General Questions: Debate?

[arete]

Are the sections for debate only, or can we also discuss or share thoughts?

[Jenett]

Are the sections for debate only, or can we also discuss or share thoughts?

Short version:
We are a debate and discussion space. When you post, you should expect people to respond to you. We expect people here to take part in conversation. That is what makes this a discussion forum.

If you do not want to talk about a topic with others, you should not post in a discussion forum, but instead in a blog or personal journal.

Longer version:
We are a debate and discussion board. When you post, you should expect people to respond to what you post. That is how discussion happens.

You do not have to respond to any single specific discussion post (even in threads you started). We understand that sometimes people get busy, do not have energy or focus for a topic, or that the conversation takes a direction they don't want to discuss in this space.

However, it is part of our rules (see rule 13 under the Do section, and rule 6 under the Miscellaneous rules) that other posters may and will ask for more information to support what you are saying. This is especially true if you make factual claims that do not make sense, or are very broad.

If you are asked for supporting information and refuse to respond (as you have done repeatedly on this forum over time), other posters will make choices about how to interact with you in future.

They may choose to spend time responding to other people who are open to discussion. If you have a question you would like help with, they may choose to help other people instead. They may decide to ignore your posts entirely. All of these are fine in our rules. You are not owed other people's time or energy in responding to you.

If you do not want to engage in discussion with other people on a topic, we encourage you to consider a blog post or journal (i.e. in your own online or offline space) instead.

If you post on the forum, you should expect people will respond, and you should write and respond accordingly.

[arete]

Short version:
We are a debate and discussion space. When you post, you should expect people to respond to you. We expect people here to take part in conversation. That is what makes this a discussion forum.

If you do not want to talk about a topic with others, you should not post in a discussion forum, but instead in a blog or personal journal.

Longer version:
We are a debate and discussion board. When you post, you should expect people to respond to what you post. That is how discussion happens.

You do not have to respond to any single specific discussion post (even in threads you started). We understand that sometimes people get busy, do not have energy or focus for a topic, or that the conversation takes a direction they don't want to discuss in this space.

However, it is part of our rules (see rule 13 under the Do section, and rule 6 under the Miscellaneous rules) that other posters may and will ask for more information to support what you are saying. This is especially true if you make factual claims that do not make sense, or are very broad.

If you are asked for supporting information and refuse to respond (as you have done repeatedly on this forum over time), other posters will make choices about how to interact with you in future.

They may choose to spend time responding to other people who are open to discussion. If you have a question you would like help with, they may choose to help other people instead. They may decide to ignore your posts entirely. All of these are fine in our rules. You are not owed other people's time or energy in responding to you.

If you do not want to engage in discussion with other people on a topic, we encourage you to consider a blog post or journal (i.e. in your own online or offline space) instead.

If you post on the forum, you should expect people will respond, and you should write and respond accordingly.

I understand, thank you. ☺

[Darkhawk]

Are the sections for debate only, or can we also discuss or share thoughts?

We have social forums for people who just want to chat rather than discuss and debate.

Reading through the threads and seeing what perspectives people have already shared - including people who have left us but whose insights remain in the archive - is also often worthwhile.

[arete]

We have social forums for people who just want to chat rather than discuss and debate.

Reading through the threads and seeing what perspectives people have already shared - including people who have left us but whose insights remain in the archive - is also often worthwhile.

Yes, I read them often.