Making the Debate Forum Exclusive, What do you think? Options

[NoSex]

As I have spent a significant amount of time participating within these debate forums, I have come to a conviction that these boards would benifit greatly if this page were to become exclusive. Exclusive in the sense that direct permission would have to be given to allow one to participate, as in post, in these forums. Once permission has been granted that individual would have the right to normal posting within this forum.

I suggest this because I believe the quality of these debate forums is suffering and that such an action would greatly increase said quality. Memebers far too oftenly post arguments to never return to the debate threads. Many members do not respect the rules of debate, or make a mockery of such. Some members do not seem capable to be included in a reasonable and intellectual debate. A majority of the arguments posted are repeated arguments which have been served pages worth of rebuttles, yet continue to be posted. This all disrupts the point, and the enjoyement driven from these threads. Because of these reasons, and more, I wish that we could create a more close-knit, intellectual, and interested party for the debate section of Createblog.

(I wanted to have the debate in here, as it was a debate, and I don't think I have any kind of serious influence on policy making here. I just want to see what everyone else thinks. After some deliberation here, maybe some of us could bring this idea, or another, to the attention of those who do make policy here.)

Discuss?

[*mipadi*]

I probably couldn't disagree with this position more.

Why? The Debate Forum is already primarily made up of a core group of elitists who think that their knowledge—and opinion—of certain topics gives them a special ranking above that of other members. The Debate Forum is, quite frankly, hostile to anyone new who comes in here, people who express another opinion. Sure, some idiots make their way into here, but who cares? Just deal with it.

I find issues with who would be qualified to pick who should be granted permission to post in the Debate forum. I'm going to publicly post, here and now, that if such a policy is implemented, I will never, ever sit on such a committee. I probably won't even come to the Debate forum anymore.

Everyone has a right to express their thoughts. We might think some people's thoughts are ridiculous and baseless, but people still have a right to express their opinions. And that is a principle I will stand for no matter what. No one—no one—here is qualified to judge who is good enough to post their thoughts in this forum.

[NoSex]

Why? The Debate Forum is already primarily made up of a core group of elitists who think that their knowledge—and opinion—of certain topics gives them a special ranking above that of other members.

Uhhhhmm. I think you're trying to cut me down.
Uncool. If I'm wrong, please correct me. Otherwise, try not to make such self-righteous assumptions. Because, I don't feel inside myself what you have described here.

The Debate Forum is, quite frankly, hostile to anyone new who comes in here, people who express another opinion. Sure, some idiots make their way into here, but who cares? Just deal with it.

I don't think that the debate forum, as a whole (or even close to a third) is generally hostile towards new debators. In all honesty, I welcome new debators. If anyone is "hostile" to anything, it is thoughtless, rule-breaking, and disruptive posts in the debate threads.

I find issues with who would be qualified to pick who should be granted permission to post in the Debate forum. I'm going to publicly post, here and now, that if such a policy is implemented, I will never, ever sit on such a committee. I probably won't even come to the Debate forum anymore.

Wow? You would never come back? Because we're trying to do something different to increase the quality of the Debate Forums? I think you may have gotten the wrong idea.

Either way, the process in which people would be granted permission would not be strict, and things like general intelligence would not be of interest. What we would want to look for would be the intent to debate and show respect for the nature of debate. Meaning, members who will devote some time to actually think out their posts and take time to revisit threads and continue discussion.

Everyone has a right to express their thoughts. We might think some people's thoughts are ridiculous and baseless, but people still have a right to express their opinions. And that is a principle I will stand for no matter what. No one—no one—here is qualified to judge who is good enough to post their thoughts in this forum.

This forum isn't for just posting a thought. How clear isn't that?!
This is a debate thread. There should be something more expected among posters in these forums than the simple act of an expression of belief. If anyone should know that, it should be you. Not to mention, this talk about "rights" is just way off base. I think people are really missing my point. I don't want a nazi regime of debators (that's the last thing I want), and I think if we were to do this ( and do it right) that there wouldn't be any serious problems. In fact, I would imagine a great increase in the quality of debate here. I know many more communities with exclusive debate forums, and they don't seem to have any of these problems you are alluding to. I'm sure that anyone who truly wants to debate would have that oppurtunity, I don't see the big deal.

But, I think it seems rather obvious that this idea isn't supported by (pretty much) anyone other than me.

Soooo, I can pretty much drop it. But, I still think that our debate threads are, and have been for some time, rather boring. Whatever improvements could be made, I would hope would be made.