New Forum - One on one Debates

The Baptist Board continues to grow as an effective tool for exchanging ideas and increasing the knowledge of the members with the addition of the new forum, One on one Debates. The webmaster added the special forum last evening and as soon as we hash out the rules, I will post them here.

The forum will allow two individuals to engage in a formal debate as opposed to the free form discussion with which we are accustomed. The threads will be read only except to the participants engaged in the debate.

We look forward to an effective exchange of ideas in this forum and we hope that much fruit grows from it.

Clint Kritzer
One on one Debates Moderator

 

Several questions have arisen regarding our new one-on-one formal debate forum. As this is new to our board we will learn as we go. The primary goal of our first debate in progress was so that post-it and David Gould could have a thread free of corruption from other participants, allowing the topic to stay on course. Some formal debates are judged, this one is not.

I will establish a template on which we will conduct the debate which Karen had suggested to us that she took from leaderu.com:

Person A: Opening statement.
Person B: Opening statement.

A: First Rebuttal.
B: First Rebuttal.

A: Counter Rebuttal.
B: Counter Rebuttal.

A: Closing Statement.
B: Closing Statement.

***Audience question and answer time. This option may not always apply.

Since these debates are being done on-line instead of in the flesh, I think it will be wise to set time limits such as "The debate over whether the sky is blue will be between Joe and Jim and will take place from April 1, 2002 to April 11, 2002."

Also we will remain flexible in our rules providing that the participants are agreeable to the terms. Again, we will learn as we go. Some debates will allow images to be used, others not. Some debates will allow UBB coding, some will not.

Also, once the debate has begun, I will establish a parallel thread in all other discussions for debates involving non-Christian participants and in General Baptist discussion or the other religions forum for debates over doctrinal issues in order that the membership can discuss the issues raised. At the end of the debate, I will also establish a thread in the one-on-one forum for questions and answers or in some cases judging.

Now, the big question: how does one enter into one of these structured threads? I can see three ways in which it could occur:

1. Two members decide between themselves to have a formal debate such as Mr. Gould and post-it did

2. A member can state a challenge and wait for a respondent to pick up the gauntlet

3. The administration of the board can approach two members to engage in debate

All members wishing to participate in this forum should begin be e-mailing me at the address I have established for this forum: [email protected]. All request will be considered by the moderators as a whole. Incidentally, two of the administrators also have access to this account just for the sake of accountability or that I am unable to perform my duties as moderator.

Again, this is a very exciting new development for the Baptist Board and I believe it will be of great benefit to the membership. My thanks to Karen for first suggesting it, post-it and David Gould for spurring it, and the webmaster for enabling it.

 

I just received word that both entries will be in by tomorrow morning, 3/23. I will post them as soon as I review them for the word count.

 

Our first debate has begun!

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=41;t=000001

 

The summaries for the formal debate "The existence of God" have been posted along with a question and answer thread for each opponent.

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=41;t=000005

I am very pleased with the debate and I have learned a little about moderating such a forum. I was very fortunate to be dealing with two gentlemen such as post-it and David Gould for my first time around! Thank you both.

Clint Kritzer
Moderator, One-on-One debates