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A Question Should Be Considered A Valid Debate.
I see nothing wrong with a debate that is worded like a question as someetimes wording the debate as a statement artificially narrows the person's response to something black or something white. Plus, there are debates labeling others as Godless Sodomites but a good debate simply worded as a question in comparison gets removed? A debate should not be removed simply for being a question.
 Damien  13 Oct 2009 13:55
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Certain kinds of questions can be perfectly acceptable as debate topics, IMO.
 
 tinseldove  13 Oct 2009 21:09
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I certainly have no problem with it. I think this site would benifit from a overhaul allowing more choices in a number of areas.
 
 finsch  13 Oct 2009 18:13
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Socratic method or Socratic debate: Is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate rational thinking and to illuminate ideas.

So Damien I agree with you. Anyone who understands debates would understand it is a valid form of debating.
 
 moreno  13 Oct 2009 16:40
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No, because your two response choices by website design are "For" and "Against". You're not for or against a question because a question can go in any direction. You're for or against a statement because the statement is declarative and the precise wording has a big impact on which side you choose.

Look, I did high school and college team debate and in several different competition categories and never in 7 years of contests was a debate subject phrased as a question. It has to be a statement because every word in that statement may be defined and counterdefined in the battle over whether the statement is true or not. If you leave debate an open question then it's no better than simply putting a one word out there like "God" or "Abortion" or "War" and then your debates that ensue will simply be fragmented all over the place from the lack of parameters.
 
 Grenache  14 Oct 2009 12:36
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 Eh....I think I'm going to have to disagree. I get what you're saying though, but I don't think the FOR and AGAINST have to be taken literally; you can exchange FOR for YES and AGAINST for no, meaning a question would be perfectly fine to use. I don't feel like the statement has to be declarative for one to be for or against it.

The problem that I sometimes have with debates posted on here is that they are too narrow because of how the debate has to sound declarative; sometimes wording a debate like a question leaves room for a debate that can evolve into something else.

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong as you have a good point about fragmented debates because of the debate topic being vague or undefined, but doesn't that happen to debates on here already? What would you see changing to the current structure of debating on this website?

Perhaps it is merely an issue of etiquette as to why debates should not be in the form of questions...I just don't see that as being wrong though.
by  Damien
 14 Oct 2009 12:45
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I am on this side because not all questions could be valid debates because they have definate answers. (like asking about math problems or asking questions like "What country has x flag" but if your word the debate as a question then it could be(ex. "Is abortion morally right") so in this debate I am torn between sides because some questions can be debates while some questions cant
 
 debatinway  13 Oct 2009 17:49
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 That could be said about the way people post now. Some debates don't require a response and are not valid debates. "Abortion is morally wrong" vs "is Abortion morally wrong?" The first one is someone making a subjective claim. The second one in the form of a question has not established a position, although they may have one, but is inviting inquiring minds to debate the topic. Same topic different approach but a debate nonetheless.
by  moreno
 13 Oct 2009 18:16
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No. Questions are questions and debates are debates. If you want to ask a question use BlurtIt.
 
 dlmiller82  13 Oct 2009 14:39
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 Any background as to why a question can't be a debate? I understand that "questions are questions and debates are debates," but any reason why a question can't be a debate or start a debate?
by  Damien
 13 Oct 2009 14:45
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