On the internet.

[Arkansas Lad]

I have to agree -- otherwise, we'd start a debate.

 

[NightDancer]

That would require some thought/analytical process to take place, of which (fill in internet site) seems to be lacking

 

[Scrub]

Maybe people don't understand what or how to debate properly.

 

[Arkansas Lad]

How could you agree .... that is just ridiculous. Posting on JUB is more than just sucking up to people and flirting !

Well my original post was more of a joke; however, there is very little debate. People do not know how to debate anymore. They immediately go to the "I'm right, your retarded" or "you are just suffering from racism/internal homophobia/etc". Having a good honest clean debate is hard to do these days - or at least I think so.

 

[Arkansas Lad]

I don't think you really agree. You're just avoiding the issue.

Are you afraid to debate? Why?

Here, I'll give you a topic: Brokeback Mountain; should it have won the Oscar for best picture?

If yes, why?

If no, why not?

Brokeback Mountain in my opinion was not the best movie of 2005. I felt that Crash was more open and honest and that Brokeback Mountain was overhyped. While I personally liked the movie, I do not feel it was the best nor is it the best gay film that has been made to date. Movies that tackle homosexuality or homophobia head on are better in my opinion.

When Brokeback Mountain lost the Oscar in 2005, I was not upset nor offended. I also found it ridiculous that so many people were calling it homophobic for the movie to not win. Frankly, it was a mediocre movie in a year of very few standouts. If 2005 had been a year of bigger, better movies like 2006 was (The Departed, Babel, Queen, etc), then I do not believe it would have even been nominated.

 

[Arkansas Lad]

So was my reply.

Look at me. I didn't get the joke. OOPS.

 

[Pushover]

It's either 'I am right, you're wrong', a 'bitch' match between people, some one having a holier than thou attitude, amongst other. Not all the time, there is debate and room for it. It just doesn't come across as much as it should.

I sort of agree. Most debates I've seen over the internet (and quite a few on this forum) turn from 'my opinion/your opinion, lets argue facts' to 'I am right, and I will prove you wrong because your opinion is stupid.'

There's nothing wrong with healthy debate and arguement, but does it always have to turn into a match between 'I am right, and you are wrong?'

 

[MidnightPrism]

It seems like there is hardly ever an actual debate.

It's the same way in real life. Politicians quit have meaningful debates & discussions years ago. People from either side of an issue just scream at each other without trying to see things from the other person's perspective.

 

[Arkansas Lad]

You are all so right. However, in this day and age with all the misinformation out there, people can even argue the validity of facts.

 

[JOHN B]

I love debating. So, not to steal your thread but lets debate.

***It's better for the American economy to buy our goods (cars, electronics,...) from overseas.

****Most homeless people WANT to be homeless. It's their way of avoiding responsibility, by dropping out of society.

****Global warming is not manmade. It's just a phase that the environment is going thru right now.

NOW BEFORE YOU YELL AT ME--I am NOT saying I agree with the things I said above. These are topics that came up in my economic and sociology classes when I was in college. These debates have been going on for years.

So, pick a topic and debate your side of it using links to sites/sources on the web to back you up; rather than just "because I said so" answers.

This could be fun.....

 

[Arkansas Lad]

Columnist Jill Stewart argues that the ugly secret about homelessness is that many homeless want to remain homeless.

"Another city hall leader who gets it, but can't say it publicly for fear of being attacked as a heartless bastard, says: 'I look at the homeless now, after all the years of efforts and all the programs that have come and gone, and I can almost see them laughing at the suits hurrying to their jobs. There is a defiance that is hard to understand, and maybe impossible to address. The bottom line is, many of them are choosing homelessness.'"