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Debating Platform

Submitted by: Bjoern
Created: Oct 4, 2007, 9:35 am

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Not freeish. Not freesque. It's free!

The Idea

Instead of random flamewars in random web forums, I envison a webpage where designated debaters could discuss a topic in peace. Spectators or a jury can then vote on who was the winner. Discussions could be public, or between closed user groups. Different interest groups could also elect a speaker.

There could be special events, for example in presidential elections the platform could host some debates. There could be a debate about global warming etc.

I thought of this idea when I was...

The last elections in my country, debating was quite popular. Also, in some countries there are debating societies at universities.

In normal public discourse, it annoys me that one rarely get's to see the balanced viewpoint of a person. On TV or in newspaper interviews, people hardly get a chance to present their topic in depth. The internet should be able to change that.

Comments Posted

saigon Posted: October 4, 2007, 11:19 am

tv forums used to be like this..like a coffee shop talk.

This one is good!

vanhees Posted: October 5, 2007, 12:54 am

I suggest you take a look at:
http://debateoneworld.org/ for inspiration
and to
http://www.idebate.org/
to see if this one does what you want.
Tommy

CharonV Posted: October 5, 2007, 3:01 am

I like this idea.

Good Luck.

Bjoern Posted: October 6, 2007, 4:55 pm

@Tommy: where do you always find those links? ;-) Thank you for your interest.

One seems to focus on video discussions, and they have zero users. Maybe that bodes ill for the market. I would have considered a video option at a later stage.

The other seems to be a debating society? I don't think they debate on the site itself, though. Maybe I should ask them if they were interested in such a service :-/

vanhees Posted: October 8, 2007, 12:59 am

Bjoern,

My middle name is google...

Anyways,
Sometimes you can get a lot of inspiration by looking at competiters.

Tommy

Bjoern Posted: October 10, 2007, 3:37 pm

ConvinceMe looks pretty good: http://convinceme.net/index.php
Also here a blogger writes about a similar thing: http://unqualified-reservations.blogspot.com/2007/10/duelnode-another-free-startup-idea.html

Kevin_Cox Posted: October 11, 2007, 3:30 pm

Well the real world would not work this way. So, why not try a moderated forum? Some forums are quite civil.

Brenden Posted: October 12, 2007, 10:12 pm

how do you make the moneys?

Entreprenew Posted: October 13, 2007, 1:06 am

In any debate you have sides to align with, either for/against. left/right. In other words you have "camps", "tribes", "sects", "bands" etc. Give your alliance a name and strategize for a "session" where ideas are debated. Create a point system based upon input and acceptance by members and this will motivate individuals to contribute more. Much like CH.
It's a great idea.

ccozad Posted: October 15, 2007, 1:25 am

I am wondering if this will even avoid the flame wars... it seems like anywhere you get people talking on the internet you run the risk of a flame war starting.

Goosie Posted: October 16, 2007, 6:17 pm

I think blogs could support this already.

PhilipH Posted: October 16, 2007, 6:28 pm

I have several friends who would be regular visitors... Good idea - go for it!

Hello!

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