Dear Forum Members,
Healthy debate can be enlightening and even enjoyable. It can be like a good game of chess, where two opponents are striving to win, and they learn and improve each other as they strive for victory. The people who watch the players also can learn quite a bit. When the game is over, the players usually smile and thank each other. This could happen because they followed the rules of good sportsmenship.
Think about a basketball team at practice. The first team and second team play each other, each trying to outdo the other players. They try to take the ball, block the ball, dunk over each other, go around each other, but they don't try and hurt each other because they are the same team. Presumably, we are all on the same team. So let's debate and disagree with good sportsmenship and some etiquette, or refinement.
We must remember that a forum is a place for open, public discussion. Our parents taught us that when we are in the public, we must wear our best behavior so that we are not offensive to others. There will often be differences of opinion, but we have to remember to debate the ideas, not the person you are debating with.
He or she is not a bad person because they disagree with you. He or she is not a bad person if they make a mistake. A mistake is an opportunity to teach, not a reason for name calling.
A few guidelines for improving your debates and arguments with good taste are as follows:
1. Don't call each other names (This is the worst thing you can do).
2. Support your claims or your points with reasons and/or evidence.
3. Don't worry about convincing the person you are debating with. Usually, two dehaters never change each other's minds. Remember that there are many others watching the debate and learning from both points of view. Present your side of the matter as clearly as you can; make your points so that you are comfortable that the readers understand your viewpoint, whether they agree with you or not. It's like two lawyers arguing a case. They won't change each other's thinking. They are trying to convince the Jury and the people in the courtroom.
4. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. No big deal.
We want to have a safe environment for open discussion, debate, sharing and we cannot have this without the help and expressions of everyone.