A good debate question - Page 3

This content was originally posted by: moomin4455

I'm pretty simple - if I can learn something new throughout the course of a debate I'm happy. 😆

What makes a good debate question? An open ended question which is known to incite a different opinion in individuals. It can't be too niche a topic where people would need specialist knowledge in order to take part; the question should be broad enough the people can put forward their views without having to have too much background information - considering this is IF and people from all ages and backgrounds comment here.

This content was originally posted by: -Aarya-

Can you really control what topic people should debate on? I would never want to put limitations or restrictions on topic just because we are all from different age group or back ground. I always believed that everyone is capable of debating on all topics, it's merely a choice! :)

This content was originally posted by: moomin4455

Well no, I'm not controlling the debate question posed, I'm giving my opinion on the TM's original question ie 'What is a good debate question'. Apologies if the language I used made it seem like I'm issuing diktats 😊

I think many questions can become good debate questions if posed the right way. For example 'Do you like Justin Bieber'? may not be the best posed question, but 'With the rise in 'Internet stars' is talent becoming less important in achieving stardom?' could be a good one  it's broad, everyone uses the Internet, everyone knows about Biebs ie an example of an Internet star, and everyone could potentially give their views. 

I would not as people to give their views on the following: 'The Higgs-Boson particle has been putatively found; Particle Physics is at an impasse as a field. Discuss'. Too niche.

This content was originally posted by: -Aarya-

I have always believed that "how you ask the question" is a key to getting the right answer! If the debate was about "Do you like Justin Bieber?", I would have to question the TM with the following:

please specify what do you mean by "like"...
- should I debate on his looks
- should I debate on his music
- should I debate on his acting
It's an endless list of questions and debatable items on that one question!
The point being that if I am not sure about the topic posted by TM then I would just ask to clarify!

I would debate on anything and everything, as long as the topic and contents are intriguing!

This content was originally posted by: moomin4455

I'm pretty simple - if I can learn something new throughout the course of a debate I'm happy. 😆

What makes a good debate question? An open ended question which is known to incite a different opinion in individuals. It can't be too niche a topic where people would need specialist knowledge in order to take part; the question should be broad enough the people can put forward their views without having to have too much background information - considering this is IF and people from all ages and backgrounds comment here.

This content was originally posted by: BirdieNumNum

i think it should be based on audience interest and as you're saying, we have to go with the lowest common denominator in IF.

apart from that, i think a good debate question forces starkly different choices. It's like taking sides where the two sides are opposite and don't meet or overlap. IThings like-

- are you for or against the following proposition;

- who do you think is MORE right- A or B. By using the word MORE, one cant have both A and B as being MORE right;

- should Wharton have rescinded invitation to Modi. Yes/ No? Someone who comes in with a maybe or just lists out pros and cons is not really debating. They are discussing.

just some examples where folks are forced to make choices and allows them to draw on different aspects to support their viewpoint.  And there of course has to be something that requires persuasion. Mostly we have folks trying to be informative, not persuasive. Just my opinion. 

This content was originally posted by: moomin4455

It's true. I think it can be difficult to have a proper debate via written comments, because it gives a person too much time to overthink their argument and add facts and other points that may not be completely relevant...or even subjective. I think I'm totally guilty of that 😆

And also people go off topic - guilty of that too 😳

This content was originally posted by: BirdieNumNum

i think it should be based on audience interest and as you're saying, we have to go with the lowest common denominator in IF.

apart from that, i think a good debate question forces starkly different choices. It's like taking sides where the two sides are opposite and don't meet or overlap. IThings like-

- are you for or against the following proposition;

- who do you think is MORE right- A or B. By using the word MORE, one cant have both A and B as being MORE right;

- should Wharton have rescinded invitation to Modi. Yes/ No? Someone who comes in with a maybe or just lists out pros and cons is not really debating. They are discussing.

just some examples where folks are forced to make choices and allows them to draw on different aspects to support their viewpoint.  And there of course has to be something that requires persuasion. Mostly we have folks trying to be informative, not persuasive. Just my opinion.