Welcome to Gaia! ::

I don't know it just seems like when I publicly try to debate I get accused if being a fan boy. I'll be the first one to tell you that most of my vs matches involve my favorite characters. But then I get attacked harshly when I call someones crap. Maybe I do tend to get a little out of line but when people start implying that I'm an idiot and such it tends to piss me off. Especially when during the whole topic people seem to enjoy not paying attention to what I'm trying to tell them. Now we all can tell when somethings about to become a flame war right? So wouldn't you try and prevent it by taking a nicer approach? Then I get attacked and I'm passive aggressive. When I'm clearly trying to end the whole argument on a happy note. Well that's all I really wanted to say. Anybody ever had similar problems?

I originally started debating in the forums, and it was about as exciting as going to a theme park with the only ride being the merry-go-round, as in the same thing happened over and over. I probably lost a few months of my life due to unhealthy anger.

My theory: Public debating involves 70% fanpeople who say before they think (if they can think), 25% standard debators who provide a few good points here and there, but aren't fully knowledgeable, and 5% noticable debators who can intelligently make their case without causing a riot. Also note that this 5% is the group that the 70% population tends to attack. Reason: Intelligence gap. The concepts of the 5% debators are actually backed by reason and proof; something that the 70% never uses. Therefore, they become confused, and start to insult out of confusion.

Either way, it's a loss for those who actually know how to debate without starting World War III. That's why as of two years ago, I stopped debating in the forums. In my opinion, it's a waste of time, and the debates are never properly concluded. I've yet to see someone walk out of a public debate satisfied, and sad to say, I don't think anyone ever will. That's why debating went through a crisis in the A/M/C, and now I fully agree with the mods' decision to ban debates when they did. The cycle can't be stopped, therefore they went to the source.

At least in guilds such as this, we have the control to rid ourselves of those who are unfit to debate with us. More gets accomplished with less frustration. The predominate frustration that occurs in guilds like these is the frustration of debating someone who puts up a challenge. And that's the kind of frustration that turns you into a better debator.

It's bittersweet how everyone has the opportunity to publicly debate. As you probably know, there's a few reasons why ignorant debaters refuse to quit:

a) They lack respect for others, and dignity for themselves
b) They intentionally wish to annoy others, and they know they can
c) They honestly believe they're right, and refuse to see others' views
d) They've failed grade eight a few too many times

In the eyes of an idiot, assumptions are just as valid - if not more valid - than concrete evidence, such as a re-telling of actual events, images, or even video clips. Fanpeople don't like to use what is true. They like to let their imagination run wild, and come up with extravagant ideas that - in reality - don't portray to the debate at all.

This sounds cruel and unfair, but if I had my way in public forums, there would be a few hundred users less with rights to public forums. Then again, at least half of the people who've agitated me also use insults on top of ignorance, so a full blown account ban might be in order. Maybe only a temporary one if they could prove to me that they scored above 50% on their last English quiz.

I see, and completely agree with your point of view, Andrew.

Which is why I've been saying that it's not completely
the fault of fanboys whether they're assumptions are
justified or not.

Even the Superman v. Gokou thread ruffled A LOT of
feathers because it the title of the thread alone flat-out
stated who would win (lovely, f***ing garbage men
outside my window now of all times...>_>).

I mean I was utterly disappointed with the end results
of my Kenshin v. Captain America thread.

I myself honestly couldn't pick a clear cut winner but
jeez, you should've seen the poll result in particular.
I didn't think there were THAT many Kenshin fans.

http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13026234

The ONLY thing I was satisfied was the turn-out itself. Longest
running thread out of the few I post myself.

Also I would like some advice in light of doing write-ups.


To-date, I've done 2.

Kurosaki Ichigo

Thor

In the case of comic superheroes I'm limited to whatever information
valid websites can provide me with because while I love these characters
I never did buy comic books, cards, or manga for that matter.

As for anime series, especially the long running ones with episodes well into the 40s+. I would like to know some pointers if any to cut back on my research time so that I won't have to spend so much time by re-watching a series of this caliber minute for minute again just to document the character in question's feats.

Skimming doesn't help as with my Ichigo write-up I missed a few points that someone had to point out.