Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

**Jason** · Oct 11, 2006, 03:18 am

Here is that debate: Boxers vs. Briefs (Jason vs. Sean)

I think you all are concentrating so hard on brainstorming a reward that you've forgotten to start a private debate at all!

**Jason** · Oct 12, 2006, 01:44 am

No challenges? :(

Lullaby Chainer · Oct 13, 2006, 12:12 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Jason

No challenges? :(

It'll catch on with time. It's a great feature and I've seen it work well on other sites.

bishop · Oct 18, 2006, 08:29 pm

i think it's because most of us don't need lots of frills and "special" features to do what we've always done - debate.

StrongHeartsWin · Oct 18, 2006, 09:03 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Jason

No challenges? :(

I think you are going to have to come up with some kind of incentive to coax people into having private debates. What do you have in mind to promote it and encourage the use of the feature?

rmnunez · Oct 25, 2006, 01:49 am

I suspect online debate, if formalized, would be reduced to a semantics discussion. I also wonder how this could be made more interesting for observers and think time-constraints so a debater would have a set amount of time from the posting to answer its points would allow spectators to monitor evolution of the argument, but it would have to be a fascinating issue and a convoluted argument to call me back again to see how the question was addressed.

**Jason** · Oct 30, 2006, 06:54 pm

Private debates are now opened to all members after 21 posts.

**Jason** · Oct 30, 2006, 08:00 pm

Private debates have been renamed Special debates.

zynner · Nov 2, 2006, 07:50 pm

I have a suggestion: time-specified debates between two (or more) parties, with rules. Something like this:

(1) There seem to be enough moderators that one could be a judge for any particular debate, making sure the rules are enforced and the debaters stay on track. The judge would make the final decision as to who won.

(2) Rules could be posted here or an Internet website with debate rules could become the official rules.

(3) The debate would start and stop at a specific time, such as Tuesday, start at 12:00 Eastern Time and end after 1 hour (or whatever). The parties to the debate, as well as the judge, would have to agree that they will be here at that time (speeds up the process if everyone agrees to be available at the specified time).

(4) The topics could be posted by the moderators and volunteers could choose sides, or one person could challenge one or more others (with teams or one-on-one).

(5) There would have to be a way to establish who won.

(6) The winner gets free access to Volconvo for one month (lol). Or, the loser could be required to donate $5 to Volconvo, or whatever -- it would be cool to have some sort of prize (or penalty).

(7) The participants (team captains, if using teams) would have to agree to who the judge would be. In this way, biased judges would not be invited to judge future debates, upping the quality of the judging and the debating.

(8) Judges would have to know the rules so they could point out rules violations during the debate, subtracting points.

Sounds like a lot, but I bet once it was set up, it would be easy to manage and participate in. It would likely increase the quality of disussion in general on the entire forum, as well.

~ zynner

**Jason** · Nov 2, 2006, 08:32 pm

Zynner,

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm definitely trying to make special debates a bit more formal and structured, but I don't think the judge aspect is really feasible. Some possibilities I am looking at include: a poll to vote for the winner, other member replies displaying as "comments", closing the actual debate after a specified time, and others.

The more interest people display in special debates, the more time I will devote to improving the system. It's win-win.

namguy69 · Jan 15, 2007, 03:33 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Jason

What are special debates?

Special debates limit participation to certain members and allow them to argue their cases in a public forum. After 15 posts, the debate thread will open to all Volconvo members. If a poll is created, it will also open after 15 posts.

How do I start a special debate?

First, find another member or members interested in challenging you in a special debate. Decide on a topic. Then, simply start a new thread in the Miscellaneous forum, scroll down to the Additional Options and enter the User IDs of the members you'd like to participate in the Special Debate field. User IDs can be found in member profiles.

Do the same rules apply in special debates as elsewhere?

Yes, forum rules still apply. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Enjoy!

Does anyone know that in the State of VA they refer to Martin Luther King's holiday as " Jackson - Lee Day, " truth!

**Jason** · Jan 15, 2007, 05:18 pm

What does this have to do with special debates?

LuDaCrIs · Mar 12, 2008, 07:43 pm

Um, I know Technosoul said he would like to do this by email, but also suggested we have it public. Is this where we are suppose to debate publicly, mods?

**Jack** · Mar 13, 2008, 10:50 am

No, this thread is only for discussing the topic of "Special Debates". The directions for starting one are quoted above in post #31.

Oct 11, 2006, 03:18 am	#21 (permalink) (top)
Jason hyggeligt life Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701	Here is that debate: Boxers vs. Briefs (Jason vs. Sean) I think you all are concentrating so hard on brainstorming a reward that you've forgotten to start a private debate at all! Read the rules. Please show your appreciation by donating.

Oct 12, 2006, 01:44 am	#22 (permalink) (top)
Jason hyggeligt life Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701	No challenges? :( Read the rules. Please show your appreciation by donating.

Oct 18, 2006, 08:29 pm	#24 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	i think it's because most of us don't need lots of frills and "special" features to do what we've always done - debate. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Oct 25, 2006, 01:49 am	#26 (permalink) (top)
rmnunez Volcanic Erupter Location: Mexico City Posts: 4,772	I suspect online debate, if formalized, would be reduced to a semantics discussion. I also wonder how this could be made more interesting for observers and think time-constraints so a debater would have a set amount of time from the posting to answer its points would allow spectators to monitor evolution of the argument, but it would have to be a fascinating issue and a convoluted argument to call me back again to see how the question was addressed. Et semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum. Raúl M. Núñez Sheriff

Oct 30, 2006, 06:54 pm	#27 (permalink) (top)
Jason hyggeligt life Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701	Private debates are now opened to all members after 21 posts. Read the rules. Please show your appreciation by donating.

Oct 30, 2006, 08:00 pm	#28 (permalink) (top)
Jason hyggeligt life Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701	Private debates have been renamed Special debates. Read the rules. Please show your appreciation by donating.

Nov 2, 2006, 07:50 pm	#29 (permalink) (top)
zynner Hot Lava Posts: 817	I have a suggestion: time-specified debates between two (or more) parties, with rules. Something like this: (1) There seem to be enough moderators that one could be a judge for any particular debate, making sure the rules are enforced and the debaters stay on track. The judge would make the final decision as to who won. (2) Rules could be posted here or an Internet website with debate rules could become the official rules. (3) The debate would start and stop at a specific time, such as Tuesday, start at 12:00 Eastern Time and end after 1 hour (or whatever). The parties to the debate, as well as the judge, would have to agree that they will be here at that time (speeds up the process if everyone agrees to be available at the specified time). (4) The topics could be posted by the moderators and volunteers could choose sides, or one person could challenge one or more others (with teams or one-on-one). (5) There would have to be a way to establish who won. (6) The winner gets free access to Volconvo for one month (lol). Or, the loser could be required to donate $5 to Volconvo, or whatever -- it would be cool to have some sort of prize (or penalty). (7) The participants (team captains, if using teams) would have to agree to who the judge would be. In this way, biased judges would not be invited to judge future debates, upping the quality of the judging and the debating. (8) Judges would have to know the rules so they could point out rules violations during the debate, subtracting points. Sounds like a lot, but I bet once it was set up, it would be easy to manage and participate in. It would likely increase the quality of disussion in general on the entire forum, as well. ~ zynner

Nov 2, 2006, 08:32 pm	#30 (permalink) (top)
Jason hyggeligt life Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701	Zynner, Thanks for your suggestions. I'm definitely trying to make special debates a bit more formal and structured, but I don't think the judge aspect is really feasible. Some possibilities I am looking at include: a poll to vote for the winner, other member replies displaying as "comments", closing the actual debate after a specified time, and others. The more interest people display in special debates, the more time I will devote to improving the system. It's win-win. Read the rules. Please show your appreciation by donating.

Jan 15, 2007, 05:18 pm	#32 (permalink) (top)
Jason hyggeligt life Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701	What does this have to do with special debates? Read the rules. Please show your appreciation by donating.

Mar 12, 2008, 07:43 pm	#33 (permalink) (top)
LuDaCrIs Skeptical Mythbuster Posts: 7	Are we suppost to debate right in here? Um, I know Technosoul said he would like to do this by email, but also suggested we have it public. Is this where we are suppose to debate publicly, mods?

Mar 13, 2008, 10:50 am	#34 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 12,284	No, this thread is only for discussing the topic of "Special Debates". The directions for starting one are quoted above in post #31. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist A man who does not think for himself does not think at all...Oscar Wilde