators), I don't see why it can't work here.

[Cabriel]

EDIT:

I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy
I will be a nice boy

[Taknar]

If it could work here with the level of civility and maturity required to meet a decent standard for intellectual discussion, the politics forum wouldn't be needed.

[e] I should clarify that I'm looking at the scope of the entire thread, not the starting post. That said, what happens when people don't follow the request and continue to post one liner links? Moderation, followed by complaints, followed by yada yada yada. I just figure there is already a spot on this site where people have agreed to let their asses be moderated for the general cause of promoting healthy logical discussion. Why duplicate?

[Izrail]

For Fafnir's idea to work, it would have to be as heavily moderated as the penny arcade and the politics forum are anyways. We've already seen that people complain about that on the general discussion forums here.

Yes. Adding another rule for mods to enforce across the forum is not a good idea. It is better to rely on self-policing by making everyone aware of how much more likely they are to get readers and responders if they put more consideration into their posts. Even then there will still be people too lazy or thoughtless to bother. I will just continue to skip the posts of chronic offenders.

[Fafnir]

I would be happy to link to an announcement on how to start a discourse when a poster posts a link and a one liner.

Look, all I'm saying is it doesn't have to a huge rule or infractionable offense. It's just hard for me (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) to have a topical conversation when all there is posted is a link and "LOL."

If it's such a big deal, would we be able to rename the Politics forum into something like Debate forum, so it can include other topics, as well? Political discussions often leave my head spinning.