On Proper Debate Methods and Logical Fallacies
Extended Discussion is intended to be a debate and discussion forum. This does not at all mean that it is devoid of humor or fun, but simply that there are certain standards that should be adheared to when participating in discussion or making a thread here.
Please check this sticky first to see if your thread should be in this forum.
Secondly, when one has a debate or discussion, one should not see posts of the following nature:
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Well, of course you would say that, because you're a [liberal/conservative/man/woman/christian/pagan/whatever]
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u ppl r all stupid for thinking (x idea/belief/opinion here}
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You're just too stupid to understand me/my position/my point.
NO.
Please do not do this. Some of these are not only ad hominem abusive logical fallacies but they do not contribute to the debate. If you disagree with someone, to put it simply, put up or shut up. State your view and then back it up.
Attacking the point someone has made or the position they have taken is not the same as attacking the person making the statement. Questioning the source or reliability of the information or taking into account that they may slant their presentation of facts is not an an ad hominem.
And you have every right to ask that others do so as well, provided that the Burden of Proof actually lies with them.
If you have nothing to say to the topic, then do not post in it. Posting something random or entirely irrelevant is detrimental to the flow of the discussion. It is spam, and the chatterbox forum exists for you to spam in.
Take the time to become familar with logical fallacies and the basic methods of constructing a logical argument. Nizkor.org contains an excellent guide for both of these.
We are also not here to just "post and run". Understandably, sometimes there are things that do not require a reply, when someone asks for various views on a subject and there is no need for you to reply to others or refute.
However ED should not a place to just dump your opinion and then leave, never to return again and see if anyone has replied to you. The idea of a 'discussion" involves people exchanging conversation, not stopping by, giving their view, and never returning. Whenever possible, follow through with your post. Have a conversation.
Also remember that it is called Extended Discussion. Not Extended Agument. There does not need to be disagreement or conflict for the thread to be appropriate here. It simply must have an involved discussion or other merit. Debate is of course fully appropriate in the forum, but it is not necessary to have heated debate or arguments for a thread to be in ED.
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