Hey guys, I intend to keep the promise I made yesterday about promoting discussion... So I created a new tribe.
Introducing /t/devilsadvocate !
This tribe is meant to spark discussion in an unusual way. Instead of arguing against things that we know are wrong, we will try to find arguments to support them.
As an example, I already started a thread: The NSA is actually a good thing for America, and Edward Snowden did the wrong thing by revealing it
Let me know what you think of the idea!
I will try to post a topic / day and have you guys discuss it. Everyone is free to contribute with topics of their own.
10 years ago by bogdan
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12 comments
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Great idea. I've always thought people who can't argue the other side are ill-equipped to defend their own. How can you choose one side when you don't even understand the other?
Great idea! Joined.
That's quite interesting! I will join and see how it evolves :)
This is a nice twist. I'll give it a try.
Gather around kids, another story from your buddy, idlethreat.
I was raised in a household that loved "debating loudly" as a form of family entertainment. Religion, sex, politics, current events, whatever. You name it, and we were cheerfully going after each other's (metaphorical) jugulars several times a week. It was amazing upbringing. I'm sure from the outside it looks as if everyone in the family hated one another, but the opposite was true; we loved sparking debates in one another, forcing one another to think critically and present strong arguments.
My mom was the master at the game. While she left school in the 8th grade (to take care of siblings), there was nothing wrong with her mind or intellect. I don't think I've ever met a sharper person in my life. Sometimes, whenever we'd get bored with our current debate topic, we'd switch sides in mid-argument, and begin arguing from the other direction (being a devil's advocate). Nothing quite like listening to your own arguments getting thrown back into your face as you scrambled to defend another position. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But you always think.
Sadly, the wife was raised in a 'quiet' household. Makes it difficult to have a sparring partner whenever they keep throwing down their weapons and hauling ass for the hills. Nothing like a good debate. Even better if you're on the other side, defending a crazy position with all the fire you can muster.
In any case, Yeah, I'm in. This sounds like fun!
Wish I had that, I was raised in a "quiet" family. I have a feeling you're going to be big presence in that tribe though :D
I was thinking, maybe if this "devils advocate" idea explodes and the debates become something of a regular occurrence on snapzu it would be cool to build some functionality that allows the debate to be automated into a neat clean environment with two sides and joining a debate would randomly assign you to a side. Hmm, just something we have been throwing around for a while, but of course this type of stuff cant be built until there is a true need for it. Who knows.
I think it might not hurt for /u/bogdan to post some form of introduction and disclaimer on the tribe page.
Since the debate will be textual, we want to make sure that we don't run into Poe's Law while we're enjoying a lively debate and arguing for 'the other side'.
I think you should be able to do it yourself! I modded you. See if it works!
It's on now!
Is it? And more importantly... what is it?
Thanks, /u/bogdan! I'll put up some disclaimer a little later. Will aim for 'precise and informative'. In the meantime I changed the tribe's flag ;)
That's a great picture! Very expressive of what will probably be going on out there.