The DEFINITION of DEBATE -

my definition of a debate is: when 2 or more people have totally differing veiws on the same subject they should all be entitled to there say whether you agree with them or not. who is to say who is right and who is wrong? i dont have to believe you are right and visa versa, it only turns into a argument when it becomes personal and when that happens no one is right has you are no longer debating you are fighting

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek as I think discussing the meaning of "debate" without debating is a little like a bunch of guys gathering around to discuss pregnancy.

or a bunch (or is it gaggle?) of women talking about the rotary engine perhaps lol

LOL Mellors, but women could learn as much about the rotary engine as any man; it's not "experience" specific. Would be like a bunch of women discussing prostate problems :-)

I understand what Rhapsody is saying though, that she'd like us to concentrate on what debate means to us rather than discussing with one another what debate means to each other. She is curious about the various different personal meanings and shades of the word "debate" rather than trying to find which is technically "right" according to dictionary definitions or our getting sidetracked by agreeing or disagreeing with someone else. It's like the comedian Gallagher who had the joke/story about being in elementary school and the teacher asked his opinion and then he got an "F" on it One's opinion can't be wrong.

For me, I use debate as a way to get a synthesis by taking the conflicting or debating parts and combining them into something better/stronger/more whole. So I like it when people have a different idea than I do of something as it gives me the opportunity to see what I might be missing from my own personal viewpoint.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Perna said:
I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek as I think discussing the meaning of "debate" without debating is a little like a bunch of guys gathering around to discuss pregnancy.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I'm debating with myself as to whether this thread is supportive in any way.

tell us what you come up with in regards to that sky lol

sky, it's a discussion thread. pure and simple. threads like this one are all over these forums. people have questions, discussions, disagreements, agreements. Rhapsody asked a question and people are answering her. she didn't ask for any support.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I'm debating with myself as to whether this thread is supportive in any way.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Who's winning, Sky??

there is nothing to "win" here, tomi. Rhapsody asked for people's opinion about what "debate" means to them. how did it get to be a win/lose thread?

respecting what a thread originator asks for isn't that difficult, is it or isn't it??? more and more i notice where questions are thrown out for the sake of being out there. if you don't want to add to the thread, move on to another one.

i wasn't aware that PC nourished throwing "win/lose" into the mix in a thread like this. perhaps i've missed something, but i seriously doubt it.

Sky said she was "debating" with herself! That is ALL I was talking about! Don't be so quick to judge!