About the What's Wrong With the .US Debate System
Summary
Our "debate system" is an online application that makes participating in a debate a snap!
General
They key is automation. As each debate? progresses at each step, the system automatically keeps those involved (via email) informed about what's happening and the debate's progress. The automation keeps each debate flowing, helping ensure it's completion; Debates are be limited to a number of back-and-forth responses (5). This prevents "never ending runons".
As each debate progresses, non-participant users are allowed to chime in regarding who's winning the debate. Once the debate's finished, it is open to comments from all users, anonymous or not.
Specifics
- Debates are not controlled by the admins on the site, unless the admin is participating in a debate as a debate-owner.
- Debates are not moderated by the admins of the website, nor general users.
- Debates are created by submission.
- When you submit your debate information/idea/suggestion, you will be asked whether or not you want to participate. If you specify you do want to particate you will have to declare which position (for/against) you will take in the debate.
- When you submit your debate information, if you submit it anonymously (ie you are not logged into the website with a valid account) you will not be able to participate in the debate in any way. If you want to participate, please be sure your are logged into the website with a valid account before you create your submission.
- Once a debate submission is created, it waits in the submission bin for other users to rate.
- If a debate is accepted:
- If you are the submitter, and you designated that you wanted to particate in the debate, you will receive an email telling you about the submission's acceptance and the details of new debate.
- If the submitter designated that they did not want to participate in the debate, the debate is up for grabs. If you are logged into the website, you can assume ownership of a debate. You will have to designate the position you'll be taking when you assume ownership of an unowned debate.
- Ownership has it's privileges! Well, in this, case, not really. Ownership does not give the owner any advantage over a debate's other participant. The only benefit a debate owner has is that they are ensured to be able to participate in the debate itself.
- Now the fun begins! Let's recap:
At this point, the debate is on the website and it has an owner who has declared their position (for/against). - The debate is now advertised as needing a participant.
- Anyone interested in participating must signup to do so. When you signup, you are applying to participate. The debate owner receives each application. The debate owner will eventually pick one of the applicants and designate them as their fellow debater. The debater is notified they have been picked. The debate is considered "open" at this point.
- The debater, not the owner, has first-post-rights. The debater particpant has 3 days, from the "opening" of the debate, to post their first rebuttal. If they do not, the particpant is removed from the debate, the debate is marked as "assumable", the applicant-signup phase is re-started.
- After the participant posts their rebuttal, the debate owner is allowed to post. This flip flops until the debate is finished. At this point the debate is marked as being "closed", karma and debate points are dispersed, and the debate is submitted as a story submission for posting on the front page of the website.
Rules
- Debates are open to anyone 13 years or older, as is the entire website. Please see our Terms of Use for further usage terms.
- It is expected that you will keep your language "as polite as possible". Please use common sense when posting your debate-rebuttals.
