Advice on Debating with Others

1. Avoid the use of Never.
2. Avoid the use of Always.
3. Refrain from saying you are wrong.
4. You can say your idea is mistaken.
5. Don't disagree with obvious truths.
6. Attack the idea not the person.
7. Use many rather than most.
8. Avoid exaggeration.
9. Use some rather than many.
10. The use of often allows for exceptions.
11. The use of generally allows for exceptions.

12. Quote sources and numbers.
13. If it is just an opinion, admit it.
14. Do not present opinion as facts.
15. Smile when disagreeing.
16. Stress the positive.
17. You do not need to win every battle to win the war.
18. Concede minor or trivial points.
19. Avoid bickering, quarreling, and wrangling.
20. Watch your tone of voice.
21. Don't win a debate and lose a friend.
22. Keep your perspective - You're just debating.

You need to be very polite when disagreeing with someone in English, even someone you know quite well.
With someone you know very well, you can disagree more directly.

Standard Rules for one-on-one Formal Debates

The following rules are the standard rules for debates involving only two participants.
One participant will argue the affirmative side of the topic; the other will argue the negative side. The participants will be agreed in a Proposal thread.

1. The debater for the affirmative side of the debate will create the "Debate" thread and post the first post, setting out his or her main arguments.

2. The debater for the negative side will then reply with his or her own introductory post

3.  There will then be exactly two follow-up and rebuttal posts from each debater, in which the debaters may address and refute points made by the other person, as well as adding any new points that may come up.

4. Finally, each debater will post one concluding post, summing up his or her side of the debate. Following the concluding posts, the thread will be closed.

5. Debaters each have exactly two days from the time of posting of a post by their opponent to post their next post. If they do not post in the required time limit, the debate will be declared finished, and the thread closed.

6. Debaters may not post more than 4 posts in total. Once the 4-post limit is reached, further posts by that debater will be deleted from the thread, but the thread will remain open for posts by the opponent, until either his or her own 4-post limit is reached or until time runs out.

7. Debaters may include links to any supporting information or references in their posts. They may also quote extracted sections of text from other sites.

8. Individual posts may not be longer than 1500 words, including any quotes.

9. Any claims of violations of these rules should be made in the related Discussion thread of the relevant Debate. A moderator may follow up on such complaints, deleting any posts in violation of these Rules, unless the debaters agree to some other mutually satisfactory solution.

10. Other than as provided in Rule 8, debaters may not post in the Discussion thread until after the conclusion of the Debate

Standard Rules for Formal Debates involving "teams"

The following rules are the standard rules for debates involving teams consisting of more than one member each.
One team will argue the affirmative side of the topic; the other will argue the negative side. The members of each team will be agreed in a Proposal thread.

1. A debate will consist of four "Rounds", as described below.

2. One member of the Affirmative team will create the "Debate" thread and post the first post, setting out his or her main arguments. This will start Round 1 of the Debate.

3. Following the initial post, the remaining members of the Affirmative team may each post one post. Each members of the Negative team may similarly post one post.

4. Once all members of both teams have all posted one post each, or when time runs out (see rule 5), Round 1 of the debate will end.

5. There is a time limit for all posts in any single Round of the debate of three days from the post time of the first post of that Round. If a team member has not posted within the time limit, that member forfeits his or her right to post in that Round, and the next Round of the debate may begin.

6. When all team members have made one post in a Round, or when time runs out (see rule 5), the next Round may be started by a debater from either team. The first poster in a given round should clearly indicate that a new Round is beginning, by heading his or her post with a line such as "Round 3"

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7. Each team member may only make one post in any given Round. This means that each team member will make a maximum of four posts in the entire debate.

8. Round 4 is the last Round of the debate. Debaters should post their conclusions in this round. At the end of Round 4, the Debate thread will be closed.

9. Debaters may include links to any supporting information or references in their posts. They may also quote extracted sections of text from other sites.

10. Individual posts may not be longer than 1500 words, including any quotes.

11. Any claims of violations of these rules should be made in the related Discussion thread of the relevant Debate. A moderator may follow up on such complaints, deleting any posts in violation of these Rules, unless the debaters agree to some other mutually satisfactory solution.

12. Other than as provided in Rule 11, debaters may not post in the Discussion thread until after the conclusion of the Debate.