Suggestion: Debaters Forum

[Vectis Hamstery]

One of the roles of a forum is debate (as well as oohing and aahing over cute hammy pics, of course ). There are many grey areas in hamster care given how hamsters can be so individual so differences of opinion may well arise. When moderating and posting the forum rule I find most helpful in this is the one called 'respect' (and for more than it's mention of grammar and spelling checking before posting, which are both my pet peeves ):

Please consider other members feelings when offering advice and opinions. Speak as you would like to be spoken to yourself. Remember that forums do not convey emotions and people can be hurt and offended by what you thought was an innocent comment. Always read over your post before submitting it to check it sounds OK, has reasonable spelling and grammar, and is not going to upset anyone. It is not possible for a moderator to read every post therefore should you have any issues or complaints about any post you should not retaliate but click the report button to report the post. This will be dealt with as soon as a team member is available.

ETA: Anthorn, you posted at the same time as me. Flaming is not permitted on this forum and I personally would not wish to see this change. This is a family-friendly forum for members of all ages, from youngsters to more mature hamster-lovers.

[LavoChain]

Originally Posted by Anthorn

Lastly, there is room for discussion and debate: i.e. what are the ideal hamster nutrition values; size of cage; regular cage versus modular versus tank.

All of those things are often a topic for discussion on the forum. They are only removed when members become too personal or like Soufflé said, they go off topic. There are still generally accepted 'go to' answers for those things though. I don't think they would warrant a whole new sub forum being created.

[Silver]

All the discussions you have listed Anthorn do all ready have a section on the forum:

Cage sizes ~ Housing section
Types of cages ~ Housing Section
Nutrition Values ~ Feeding/Nutrition section

You say you did not think that the debate section would be moderated in the same way as the rest of the forum, have you any examples of what you would allow in the debating section that would not be allowed in the rest of the forum?

Why would you want a section of the forum for flaming posts? This suggests that you want the debating section of the forum to be rude, & nasty to other people rather than talk about a subject in a calm, open honest & friendly way?

xxx

[Anthorn]

Originally Posted by Silver

have you any examples of what you would allow in the debating section that would not be allowed in the rest of the forum?
xxx

With respect take a look at this very thread. It looks to me like we're having a discussion or even a debate but no flaming.

[souffle]

So this thread is fine and allowed to stay because it breaks no rules Anthorn which is exactly the same as for other threads in the appropriate boards so why would we need an extra area if there are places for such debates already?

[Silver]

But you have just said you want a debating section of the forum to post flaming posts.

Why would you even want to be rude to other members of the forum?

So why don't you post a thread in the Housing section called cage size debate?

Is it because you could not post flaming comments?

xxx

[linford27]

haha now this thread has turned into a debate!
the problem is people can't keep it as a calm discussion of differences, it always blows up into a full scale arguement

[Cricetinae]

I can't say as I'm particularly fussed by whether a debate section is or is not implemented, however I do appreciate why some members would like one.

Devils Advocate:

While I appreciate that most topics for debate would 'fit' elsewhere in the forum, that doesn't mean that the forum at large is a suitable place to facilitate proper and routine debate, as seen in various threads whereby a healthy debate has swiftly twisted into an indecent argument. For example, a debate regarding 'Cage Size' fits perfectly into the 'Housing' section of the forum, but often this isn't the perfect place for a debate on the topic, based on previous experience.

A scenario that some members might find frustrating is where their views are put forth in a respectful yet purposeful manner, they await rational/respectful responses and eventually find that their thread is locked. While there was ideal debate for a while, eventually one or two forum members might take certain statements as a personal affront and the whole thing is shut down. This is unfair to the OP who has done nothing wrong and might even be taken as infringement on their right to free speech.

On other forums (not necessarily relating to hamsters) these sections are implemented to create a suitable atmosphere for debate (there might be different rules relating to posting or moderating) not because the forum doesn't have appropriate sections that cover the topics subject matter. When entering the debate section of the forum, people generally accept that there will be statements that might not sit well with their personal beliefs, and that before posting you will likely need your mature/objective 'hat' on.

[Silver]

I do understand what you are saying,

But

Anyone could start a thread in the debating section, & the same out come will happen, someone will become offended at something someone else has said.

The thread would then still be taken off, or the offending posts taken off

So that is why I don't understand the difference?

The mods have clearly said there will be no flaming posts on this forum, I.E anything posted that is personal, or offensive to others will be removed where ever it is on thsi website

xxx

[LavoChain]

I just though I'd say that actually threads are not removed due to the discussion. In the majority of cases it is because the discussion actually has nothing to do with the thread itself. It is unfair on the OP of a thread when people suddenly go off on a tangent to vent their opinions to one another. Most of the cage size discussions are actually started on unrelated topics, this is why they're removed. Soufflé said herself that most OP's ask for this to be done.

I suggest if anyone wants a discussion on cage sizes, they should go and start a topic in the housing section. It won't be removed unless, as has been said, it resorts to flaming or people making things too personal.