Etiquette of Scientific Debate

I propose we come up with some nice little commandments that will aid us in this area becoming a place of learned discussion.. and not a mere flame war with everyone calling each other ********


Please suggest 5 commandments, I will edit the favorites into this OP.. an perhaps if it proves a good idea, get stickied.

e.g


1. Thal shall not make claims without being able to back them up with hard data.
2. Thal shall not create strawmen arguements
3. Thal shall not bury a discussion by copying and pasting reams of a document. Link it, and give us the jist
4. Thal shall respect others opinions, and only attack the science, not the person.
5. Philsophy/religion/sentimental beliefs belong in OT

etc etc


I know these are a lot like the forums rules, but i think we can develope a few specific ones for this area

I think it is appropriate that we do not debate philsophy/religion/sentimental beliefs against sciencein this forum.

I think if you disagree with somone/somthing, and are not able to argue it through science/studies then you should open a new thread on the off topic forum.

also I think the purpose of this forum should be to educate ourselves and other people, I would like to keep aggressive nit picking away, i don't mind be corrected for my mistakes, but I think most of the flaming is going to acure because of nit pickers.

Both valid

We don't need another special set of rules for this subforum. The normal ones are fine.