Sunday, August 19, 2007

How's that debate thingy working out, Pal?


It's been a while since we've checked in on progressive blogger Paladiea at The Great Canadian Debate but, since she's one of the organizers in trying to bring some civility to the left/right screamfest in the blogosphere, it might be amusing to see how well that's working out.

So far, for her efforts at raising the level of discourse, she's been labelled as a member of "Leftardopia" at this particular Blogging Tory cesspool, while one of the very right-wing Canadian bloggers that she and the other organizers of the GCD invited to submit a piece cheerfully lists her under the category "The Looney Bin."

Keep up the good work, Pal. You're making a difference. I can feel it.

11 comments:

Paladiea said...

Thanks CC! Actually I think the debate site is going quite well!

Ti-Guy said...

Paladiea, you're starting to sound like a righty. Do I need to schedule an intervention?

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paladiea said...

Heh, posted under my best friend's profile...

Anyhow, as I was saying

I believe the best way to show people how bad some of the right's arguments are is to engage them in debate, and to encourage people to go over the arguments and find the flaws. If you're arguing from a position of strength with facts on your side, then it should be easy.

We're not trying to convince the trolls, but the people who pay attention to the debate...

I think that's at least as effective as open mocking...

CC said...

Paladiea writes:

"We're not trying to convince the trolls, but the people who pay attention to the debate..."

That may be so, but do you think it's helpful to have the very people you invite to participate in the dialogue still calling you names from the safety of their own blogs? From where I sit, all that's doing is promoting the notion that even the so-called "civil" members of the Right-o-sphere are a bunch of spiteful children.

I would have thought the goal here was to marginalize the more uncivil members of the blogosphere, rather than give them even more of a forum. All you've done with respect to Dick Evans is establish the idea that there's no actual punishment for being an infantile asshole. Instead, you've effectively rewarded his assholitude.

I don't think that's a particularly helpful message to be sending.

Paladiea said...

I agree that Evans shouldn't have been given a platform at all...

I voted against that particular debate, but alas, I went on vacation, and was therefore powerless to stop it.

But, even so, I could argue that Richard's arguments, when put up against the scrutiny of the debate forum will fall apart completely, and therefore people won't pay as much attention to him as before?

At least that's the hope... on my part ;)

Lindsay Stewart said...

well, i tried to engage in a civil exchange with richard in the forum. i pointed out what i thought were some of his more far fetched attempts. for my effort i have been labeeled intellectually dishonest, had my mental stability questioned and received richard's usual level of sincerity, minus the vulgarities.

an interesting exercise but i don't see how it wioll effect anyone. i doubt that there's an argument strong enough to sway the pre-decided.

Lindsay Stewart said...

out of curiosity i just went and checked the debate thread. i'll give richard credit. he's wound his dishonest, twisted act so tight he'll decompose long before he unravels. m@tt is trying to engage the idiot but it seems hopeless, richard just swaps definitions and distortions to suit his needs. i'll peek in at some of the other debates but that thread is dead.

Ti-Guy said...

That's why I don't see the point of this; most people these days, particularly 'conservatives,' don't understand the difference between an assertion and an argument and that "debate" just means parsing language to attack and weaken an adversary's statements.

Who knows, maybe something good will come out of it, but I don't think so. The topics so far seem to mirror political divisions and if these are just going to be political debates, not much useful information is going to come to light.

M@ said...

It's hopeless to argue with Richard, I knew that going in. It's more fun to get him on record saying stupid stuff, like claiming that our peacekeepers were basically just police officers, or offering question after question about his own mental conditions. Good times.

syncrodox said...

CC

Thanx for the link and the kind mention...although I must admit I was unprepared for the site-meter meltdown.

Can I add you to my blogroll,say under the category...hmmmmm....Opposite Cesspools or some such thing?

FYI....I stop by here every so often to lighten my day and bask in your vitriolic crapulence...keep up the good work.

Regarding Pal and my very innactive blog....the link to The Stormy Days of March predates the GCD and amounts to the flipside of your wankersphere.

Regarding Pal's efforts on the GCD website I have nothing but respect for her efforts and for all who have attempted to raise the level of discourse beyond snark.

That said I have adjusted my limited input at GDC to reflect that respect.

Anyways, I'm still a committed asshole and think of you as a deluded yet kindred hole.

Thanx again for the wicked amount of traffic, I may just take up blogging again based on my newfound infamy.

In sincere prickosity

Syncro

p.s. I look forward to any and all disertations you may offer at the GCD in lieu of the same old same old.