Suggestion: Debaters Forum

[Anthorn]

Debaters, Master Debaters, Contentious Topics, etc., etc., call it what you will: On the open forums we can't really have a discussion as such because we can't disagree with any other poster. That's great for people who just want to get a variety of answers but not good if we want a discussion.

Anyway, just a suggestion which I hope will get some support.

[GhostsInSnow]

You can discuss things and disagree with other people. It's often the way it's worded and the fact it can descend into flaming and ignorance that things get closed and removed. What you're suggesting is basically what is allowed anyway if people follow the rules

[souffle]

Threads are only closed or moderated if they break rules. Open discussion is always allowed but should it cause offence or insult other members this is against the forum rules and will be moderated.
If any posts cause you any concerns then you should report them and not retaliate.
I personally don't feel the need for any extra boards on these topics but will watch with interest what our members responses are.

[LavoChain]

I think most debates take a quick descent into fights on the internet. It is extremely difficult to gather how someone intends their post to read without actually hearing the emphasis behind it. People often become too defensive and instead of basing the debate on evidence they hold onto the perceived facts like a newborn child! There really isn't much to debate in the hamster world anyway, there are accepted facts that relate to what level of care should be afforded the animal. Most people would not disagree with these as they are based on the hamsters welfare and once new things come to light we are all usually aware.

In theory it's a good idea but I'm afraid I think it would be very hard for the mods to police it due to the reasons aforementioned and it would be better suited to general discussion which wouldn't adhere to the other rules. This is a site that is open to children after all.

[Silver]

I don't think there is any point in a Debate section of the forum.

What is it that you want to do in a debaters section of the forum that you can not do in all the sections that are already here?

If there was a debating section of the forum it would be moderated exactly the same as any other section/thread on HC, so that means if people's comments become rude or nasty to other members of HC it would be closed just the same as it would be any where else on the forum.

If you want a debate where comments are allowed to stay visible yet use language that is offensive to other members what about starting a FB debaters group.

I also think a debating section of the forum will cause the mods a lot more work because as we all know debating something is more than likely to become heated & need a mod or mods to take off the comments that break the forum rules.

I will say though, a few threads that have caused a lot of discussion have been good up to the point of people becoming personal or using rude language which has meant the whole thread being taken off when people were being sensible & stating their opinions.

I would like to ask the Mods where possible, please could you just take off the offensive comments & put the thread back on the forum, if this means leaving it for a day or so before putting it back up that is fine, at least then people can finish the discussion.

xxx

[souffle]

Originally Posted by Silver

I would like to ask the Mods where possible, please could you just take off the offensive comments & put the thread back on the forum, if this means leaving it for a day or so before putting it back up that is fine, at least then people can finish the discussion.

xxx

We do try and do that as much as possible silver however the original poster frequently asks that a thread that has gone a bit wrong is removed totally and we will always respect the request of an original poster.
Remember this is always a danger with such discussions, especially if they go off topic, that the original poster will feel upset or embarrassed or feel they have done something wrong or are being accused of something and they want the topic removed.
It is therefore really important to think of every contributer and their feelings when starting a debate on a thread or making comments that could cause offence
Always read through your post and consider how others might view it

[Silver]

Thank You Souffle,

I had not even thought about the original poster asking for the whole thread to be deleted. And now thinking about it I do understand why they would want to do this.

I really do feel for people on here sometimes, & of course it's usually a really good subject to discuss which makes it even more annoying when it's taken off usually cage sizes or Hybrids

xxx

[lisab]

Debate = posh word for an argument.

I think got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. Don't like what someone else does/uses its not you so don't worry.

[LavoChain]

If there was no debate in the world then life wouldn't be worth living. Having a sensible debate is vital for society, it shouldn't be classed as an argument. I'm not trying to start a debate about debates but I thought that it's important to say that there should be discussion on this forum. It just needn't be in a separate area, as others have said.

[Anthorn]

In answer to some of the foregoing responses:

Moderated in terms of the present rules isn't what I was thinking and I don't really see why a debate would necessarily descend into name calling and flaming. Probably those who think that someone disagreeing with them is flaming them is a different matter.

Yes it would need moderating but so do all the other forums and the ability to depend on reported posts would be the same. It could possibly be an advantage to concentrate flaming posts in a single forum and also give members who are in the mood for a debate an outlet.

The software used for this forum is vBulletin so it's an easy matter to make a forum and a group and make the forum only accessible by the group. So in order to access it, forum members would have to join the group or to not see the forum, not join the group.

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.