The difference between a Argument and a Debate

[Pyroka]

An argument is:

an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation: a violent argument.

Whereas, a debate is:

a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints.

I would just like to make this point clear and hope that the Moderators of this forum, whatever their rank may be, understand the difference between a discussion and an argument. I would say it was the 2nd most common cause for threads being closed.

Both very similar in meaning, but the heart of it is rather different. That is omething almost all Moderators on this forum do not understand. But then, you don't see many forums opening up to designate a debate on something, unless organised by staff themselves do you. That also being something which is in need on most 'argumentitive' catagories of HabboxForum.

Thanks.

PS. If you even dare move this thread, then you've got alot more understanding to do. This is not a complaint, just a mere pointing of the obvious.

[FlyingJesus]

I didn't get no oral disagreement from your mother last night

[GommeInc]

And if anyone is clever enough to realise, an argument is included in a debate :rolleyes:

I hate marmite because.... - Is one side of an argument
I love marmite because... - Is the other side.

Huge giant woffle about marmite = debate.

Arguments are in a debate. If you don't realise that, you probably shouldn't be doing English or Philosophy or infact anything at all english related in schools e.g. law.

[Pyroka]

Well then, why don't they just shut down the whole debates forum?

[GommeInc]

Well then, why don't they just shut down the whole debates forum?

Does make me wonder, because you get multiple arguments and then debate about them. It seems Moderators are hired on... Actually I'm not entirely sure. Normally you're meant to hire staff on how well they do jobs with fairness to members and they should be very analytical. At the moment they just close when a few negative comments have been thrown about, even though they're not negative.

One Mod (can't remember his name) made a very stupid comment saying he closes threads when he believes they'll turn into an argument. Guess work, not real work. Silly Mod.

[FlyingJesus]

I think the definition of "argument" which they want to avoid is the pointless, insulting type. Of course, me saying this is an argument because it's a point of view being put across, but it's a different type of argument than it would be if I said "NO STOP BEING WRONG YOU [starstarstarstar] IDIOT" or something of such intelligence.

[Pyroka]

Some MODs are very silly. Yeah you basically said my entire point there. They close threads when they feel there's negative comments, despite they're not. It's been irritating me since I joined this forum. Nothing has changed either, and you think it would.

@Above, I agree with that. No-one wants insults flying around but its when a thread is not insulting, but in fact discussing valid points. Was that not what forum originated on? In the roman times, where they had the Senate? I thought a forum was a place to discuss points and, in most cases, let them be opposed by others. Moderators though, don't take that into account. At all.

[GommeInc]

They also close threads which they shouldn't close because there is no reason to. If a serious, abusive argument breaks out, remove what has been mentioned with a warn and they'll come down. Closing a thread down immediately is the lazy way out and causes more problems than it solves "/

[Pyroka]

They also close threads which they shouldn't close because there is no reason to. If a serious, abusive argument breaks out, remove what has been mentioned with a warn and they'll come down. Closing a thread down immediately is the lazy way out and causes more problems than it solves "/

Aka negligence. Nothing will change unless the MODs change the way they moderate. When it's a certain member(s) being abusive, the thread is just closed and the member(s) move onto the next topic. It's irritating because you can't give your own opinion on a matter, because some members are idiots.

EDIT: I found out why Moderators would never close threads in the debates section! ---MAD--- does all the posting! =P

[The Professor]

Aka negligence. Nothing will change unless the MODs change the way they moderate. When it's a certain member(s) being abusive, the thread is just closed and the member(s) move onto the next topic. It's irritating because you can't give your own opinion on a matter, because some members are idiots.

Okay, before I write anything I'd like to point out that your criticism about moderators' moderation and when/why they close threads should NOT be directed at the moderators. We are following a set of guidelines set out by the habboxforum management. It is our job to enforce the habbox rules using the guidelines set out in the moderator's guide, not to take it into our own hands to make up our own rules or choose when or when not to enforce them. If you have a problem with when/why threads are closed, your comments should be directed at the management team.

As for the point of the thread, I'm sure the vast majority of moderators are intelligent enough to know when an argument is constructive (or a "debate") and when it has turned into a flame war that is no longer about the topic of the thread. If you think a thread has been closed unfairly by a moderator, PM a super moderator and he will ***** the situation. But aside from the out-of-the-ordinary cases (e.g. the one Gomme pointed out) it rarely happens.