NationStates Jolt Archive

Is it just me or has there been a general decline in the standard of debate on these threads over the last year or so. There seems to be a massive surge in the number of threads where people decide to share their relatively mediocre and unexeciting lives with the world rather than actually discussing anything of substance.

The only debates that do seem to maintain any momentum or intellectual flair seem to be the ones that are re-hashed over and over again: e.g. Iraq, gun control, socialism etc. Plus the fact that a lot of the better debators on the thread seem to have disappeared - Bottle and Zeppistan especially were terrific, and seem to have left the forums for good.

What do people think?

It might be because people are becoming more radical so it is more difficult to have a great debate on anything.

One can generally get out of this forum what he/she puts into it.

Well, I’m fairly certain there are more social conservatives. That’s bound to drag things down.
Not to mention that certain folks around here are posting more often who seem to think that even daring to question the necessity of certain societal constructs is a form of trolling or flaming.

Because not everyone has the same interests and if it were strictly debate only, it'd be boring as hell. Even the best debators visit the social/fun threads because they need a break.

One can generally get out of this forum what he/she puts into it.

Fortunately I've successfully disassociated my level of dissatisfaction from the actual question which concerns the standard of debate per se.

Maybe the decline in debate could be due to a decline in the number of fun threads? Just thinking...

Today I had a sandwich. It was so-so. Not a great sandwich, but it was alright I guess.

Today I had a sandwich. It was so-so. Not a great sandwich, but it was alright I guess.

What type of sandwich?

What type of sandwich?

An egg salad sandwich. The kind you buy at a gas station. I guess the combination of eggs (yummy) + gas station food (yucky) = meh. After that I continued my drive to work. Oh! Almost forgot, I had one of those awesome starbucks frappuchinos. Those kick ass. Otherwise just another mediocre part of my life. You guys have events like these in your lives? If you do please share.

It's idealogues who tend to ruin debate.

Liberal idealogues, conservative idealogues, libertarian idealogues, American idealogues, religious idealogues, whatever.

Their idea of debate is 'Anybody who disagrees with one of my points, chastise, and re-state my points in an aggressive manner not really responding to their viewpoint except to dismiss it'.

An egg salad sandwich. The kind you buy at a gas station. I guess the combination of eggs (yummy) + gas station food (yucky) = meh. After that I continued my drive to work. Oh! Almost forgot, I had one of those awesome starbucks frappuchinos. Those kick ass. Otherwise just another mediocre part of my life. You guys have events like these in your lives? If you do please share.


Ew. Gas station food? I got a terrible case of food poisoning last year from eating a wrap from a gas station. Those damn bacteria had me layed up for a week!

An egg salad sandwich. The kind you buy at a gas station. I guess the combination of eggs (yummy) + gas station food (yucky) = meh. After that I continued my drive to work. Oh! Almost forgot, I had one of those awesome starbucks frappuchinos. Those kick ass. Otherwise just another mediocre part of my life. You guys have events like these in your lives? If you do please share.

Lol.

Ew. Gas station food? I got a terrible case of food poisoning last year from eating a wrap from a gas station. Those damn bacteria had me layed up for a week!

Yah, I'm not feeling so good right now either..... Now if you want a good honest American sandwich you have to go with the BLT. Hell, treat yourself, eat a BBBLT.

Yah, I'm not feeling so good right now either..... Now if you want a good honest American sandwich you have to go with the BLT. Hell, treat yourself, eat a BBBLT.

Ok, you know never to eat any non-snack foods from a gas station now, don't you?

Great debates are dying out because we all are deciding on the issues. :P

More liberals then anything else here in general.

Great debates are dying out because we all are deciding on the issues. :P

More liberals then anything else here in general.

But there are so many issues and debates that can be drawn upon, and the only ones that seem to go anywhere are the ones where views have polarised, e.g. abortion, gun control etc and where the same points are made time and time again.

I think as well these forums are becoming more dominated by younger people, which would explain the increase in the number of threads which go along the lines of: "Why are chicks not impressed with my warhammer collection?"

But there are so many issues and debates that can be drawn upon, and the only ones that seem to go anywhere are the ones where views have polarised, e.g. abortion, gun control etc and where the same points are made time and time again.

I think as well these forums are becoming more dominated by younger people, which would explain the increase in the number of threads which go along the lines of: "Why are chicks not impressed with my warhammer collection?"

LOL

And the answer to that last question is that you need to use the pewter pieces, not the plastic, and for gods sake use a base coat. Also it doesn't hurt if you own at least one large model, a dreadnought or a bloodthirster for example.

But there are so many issues and debates that can be drawn upon, and the only ones that seem to go anywhere are the ones where views have polarised, e.g. abortion, gun control etc and where the same points are made time and time again.
Er... if you believe so, why don't you make them instead of complaining that no one is making any really good debate threads?

I think as well these forums are becoming more dominated by younger people, which would explain the increase in the number of threads which go along the lines of: "Why are chicks not impressed with my warhammer collection?"
The forum cycles. A year ago when I came here, someone else had asked the same thing, namely going off of how now that the US election had ended all the great debates had been settled, then lo and behold, it started to pic up again when newbies got their legs under them, fire in their bellies, and away we went.

LOL

And the answer to that last question is that you need to use the pewter pieces, not the plastic, and for gods sake use a base coat. Also it doesn't hurt if you own at least one large model, a dreadnought or a bloodthirster for example.

The enduring appeal of the Greater Daemon of Khorne marches on.

(Ashamed of my own knowledge)

The enduring appeal of the Greater Daemon of Khorne marches on.

Well, what do you expect, no one likes a daemon with tits.

Er... if you believe so, why don't you make them instead of complaining that no one is making any really good debate threads?


The forum cycles. A year ago when I came here, someone else had asked the same thing, namely going off of how now that the US election had ended all the great debates had been settled, then lo and behold, it started to pic up again when newbies got their legs under them, fire in their bellies, and away we went.

Well I've been on and off for over 3 years now and I think the standard was significantly higher back then than it is now.

The main reason I don't attempt to start decent threads is that generally it requires the kind of time that I do not have since you can't just slap on a post and then run. Anyway I'll give it a shot - lol.

Sure...but then you have us that stick around and post way after...until we effectively have killed a thread, cause the others run. >.>

Er... if you believe so, why don't you make them instead of complaining that no one is making any really good debate threads?



There we go: - lol

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=474562

Is it just me or has there been a general decline in the standard of debate on these threads over the last year or so. There seems to be a massive surge in the number of threads where people decide to share their relatively mediocre and unexeciting lives with the world rather than actually discussing anything of substance.

The only debates that do seem to maintain any momentum or intellectual flair seem to be the ones that are re-hashed over and over again: e.g. Iraq, gun control, socialism etc. Plus the fact that a lot of the better debators on the thread seem to have disappeared - Bottle and Zeppistan especially were terrific, and seem to have left the forums for good.

What do people think?
Bottle is still posting. Certainly miss guys like Zep and Berky, and I haven't seen Cat Tribe post in awhile. I am certainly growing weary of some posters and I am sure the feeling is mutual.

Hopefully, I will be able to give up this addiction soon.

Smunkee has a pretty good little thread going, but you really wonder if there is a decline when you see threads such as Post of Death (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=473678) where people are just keeping the thread alive for God only knows why.

Perhaps there are too many people running to Moderation these days, whining about the smallest things. Flaming and trolling seem to be far less acceptable these days.

I do think though, that I am definitely coming down with a case of Forum Boredom.