Debates/Hot Topics

[Kralik]

Any thoughts on opening a specific forum for "heated" topics? I was thinking perhaps keeping the "Member's Lounge" more laid-back and having another spot for political/religious/etc. discussions may be best. 

[SomeRandomDude]

Definitely. I could help moderate it, but I think that we'd still need our whole mod staff to keep it in check.

Orthanc or something.

EDIT: And...we (strictly meaning...YOU, the admins) need to be able to restrict permissions in posting in it for certain users who prove themselves to be offensive, I particularly have my eye on Gate Troll, Lurtzy and hawkeyespf. They seem to prefer insults to rational debate. Perhaps a 48 hour forum ban or something of that sort?

[sickofpalantirs]

heres what I think...make it like the mod forum and invite people in...say every active member at the start (active=10 posts or more) than if people are disrespectful, give them a ban from the board for a bit...
and as for mods, We need the least partisan people...hawkeye says he has nothing but respect for me and drake, I would personally recomend AD and M64 for mods.

[SomeRandomDude]

Heh. If you even KNEW how partisan they were.

Anyways. I don't think partisanship should be an issues, after all, a mod should be able to be fair whether they agree with the person or not. I think the entire mod staff has been good for moderation of the threads up until now, and I think that we need as many people as possible to keep a forum like this in check. Especially since the number of threads are sure to go way up in an environment specifically for them, thus number of objectionable posts.

[Thranduil]

I really think we don't need more areas of this forum - the number of areas to members ratio seems quite high already. That said, I hardly care either way; if enough people want it, do it.

Thranduil

[SomeRandomDude]

Judging from the number of threads in the lounge pertaining to the subject...

[Elessar's Socks]

Creating a debate forum sounds like a good idea, although I have certain misgivings about overzealous modding.

That said, I think AD would make a good mod there. Partisan or not, I think people would trust him to be fair.

[Elf_Lvr]

Though I don't think that there's currently enough activity for a whole new forum (2-3 active debate threads does not a forum make), perhaps creating one would help encourage people to start more. And maybe - just maybe - they'll also pick up lighter topics to debate on; ones less likely to get offensive.

I for one think it would be cool to have a couple mock debates on random subjects every now and again. I know we have a lot of debate people around here and it'd be a pretty cool experience.

All and all, I'm on the fence. NB would make a pretty good mod, as would AD. With the global mods as well, that'd probably be plenty.

If you wanted a name, Orthanc would be quite cool.

And if it doesn't have enough activity, you can always get rid of it, eh?

[AgentDrake]

Well, since my latest (almost only) mod activity has apparently branded me as impartial, I suppose I should throw in my 2c.
I figure that there's not necessarily enough threads devoted to this debating to justify a whole new forum. On that note, there's more than enough threads that evolve into debating points to justify it.

To thread, or not to thread?
I think Orthanc is a good name if we do get one, but I would recommend that we try to keep several lighter-hearted debates running as well (pirates vs ninjas, R. Nader vs D. Vader, etc), to keep tensions from overescalating. They don't necessarily have to be stupid like that, but some ones that aren't as... polarizing. Heck, I'm all up and rearing to get an argument started over whether or not the ancient Greeks and Romans are overrated. Lighthearted, yet serious. We can have an interesting discussion over the nature of Western Civilization and Culture, and its origins and philosophy without ending up in arms because the other person is some kinda risk to our political survival.

Since my latest modding stunt seems to have resulted in me being somewhat nominated as potential mod, I should probably point out that I can't promise I'll be active enough to be up to the task, but I can try.

[FM]

I can't really see why debating shouldn't be a part of the Member's Lounge. Sure, some people are CLEARLY overreacting, but that's what we mods are there for anyway, and aside from these isolate cases, I, for one, tend to think of debating Topics as "laid back" ones where I can have some fun, and perhaps learn a few things, so I think it fits perfectly with the Member's Lounge's goal.
So, if you guys want yet another Forum for debating, well, who am I to say anything? But I really don't see the point. Also, "mock" debates would fit the Member's Lounge even better than an actual Debating Forum, so, yet again, I think it's not necessary for we to have one.

[lem0nhead]

I think youre all taking it well too seriously but i havent missed the irony in this topic becoming a "debate" in a thread regarding what to do about hot topics and debates! 

[SomeRandomDude]

Pirates vs Ninjas?

*goes to start thread*

[Elessar's Socks]

I think youre all taking it well too seriously but i havent missed the irony in this topic becoming a "debate" in a thread regarding what to do about hot topics and debates! 

*gasp!* Sit in the corner quietly and drink your lemon juice.

[lem0nhead]

*gasp!* Sit in the corner quietly and drink your lemon juice.

What sort of monster are you!!!!!???

I dont ask you to sit down and drink your own blood!

 

[SomeRandomDude]

Well...

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=1011.0

I think that we should see if the people want it. F_M already did what I didn't want (bad Kitty ), and that is carry the debate over there, so I'm not sure if we should argue it out there, or keep our discussion under wraps.