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Move on to a new topic (suggest something).

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Total Members Voted: 9

[Solifuge]

"Is the Internet detrimental to Humanity?"
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Discussion of the Week: Round 1
(Sept. 13-19, 2010)

Past Discussions:
Round 0: "What do you want to discuss, and how do you want to discuss it?"
Round 1: "Is the Internet detrimental to Humanity?"

Rules (may change as necessary):
- Forbidden discussion topics include: religion, politics, or religiously/politically charged world events. Exceptions may be taken on a case-by-case basis, or by popular opinion.
- Feel free to wander from the original topic, or take it in a new direction, so long as it remains relevant.
- Don't incite flame-wars or attack others on a personal level. By the same token, don't let the discussion become a personal thing. Self-moderate, keep things light, and have fun.
-

Suggestions:
- Try to stay away from logical fallacies in your arguments.
-

[Realmfighter]

I would say that when we find a topic that no one disagrees too, or if that doesn't work one that is most popular.

Also, debates should be Black and White enough that we can place everyone who wishes to participate into teams, and everyone on a team has a close enough opinion.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

We could debate...uh....the validity of....somthing...somthing....somthing? Without politics, religion, and world events, I don't have much to work with here. Oh, I know! Should learning how to swim be a mandatory goal of elementary school physical education?

[Leafsnail]

I quite liked Realmfighter's "Is the internet detrimental to humanity as a whole?".  Sounds quite interesting.

There's also "Are human beings fundamentally selfish?" and "Are people really responsible for their own actions?" as generic philosophy ones, if necessary.

[Vector]

Also, debates should be Black and White enough that we can place everyone who wishes to participate into teams, and everyone on a team has a close enough opinion.

I disagree.  We don't need to relegate ourselves to two main opinions; that results in vacuous statements with no real content.  We all have opinions.  We shouldn't have to force ourselves to stick to a cohesive whole, just because we could draw pretty demarcations in the sand and pretend that everything is clear-cut and simple.

[Solifuge]

I'd like to avoid polarizing things too much, since that culls topics with more than two opinions. Maybe this should be "Discussion of the Week"? Also, I'll throw a subject I was just musing on out there:

Do you think removing Anger from the emotional spectrum of humans would bring more harm or good?

[Realmfighter]

Here is one, Should Humanity continue its technological advancement, dedicate itself in its entirety to progress for progress's sake, or should we become a completely hedonistic society, with no aim except to enjoy itself?

[Vector]

Here is one, Should Humanity continue its technological advancement, dedicate itself in its entirety to progress for progress's sake, or should we become a completely hedonistic society, with no aim except to enjoy itself?

Answer: since many individuals find enjoyment chiefly in progress and intellectual exploration, the dichotomy is false.


I suggest putting a poll up top and renaming it "discussion of the week."

[MetalSlimeHunt]

So the list so far is:
1. Should learning how to swim be a mandatory goal of elementary school physical education?
2. Is the internet detrimental to humanity as a whole?
3. Are human beings fundamentally selfish?
4. Are people really responsible for their own actions?
5. Do you think removing Anger from the emotional spectrum of humans would bring more harm or good?
6. Here is one, Should Humanity continue its technological advancement, dedicate itself in its entirety to progress for progress's sake, or should we become a completely hedonistic society, with no aim except to enjoy itself?

Shall I generate a random number for our topic choice and go from there?

[Realmfighter]

While i would normally say no, thats probably better.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Random.org gave me a 6.

[Realmfighter]

.....

Vector just invalidated that one. What shall we do.

[Solifuge]

Well, it's far from invalidated... she's just presented an opinion on it. We're still in Pre-Debate mode.

I personally oppose doing a random number roll, at least yet.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Generate another one between one to five. Random.org gave me a 1.

Or nevermind, then.

[Vector]

Just because the argument as presented is a false dichotomy doesn't mean we can't still snarl about it.