Happy Atheist Forum

Are you interested in having a debate in the One on One Debate subforum (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/viewforum.php?f=43)? Do you have an interesting idea for a debate? Do you wish to submit an open challenge?

This thread is the sort of waiting room outside of the debate chambers. Sign up, submit ideas for topic, or otherwise discuss all things One on One debate.

May the most logically sound and best presented argument win!

Thanks for implementing my idea.  

Sounds like fun. But I don't have any ideas at the moment.

I'm curious: can the debate topics be outside of philosophy and theology (such as history, technology, or politics)?

I don't see why not. I'd actually like the debate topics to be varied just because it can be challenging to argue something you've never thought about before.

Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling (I'll post the affirmative argument):

Crocs: only acceptable for old ladies gardening or toddlers at the beach.

Economics, as it's practiced, is a science.

The agricultural revolution was ultimately beneficial to our species.

Homophobia is a symptom of homosexual feelings.

The 2000 election was stolen.

Quote from: "Will"Crocs: only acceptable for old ladies gardening or toddlers at the beach.

Shit, I love my Crocs   .

I have an idea: Was it right for Stephen Colbert to use satire when testifying before Congress (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1T75jBYeCs)? Should satire be considered a respectable form of argument on its own?

Quote from: "Tom62"

Quote from: "Will"Crocs: only acceptable for old ladies gardening or toddlers at the beach.

Shit, I love my Crocs  :D

Quote from: "karadan"

Quote from: "Tom62"

Quote from: "Will"Crocs: only acceptable for old ladies gardening or toddlers at the beach.

Shit, I love my Crocs  :D

I wear them at home as house shoes. They are so damned comfortable. If that makes me a god damn hippy then so be it.

This house believes that...

       ...materialism is a sufficient explanation for what it is like to exist.

       ...we should actively seek the end of religion.

       ...the idea of God is necessarily incoherent.

       ...religion can be a powerful force for good.

       ...there are legitimate questions that science cannot answer.

Quote from: "penfold"...religion can be a powerful force for good.

I would eagerly debate that.  

I'd love to have chat debates with people and then paste the entire thing into a post. I'm more for the serious, classic topics, such as morality and the like, but I guess I'm open to anything I have an inkling of knowledge in.

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "penfold"...religion can be a powerful force for good.

I would eagerly debate that.  

Well I'm up for it if you are (I take it you want to oppose the motion - which is fine by me). We'd need to sort out some time though. Am pretty busy during the weeks at the moment. A weekend perhaps?

anyhow let me know.

Quote from: "penfold"

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "penfold"...religion can be a powerful force for good.

I would eagerly debate that.  :)

Well if they need to be in real time I can't do next weekend either.

However we could just spread it out, if you're cool waiting a couple of days for responses so am I.

If debates aren't real time (seems like they could just be a regular thread to me...), I'd love to debate some sciency stuff.  Can't think of topics off the top of my head....but I'll start thinking about it!

The last one I had wasn't in real time. As long as it follows the agreed upon format and timescale, I have no problem with it. Just try not to forget about it right in the middle.

Quote from: "Will"The last one I had wasn't in real time. As long as it follows the agreed upon format and timescale, I have no problem with it. Just try not to forget about it right in the middle.

Sounds good to me. Ready when penfold is.  
 
Any guidelines we should know about?

You guys set the rules. The first debate was done in classical style which I found a tiny bit constraining but the regiment did help to keep us on topic. You're free to be as structured or free as you see fit, just make sure both sides have their say and you wrap it up before too long (the last debate I got into on another forum has been going on for months).

In the end, if you'd like, we can set up a poll to determine a winner based on popular vote or you can ask for a volunteer/volunteers to judge.

When you're ready, just let us know and we'll grant temporary permission to post in the one on one debate subforum.

And remember to have fun.

I'll debate on the following topics:
- George W. Bush was a good president.
- Barack Obama is not a good president.
- Wikipedia is trustworthy and reliable.
- There is no such thing as "the soul"
- Third trimester abortion should be forbidden
- Capitalism is superior to communism

Quote from: "Will"You guys set the rules. The first debate was done in classical style which I found a tiny bit constraining but the regiment did help to keep us on topic. You're free to be as structured or free as you see fit, just make sure both sides have their say and you wrap it up before too long (the last debate I got into on another forum has been going on for months).

In the end, if you'd like, we can set up a poll to determine a winner based on popular vote or you can ask for a volunteer/volunteers to judge.

When you're ready, just let us know and we'll grant temporary permission to post in the one on one debate subforum.

And remember to have fun.

Ready to fire away. Since penfold is supporting the claim religion can be a tool for good I think it'd be most reasonable for him to kick it off whenever ready.

Okay. I'll fart my way though phpBB for a moment and see if I can change permissions.

Edit: Okay, I have no idea how to do that. I'll ask Whitney!  :headbang:

Quote from: "jduster"I'll debate on the following topics:
- George W. Bush was a good president.
- Barack Obama is not a good president.
- Wikipedia is trustworthy and reliable.
- There is no such thing as "the soul"
- Third trimester abortion should be forbidden
- Capitalism is superior to communism

I'll play ball with you. I'm especially interested in the Bush presidency, soul existence, and the capitalism vs communism debates.

I pretty much have nothing to do for the foreseeable future.

Quote from: "Will"Okay. I'll fart my way though phpBB for a moment and see if I can change permissions.

Edit: Okay, I have no idea how to do that. I'll ask Whitney!  :headbang:

Well, I would start but I'm not the one defending a claim.  

If anyone is interested in debating Philosophy of Mind with me, specifically in contesting the premise that the mind is a physical system, I would be happy to engage.

I'm calling dibs on: The Agricultural Revolution was beneficial for humanity.

I am taking the affirmative. If you want to challenge, PM me, and I'll set up the first post in the one on one forum, or get a mod to do it if I can't. We'll settle the details of the format of the debate in PM as well.

I love this.  ;D

Great idea, I'm in.

Quote from: unholy1971 on December 18, 2011, 06:41:25 PM
Great idea, I'm in.

Well you have to find a subject and an interlocutor (who must agree to the debate).