Debate Rules

Jianna Merrowmere · Vagrant Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 356

I would like to suggest that all debate threads should be approved by an administrator. Then the administrator should set the debate rules for the subject matter. Then decide also based on subject matter what age can post as a debator and what age perhaps can read and ask questions.

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Sirak Sazen · Last edited by Sirak Sazen on Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:42 am; edited 1 time in total

Age limitations are a big no-no and I think that anybody on this site will agree with me. Supressing the voice of teens will not help you. Also, I'm pretty sure anybody can lie about their age. I'm not too keen on having the admin have to approve a debate. I can see it if the topic was flat-out idiotic, but that's a mod's durty anyway.

I say no.
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"I find it hard. It's hard to find, oh well, whatever, nevermind."

Rive Caedo

Unfortunately this is the vast wide internet. It takes precisely zero effort for someone to lie about their age. All that would occur if we did set an age limit for a thread (which, as I said in the other thread - I feel is a really bad idea even at face value), is that those under that age limit that wanted to participate in the debate threads would create a second account and say they were 24.

If there WERE a way to verifiably determine people's ages - then the creator of the debate thread would be able to set the limit for their thread - not administration.

Debate threads are... somewhat approved by administration. In that we'll remove a thread if it greatly overlaps with another or if they degenerate into a flame war (although we try to guide them back on course before that occurs).
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May The Force Be With Us, Always

Jianna Merrowmere · Vagrant Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 356

Just a suggestion. What do you think I need help with Sirak?
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Xander Vos

As has been demonstrated in the past, if a debate becomes too out of hand, it will be put to an end.

Age restrictions are, ironically, childish in my opinion.
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Time to start again.

Sirak Sazen

Jianna Merrowmere · Vagrant Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 356

There are many things in life that young people are not allowed to do. (Though they usually manage to get around them.) There are age restrictions on movies, drinking, pornography viewing, voting, age of consent for sexual intercourse to name some. There is even an age limit on the video games young people can play depending on the content. The internet is like the Wild West. There is little regulation and much of the subject matter is just wide open. I wonder how many of the young people on this site could honestly say that in school they discuss abortion, whether the woman or child should live or die and all of the intricacies that go along with it.

Obviously there are many adults like myself who consider some subject matter inappropriate such as those I posted above. None of us believe that those restrictions are "childish." We believe that they are appropriate.
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Xander Vos

Perhaps she feels that the topic of abortion is to adult for small children. Whilst I don't disagree with her, I don't think any of the users on this board are small children.
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Time to start again.

Sirak Sazen

It is true that young people can't do as many things as older folks can. One right that I'll fight to the death for, however, is freedom of speech. When they take that away, no more Sirak Sazen. You'll find my body at the bottom of a cliff.
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"I find it hard. It's hard to find, oh well, whatever, nevermind."

Jianna Merrowmere · Vagrant Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 356

As you can see from my last post, is it small children that can't play video games with mature content? Or is it you and Sirak? You may anyways, but that doesn't mean you should or are supposed to.
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Sirak Sazen

So... we're not supposed to voice our opinons? Confused

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"I find it hard. It's hard to find, oh well, whatever, nevermind."

Jiub · Knight - 5th Degree Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 2309

She has already expressed that she doesn't think people under 16 should be participating in abortion debates. I would say that if you don't want to debate with people under 16 you are on the wrong site, but you are entitled to your opinion.

I'm 18 as I've said before, but I still don't think we need to exclude underage people. I must say that the younger crowd does seem to get upset easier and flame more, but I think that a 3 day ban for the next person to call another person an idiot or a word similar to idiot or just anything that is definitely there to flame (just insinuating someone is an idiot cannot be banned as to some degree you do that when you disagree with someone) as a means of debating should start to solve that problem. Not that I think we need a ban rampage or any permanent bans, just something to remind people we have rules here.
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Jianna Merrowmere · Vagrant Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 356

It wouldn't be fair of me to say who, but I do know quite a few young people on this site. I know of two both pro-choice who will no longer participate after being insulted and called names. One of them came to me just today. Is that right? A site in my opinion shouldn't take on a primary viewpoint. There are debate sites specifically for that. Some that lean right, some left. Some are really wild. That is what they are specificlly for and are populated primarily by adults. I belong to several.

But this is supposed to be a Star Wars site where young people come to enjoy themselves role playing Star Wars. Not a red state/blue state debate arena, where teenagers are made to feel terrible by their peers calling them idiot and pro-death.
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Sirak Sazen

Feel free to name these "younger" people and the ones who will no longer participate after being insulted and called names. I understand where you're coming from. Just keep in mind that not many people really take this seriously. It's all in good fun.
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"I find it hard. It's hard to find, oh well, whatever, nevermind."

Butler_Swan

Sirak, there is a clear and present danger in presenting these matters to young children. It may scar them for life, and thus when there is such a clear and present danger, the first ammendment is no longer applicable.

Actually...not really. I just wanted to say something using the "clear and present danger" clause.

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