h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know if cannot be stopped on this site. For some, the fact that DNA was an avowed and vocal atheist, it seems to be a license to troll and trash any thread or person that might even wisp past ...

An example, ... F19585?thread=8236208

Is there any vague possibility of setting aside a zone for the bashers of both sides? And leave casual passers-by out of that fray?

Something like a couple of categories of "Here be believers, shred us at your whim" and "Here be Atheists, come take a beating"

Referenced thread had all of 4 posts, before stuff surfaced as it does

Yeah, I saw that thread and I admit I did at that.

I can't see why not. Admittedly I just ignore all threads like that as standard, so I may not be the best person to judge.

>>Something like a couple of categories of "Here be believers, shred us at your whim" and "Here be Atheists, come take a beating"


Excellent. We could have an A page called Purgatory. Where we could send them all.

And another idea, though how it might be implemented is well beyond me ...

There is a very small percentage of the community population who seem to be of the opinion that every thread is meant to become a properly structured debate. And anything, moderation or topic drift, are almost 'sacriligeous'.

I'm a simple chap, no university or college at all. Probably 3 out of 4 people that I encounter in a day have never attended one either, not being fortunate in wealth, locations or generation. Of that 1 in 4, I would lay serious money that an extremely small number of them ever actively studied rules, structures and nuances of official 'debate'.

Perhaps some colour flag or tag to threads that actually are expected to be debated in formal and proper fashion, rather than just ordinary people expressing opinions?

Well, there's the Forum and there's Ask. Though the Forum's quieter than it was.

B

Most do know that, but on occasion there are still wot throw a strop when something wanders from "properly structured and (as I studied it at college) sort of debate". That sort of stuff really squelches a thread as well. Just mentioning, having seen refences a half dozen times in recent days about how moderation destroys such 'debates' ...

Hi Nick,

Debate is a big part of the Ask culture (my personal observation) and I'm not saying that's a bad thing in general. It is though quite overwhelming.

The constant need to debate means that the opportunity to discuss issues is lost and I think that's a great shame and you are right it does deter people from joining in and that's our loss.

It's one of those cultural shifts that I've been mulling. Haven't really got anywhere with it yet.

Peanut

Perhaps I am too simple in a number of ways. I can appreciate open and active discussions and conversations everywhere. And that is what I see generally, and can participate in. It is the times that some insist on "following the rules of debate", mentions of straw-men and what-ever other terms that level invokes. Such times are no longer opinions and conversation, they become a duel of a sort.

Thinking on it, perhaps something as simple as the same 'moving' option that has been used in recent years. Something that does not really 'suit' other zones are moved to the "Misc Chat" category.

Create a category for serious debater, and as threads evolve or devolve to that level, move them and include the appropriate post from 'management' that it has moved.