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I wonder if it would be possible to have a debate site that didn't degenerate into noise? How would you keep things civil? Or how would you keep it from becomin

• DanielBMarkham 17y ago
  I used to participate in a blog that ran mostly like a debate site. It had several authors, all of different persuasions (but all friends). Each day one would take a position and write and essay. Then the debate would begin. What happened was this: because the people taking positions were first and foremost friends, they also monitored the comments to make sure everybody was in line. There was a clear set of rules about what was allowed and what wasn't (no name-calling, for instance). The strength of the friendships and the community overcame people's sometimes passionate views, and we all (mostly) learned to disagree agreeably. One of the best sites I've ever visited. I keep hoping to reproduce that experience somewhere else. There is something about _true_ diversity that makes thinking about big problems a lot easier. (I'm not saying people didn't get heated from time-to-time, but there were clear limits)
  • tokenadult 17y ago
    There is something about _true_ diversity that makes thinking about big problems a lot easier. I am fortunate to have a diverse enough group of Facebook friends that I can enjoy vigorous discussions with multiple points of view just by posting links (some of which I hat tip HN for) there. I knew I was succeeding when not only was I enjoying the discussions, but my friends were saying so, and friends were even introducing other friends to me to be Facebook-friended by me so that they could join in on the discussions.