Proposed Debate Format/Rules
For One on One debates
Format:
The debaters, having agreed on a topic, will choose three major
claims to substantiate their stance on the
topic. They do not have to tell each other these claims before the debate begins.
The OP will:
State the Topic
State the Contenders and their respective side of the Topic
State who will post their 3 major claims first
Will list the Format and the
Rules
The Second Post will:
Contain the 3 major claims of the
Alpha poster
The Third Post will:
Contain the 3 major claims of the
Beta poster
After this, the Alpha poster will make a post that contains the major substantiations for their first claims. They may make as many
points to back up this claim, they may not substantiate any other claims in this post.
The Beta will then pick one of the points the Alpha made to substantiate their first claim and rebut it. They may not refute any other points, though rebuttals of the claim are implicit in a rebuttal of derivative points, and are allowed.
Double Rebuttals are allowed;
Tangential Rebuttals are not allowed. The rules on Double and Tangential Rebuttals are global.
The Alpha may then pick one of the rebuttal points of the Beta and refute it with as many points as they wish. They may not refute points the Beta did not raise, nor may they refute a claim made by the Beta.
Example:
Alpha I claim X, Y, Z
Beta I claim A, B, C
Alpha I believe X because 1,2,3
Beta - I refute X (or 1, 2 or 3, but only one of these) because &, *, %
Alpha - I refute % because !, @, #
Beta - I refute 2 and ! together Because ^.
Their will be 4 posts per debater per claim. So, the Alpha will substantiate their first claim and have 3 rebuttals (in alternating order), the Beta will make 4 rebuttals (in alternating order). After all 8 posts have been made on the Alpha's first claim, the Beta will start the cycle over with their first claim and the sequence of posts is reversed.
Debaters may refute the same claim or points if they choose within the same claim set, but must use different points to do so. This is inadvisable as it uses one of the few response posts a debater has within that claim set. Prior claims and points (either positing or rebutting) may not be revisited during subsequent
claim set. For example, upon the second claim set, the Alpha may not make a rebuttal that refutes a point or a claim from the first set. The point of this structure is to force the flow of conversation to avoid obsession over tangential arguments. It also forces a debater to carefully word their arguments to withstand attack as they will not be able to defend against every rebuttal.
Rules:
Debaters may not say that they won a claim set or exchange.
Quotes are not allowed.
Sources may be referenced, (i.e. I read in Time Magazine...) but source links may not be provided. The meaning of this is that arguments are assumed to be made in good faith and are factual. These sources may be refuted, but again, this is inadvisable as it wastes a post. The Peanut Gallery is the ultimate arbiter of facts and sources, they will vote on who wins and false sources or claims are to be judged by them.
Pictures and graphs are not allowed.
The debaters and
moderator will decide on the time frame for the debate and the allowed time between posts. They may decide that if a post is unanswered for a certain amount of time, the rebuttal is forfeited.
Points of order may be raised by PM with the moderator, they will not be discussed in the thread. If the moderator determines a rule has been violated, they may disqualify a post and post and explanation of the action taken. Moderators have discretion to decide violations and deal out corrective measures.
Points or claims can only be invalidated by a moderator if a rule was broken or format violated (it must be a severe and intentional format violation for a point or claim to be invalidated, rule violations will be decided case by case by the moderator). Points and claims cannot be invalidated for being false.
The
Peanut Gallery will vote after the debate has ended on who has won the debate.
Debaters must post in the order provided by this format.
Spelling errors are to be judged to be inconsequential by the Peanut Gallery.
Edits are not allowed even spelling corrections to keep the debaters honest.
Definitions:
Alpha First poster in the thread (does not connote seniority or superiority)
Beta Second poster in the thread (does not connote inferiority) [these were chosen to avoid excessive use of 1st, 2nd, etc.]
Claim - A 'major' point that substantiate the poster's stance on the topic. These are primary arguments.
Claim Set The cycle of positing, then refuting and defending (alternatively) a single claim.
Double Rebuttal A single point that refutes multiple (2 or more) points or points and the claim entirely.
Moderator the person who ensure the format and rules are followed
Peanut Gallery Observers who will comment in the debate in another thread and will vote after the debate is concluded on which debater won.
Points These are derivative or secondary arguments used to substantiate or refute a claim.
Tangential Rebuttal a rebuttal that refutes a claim or a point entirely, but only partially refutes a second point or claim.
Topic The issue being debated
Thanks for the vote of confidence V. I'm kind of worried, though, I'm going to really have to do my homework/stew over this one for a while to come up with something both good, consistent, and believable.
