The Volconvo Debate

[Jimmy the Pro]

I've noticed many feel the level of debate has gone down on this site since it first started.

Therefore I feel that we should have a good ole fashioned debate about Volconvo itself, and for starters we shall lay down a few rules.

1. No arguments about specific members
2. Refrain from restating points
3. Provide explanations for your arguements (No one-liners)
4. Obey all other rules mentioned on the site.

The Presentation:

Quote by: Site Welcome Volconvo is an active debate forum and blog network for the discussion of political, religious and news-based topics.

Quote by: Site Rules Opener This site's main objective is to promote intelligent debate between people with contrasting ideologies. This is a not a forum for insults, spam, etc.

Volconvo then, from the information provided in these two important statments, is a debate forum for intellectuals to gather and share important issues with one another and debate them as well as a discussion forum to share your knoweldge with others so that they might learn new things from one another.

The Question:

Has Volconvo fulfilled its goal of providing a medium for both an intellectual discussion of recent and past events and a debate forum to argue one's ideological tenets to others?

My response:

Yes on both accounts, Volconvo has provided a medium for intellectual discussion as shown by both the breaking news forum and the general discussion and miscellaneous forums. I continually find myself picking up wonderful tidbits of information ranging from how to meet college women, to many of Madeline's interesting topics in the adult forum.

Furthermore, one tenet of any debate is concession. In matters of opinion one cannot be proven right or wrong, but rather can gain or allow concessions to the other side. Volconvo in now way inhibits such concessions. Therefore instead of complaining about the various discrepencies one sees in another's behavior, perhaps every site member would gain from allowing concessions to one another and agree to disagree on certain things.

Another tenet of debate lies in the end goal. If one comes on the site to "win" or "prove something right" they are wasting their time. Instead, as Volconvo states, the goal of debate should be one of intellectual nature. That is, one should come on the site with the intention of education via the numerous views held by members from all over the globe.

Finally, a third tenet of debate lies in self-reflection. Where do you stand? Are you ignorant? Easy going? I find that Volconvo in no way inhibits one from looking at themselves, rather it is the members on this site that continually place the blame on the Mods or on other members.

You take the good with the bad when you join, simple fact of life. Does Volconvo do anything in the way of inhibiting proper debate? No. I will stick with the forum and further contend in this Volconvo debate, the site achieves its purpose.

[Osborn F Enready]

Jimmy said: The Question: Has Volconvo fulfilled its goal of providing a medium for both an intellectual discussion of recent and past events and a debate forum to argue one's ideological tenets to others?

Yes, I believe it has.

I think Volconvo and its moderators do an excellent job at walking a fine line.

I do think however, it is up to the participants to make quality debate, and that is something that changes with frequency.

Volconvo provides a very respectable place to make solid debate, but as you noticed in your post Jimmy, solide debate is based on concession of subjective differences when they arise between individuals, and revolves around the value of the objective logic that drives the points of debate.

Considering the global scope of Volconvo, I think the "par" for debate quality is high, but the subjective differences are wide and far reaching into all individual value sets that frequent this forum. Due to that, I think a lot of times people can have reversed values in debate, focusing instead on subjective differences, as opposed to the meat of the debate, which is the logical and objective points of content.

I think subjective differences can be debated between logical, objective people, but if people don't value objectivity and logic over subjective prefrence, it is hard to have a civil debate over subjective level differences.

This freedom of information via the internet, and open discussion between people of all nations is a step in the right direction for the human race. Subjective differences between peoples have been known to start wars in the past, only 100's of years ago, and I think to "complain" about the level of flaming on a forum that has such a huge scope of value and potential, and such a diverse and multi-cultural makeup, is a true sign of achievement, and a sign that people are truly trying to understand each other more, but there are a lot of bumps in the road of progress.

[triad]

Volconvo has undoubtedly reached the goals it has laid out. The growing list of members and the hot-topic threads have been fantastic so far.

There will always be a time where members get a little defensive over their opinion and say something edgy, but that is part of the beauty of an outlet such as this site... edgy. You never know who is going to be replying to your posts and that makes the possibilities of the direction of a discussion endless.

Osborn said it best, the internet is a giant step for humanity and the idea that we can one day have peace. The internet has connected everyone to everyone - what else does that? You have a phone that can call anywhere in the world - but do you just randomly pick it up and call someone in china to have a discussion with? Nope. You do that here.

[Kuldeep]

I find everything fine with Volconvo except that few members use abusive and insulting language which should be eliminated through PMs.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: Jimmy the Pro Does Volconvo do anything in the way of inhibiting proper debate?

Yes.

Volconvo does a poor job of shielding members from personal lies promulgated by members with a vendetta.

I had a lengthy conflict with a member who accused me of antiSemitism at every opportunity, including PMs, chatroom and off-topic threads. I explained my friendship and family relationship with Jews, but my antipathy for Israel based on its numerous and ongoing war crimes.

Despite numerous complaints, the management failed to curb him.

That right there... is the reason that I have found another location to debate.

I return to view this forum every so often, but it is not home anymore.

I had spent three+ years writing content for this forum, in massive volume. My posts still make up over 2% of the site. Yet I found it to be ultimately a place that belied its promise. Volconvo, managed by Jason, will not put down misbehavior that targets individuals with lies about their character.

I don't think it is the "web's premier debate network."

But go ahead and pat yourselves on the back...everybody does it...:rolleyes: