This is a open invitation to anyone with a sharp mind.The topic at hand is 2012 and all the theories surrounding it.I thought long and hard on what would be a great topic to debate on that branches out into all walks of life...For example New world order talk,the Mayan calendar,"New age" mysticism,fractal time...Basically I want to know what you think and i'm ready to share my own theories to be challenged.I'm sure others here have some theories also and it would be interesting to see a debate thats kind of off-topic..who wants in?This is a open invitation to anyone with a sharp mind.The topic at hand is 2012 and... more
For those interested in the status of the Skype Debates (beta) project we will be posting status updates here.
So far things are looking pretty good.
Today I tested the call recording software and it worked very well.
In the next couple of days we will be testing it in a full conference call with 2 or 3 people to see how well it handles multiple voices, but I have every confidence it will work fine (knock on wood).
We are currently discussing a date to hold the first debate, I have suggested Saturday January 16th but of course al the parties involved will need to be available so until we all get a chance to discuss it that is very very tentative.
So to sum up I think technologically we are right on track to start very soon so all we have to do now is figure out the times, topics and participants etc...
animalia_libero http://current.com/users/animalia_libero.htm has tentatively agreed to participate in our first debate which is tentatively to be focused on the topic of animal rights and animal liberation vs. human consumption etc... (an awful lot of tentatives in there I know :)
We are looking for someone who would be interested in debating this topic with Animalia so if you have an opinion on the issue and are interested please let us know.
All you need to participate is high speed internet access, headphones and a microphone (many laptops have a mic built in, but if not you can pick up a cheap mic from radio shack and it would work fine). Well that and an educated opinion. :)
Well that's about it for today... Stay tuned we should be posting more about our very first debate very soon!!!Hello everyone :)
For those interested in the status of the Skype Debates (beta)... more
Time: We will shoot for 60 minutes but we are not really under any time constraints so we have flexibility and moderators will allow time for solid arguments on particularly contentious points.
Each debate will be approximately 60 minutes long broken into the following segments:
The first 5 minutes will be for the moderator to introduce the topic and the participants and their primary positions on the topics and also to thank the other members that assisted in making the debate possible i.e. editors, producers, researchers etc…
Minutes 5 through 25:
Question and answer period with the Moderator asking questions to the participants alternately and the participants responses.
This segment will be divided into 8 questions with 1.25 minutes (1 minute 15 seconds) for each side to respond.
Participants will be considered as challenger and respondent for moderation purposes; the challenger being the person who invited the respondent to debate.
The first question shall be for the respondent and the questions shall be alternated with the last question being for the challenger and the last response being the respondent's.
Again we are not limited by time so the moderator will not cut off participants in mid-sentence but we do encourage participants to adhere to the rules regarding time.
Minutes 25 through 45 will be an open discussion period that is controlled by the moderator.
The format ideally being that each participant will have 2.5 minutes each to make their case and to respond to the case made by their opponent. This section of the debate will be free expression outside of the 2.5 minutes each side is given to talk.
However as with the Q and A section the first statement will be made by the Challenger,
thereby giving the Respondent the last word.
Minutes 45 through 55 will be closing arguments, 5 minutes each. Challenger goes first. Respondent gets last word.
Minutes 55 through 60 are reserved for the moderator to thank the participants and all those that contributed to making the debate possible and to remind the spectators to follow the links that were posted with the video for more information on the topic(s).
***Please Note***
Argon18 and I will be working on the editing together and he has suggested that breaking up the debates into small 5 to 6 minute segments would be best. Considering the time format above I agree. However I am hoping we will be able to make the original unedited version available for review.
As always share your thoughts here in the comments. These will be your debates and ideally we desire consensus.
Thank you ~ slarabeeTime: We will shoot for 60 minutes but we are not really under any time constraints so... more
Participants shall ensure that they have all the proper hardware and software to enable them to participate in a debate, before challenging another member or accepting a challenge to debate.
All challenges must be submitted in writing (email, current messaging or on a new post in the Skype Debates (Beta) Group) to the challenged and to the moderators of the Skype Debates (beta) group at least 7 days before any debate shall commence to allow for research, coordination and acceptance of said challenge. Those accepting a challenge to debate shall adhere to this same rule.
If a member challenges or accepts a challenge and then has technical difficulties that would prevent them from participation in the debate, we request that you inform the moderators of the Skype-Debates (Beta) Group with as much advanced notice as possible so that we may arrange an alternate participant that shares your viewpoint (as closely as is possible). Of course your preference of an alternate will be considered first, and unless the opposition provides valid objection to the alternate, your preference will be offered first opportunity to fill in for you during the debate. A lot of work will be going into coordinating and researching these debates so please by all means do everything you can to make sure that you are ready before deciding to participate. That said technological failure is a reality of life so please let us know if we can help. Many of us are quite computer savvy (for example I am a network engineer) and we may be able to help resolve your issue(s).
Moderators’ questions for the participants during the Question and Answer period of the debate shall be provided to the participants no less than, but no sooner than 24 hours prior to the debate. This should provide participants with ample time prepare for the debate. If the moderator should fail to provide the questions within the time frame specified by these participant rights, we will change them so that the moderator is within “their” rights ~ just kidding but remember we need to all work together to see that these debates continue on time, as all of us are volunteering our time and taking time from our busy lives to make this happen. If there is a particularly contentious question and you are down to the wire finding information let us know. We are great at finding needles in a haystack!!!Participants shall ensure that they have all the proper hardware and software to... more
No threatening of members with physical violence or extremist suggestions: i.e it is unacceptable to say that someone should kill a politician just because we disagree with them.
Disparaging people based upon race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, handicap or nationality will not be tolerated and any such language will be edited from the debate and that user will not be allowed to participate in the future.
If the moderator deems that the debate has devolved into a racist or otherwise unacceptable abuse of the rules they reserve the right to end the debate and ban the offending party(s) from future participation.
Participants will not slander nor will they make baseless accusations or assiantions of character upon the moderator or the opposing participant.
Derision of the oppositions point of view is perfectly acceptable i.e “That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard dribbled out onto the floor in defense of the indefensible.” However comments of this nature should be followed up with supporting information. Repeated capricious attacks with no substantive supporting argument are unacceptable. So if you are going to call the oppositions opinion stupid you should offer evidence that it is indeed ridiculous and worthy of derision.
If a participant has personal knowledge as to another member's personal life and personal details that information is to be kept private and not offered during the debates. Remember we are debating ideas and points of view we are not debating the people themselves.
Interrupting is absolutely unacceptable. We shall behave better than politicians. We will respect the opposition's time allow them to make their case unhindered.
Have fun.
Anything I am missing let me know. But lets not get to anal. I am anal enough all by myself. :)The Rules:
No threatening of members with physical violence or extremist... more
So it appear that there is plenty of interest in using Skype as a means to allow Current Members to debate the issues and then post the audio here on Current.
That was the easy part. Now we just need to figure out the rules, format and who we want to moderate the beta debates. No problem right?
Okay well let’s get this party started!
Post your suggestions here in the comments and then we will see which comments get the most agreement (consensus) and then I will post those rules etc… here in the body of this post as we begin to flesh it out. So check out the comments here and then post a response to that comment with a quick yea or nay and/or an explanation/reasoning for your vote.
This is what we have so far:
… not much, but a blank page is always the best place to start.So it appear that there is plenty of interest in using Skype as a means to allow... more
Hello Everyone!!
I am very excited to see a renewed interest in debates here by and between members of the current community.
I was also very happy to see DeliaTheArtist and Ihatethemall take the first steps toward making this happen.
After reading Delia’s first comments and analysis of the Glenn Beck issue, although I was impressed with Delia’s debate I was left with a wanting feeling in the wait for a response from my friend Ihatethemall and after browsing through the threads associated with the debate I found that member crob80227 http://current.com/users/crob80227.htm has proposed what I think is a fantastic idea.
He has suggested that we use Skype to host the debates. Using Skype we can conference up to 25 people for free if they are all using Skype because Skype to Skype calls are free. What we could do is set up debates at a specific time, on a Skype call, using the conference feature to bring the Moderator and participants together and the record the Skype debate session using MP3 Skype Recorder v.1.9.0 (that would be the responsibility of the moderator). Then we could upload the audio of that debate to the Current debate group(s). We have plenty of users here on current with experience editing audio and/or video so I do not think we will have much trouble finding the help we need in that area.
I downloaded, installed and tested Skype today and I can report that the install file is small (2mb) and the setup is straight forward and seemed to come off without a hitch on my system (Windows XP Pro SP3).
I am a network engineer with quite a bit of experience creating tutorials with screenshots to assist users with setup and troubleshooting of software and hardware and I would be willing to put in sometime creating tutorials and instructions for those who wish to participate.
Participation would of course be dependant upon certain software, hardware and bandwidth but most people have the required components these days so I do not see it being a problem.
The main requirements would be:
Skype software (which supports most versions of Windows and Mac OS X etc…)
Broadband internet for call quality.
And a microphone and speakers and/or headphones.
I tested Skype today with the built in condenser microphones on my laptop and the sound was left wanting but I will pick up a cheap microphone from radio shack ($10.00) this weekend and I am sure the quality will be more than sufficient to act as a moderator and/or participate if there is sufficient interest to warrant testing this idea.
Also I became aware today that there are 2 different groups concerning debates here on Current and I wondered if it doesn’t make sense to combine the 2 into one. The 2 owners could share moderation of the group. I leave that to them to figure out.
Of course this would all be dependant upon coming up with rules and terms, but of course we are all adults here so I think the rules could be fairly loose but again I leave that to the groups to figure out together.
So let me know your thoughts and again thank you to member crob80227 for suggesting what I think is the best idea yet for getting a healthy debate process started here on Current.
*****UPDATE*******
Well it certainly seems that there is plenty enough interest to give the Skype debates a shot! :)
The first step will be coming up with the terms for format, length of debate etc... and the rules.
One of the members expressed in this thread the need for immunity and I can see where that could be a valid concern for some people. I do not think this should be a probllem even using Skype. I think all you would have to do is create a Skype pseudonym for use with Current Skype debates. I doubt that Skype would care as they are getting free exposure.
As for terms etc... I will start a new post for suggestions on format etc.. and post the link here when I am done.
Thank for all of your interest you are all making the geek in me very excited, in a non-sexual way of course, don't want to creep anyone out. :)
****Link to Post for Disccusion of Rules, Format and Terms****
The link below will take you to where we can work out the details!!
It's official. A deal between the broadcasters (BBC, ITV and BskyB) and the three main UK political parties (Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) have been given the green-light to have a series of leadership debates in the run-up to the general election.
Each debate (similar the US for the election) will last between 85 and 90 minutes, ITV goes first followed by Sky and then the BBC. Sky even pushed for this since September, so far they have 15,000 signitures and counting. The SNP and Plaid Cymru both wanted to be in the leadership debate.
I created this group as an experiment. I want to try and see if i can get a location, so to speak, where users can come and debate the issues important to them. i have an idea for a format for this as well.
So ideally it would be two users, one issue. this whole thing came about as an idea about an actual debate in a thread(Fox to Beck: Maybe You Should Cut Back On the Gold a Little?) so im gonna use that as an exmaple
Topic: Glenn Beck Episode XX
Position 1: Ihatethemall- backing glenn beck and the points he makes on his show
Position 2: deliatheartist- trying to discredit some of the points made by beck.
Moderator: the most neutral possible person.
the actual debate would be in the thread below and information about the debated topic, in this case the episode, would be above. the two people debating would be known beforehand and would have an agreed upon amount of time to reaserch
n the thread below only the two users would be commenting, and there would be some kind of time-line, a couple of days, until commenting is closed.
personally i would like to debate the swiss minaret ban and i could see that working out the same way.
Topic:Swiss minaret ban
Position 1: xxxxxx- arguing for the ban
Position 2: goodname- arguing against.
Im not sure, is this a good idea? could this work with other topics? on one hand i could totally see this becoming something really cool and intresting, on the other...eh not so sure. I would appreciate as much feedback as possible about this. thanks.I created this group as an experiment. I want to try and see if i can get a location,... more
In this installment of the hot-button debate show "Master Debaters," Marijuana and Methamphetamine go head to head in a battle royal for your consciousness.In this installment of the hot-button debate show "Master Debaters,"... more
Last fall, journalist, literary critic and proud atheist Christopher Hitchens went on a debating tour with Pastor Douglas Wilson. The topic: "Is Christianity good for the world?"
The argument started with the release of Hitchens' book, God Is Not Great. Instead of a regular publicity tour, Hitchens wanted to debate the thesis of his book with anyone willing to take on the challenge. Wilson answered the call.
They filmed their debates, and then edited them for a new documentary called Collision.Last fall, journalist, literary critic and proud atheist Christopher Hitchens went on... more
POLITICAL SEASON HEATS UP with 1st Debates held for 2012 Elections. Exclusive coverage on julianscomedystop.tvPOLITICAL SEASON HEATS UP with 1st Debates held for 2012 Elections. Exclusive coverage... more
I help fight to save the world because I am a unity supporter and support environmentalism that doesn't include political created genocide, forcing relocation into government approved complexes, creating wars across the world to achieve the Georgia guide stones guidelines of reducing the worlds population, and I am truly going to stop the war between the environmentalists and the economists.
I have made plans on sustainable crops without GMO, I have made plans on sustainable clean fuels that don't require sacrificing the standards of American citizens, I even made plans on sustainable home generated electricity without requiring the sun, the wind, or the water which can harm salmon.
I am donating to bring my ideas to a reality that the current ways of trying to bill people, tax people, and oppress people for helping the environment does not work and will enslave us to the earth. We need a plan that will bring balance to both the Earth and us and bring a stop to unnecessary loss of American standards.
I donate to help the planet and humanity and fix the growing problems and biased debates.
Thats what will make me a worldwide hero, I will save humanity and planet earth at the same time.
Heres the plans already except I don't have the sustainable farms plans ready yet but are in the making and when they are done it will be published in the 2nd part of this article on current.
130 milliseconds of research purchased
1,308 grains of rice bought
2,106 ounces of CO2 removed
2,106 square feet of rainforest saved
10 calories of food bought
1,224 ounces of clean water bought
1,259 milliseconds of research time purchased
183 words in books written
2 condoms bought
34,826 milliseconds of peacekeeping bought
1 square inch of blanket provided
2,863 milligrams of teddy bear stuffing bought
and so I am helping the environment and trying to keep the peace as well because war pollutes too and can contribute to massive explosions of CO2 more then cars because bombs and weapons may be more powerful the the pollution of a car.
I am saving the environment without CO2 taxes and without loss of civil liberties or Standards of westerners.
Please people do not be fearful and please help me bring real change to environmental issues without extra taxes, without making the poor struggle more then they have during the Bush Administration. Please help me American people by giving me support and telling others about my plans to save America, and the world.
I will bring an end to the bloodshed, biased debates and wars if you follow me the planner of sustainable ideas and sustainable living.
I have more just these plans I'm showing you, I am so smart and knowledgeable I can bring help to the American people and create a new and better society then the fear mongering were in now.I help fight to save the world because I am a unity supporter and support... more
As part of counter-strike to an article posted on Current, I have decided to fend for myself and share my side of the debate as to whether or not Creationism should be taught side-by-side with Charles Darwin's theory of Evolution. What I present is not a statement of "Creationism should be the only thing taught", but, rather, there should be an equilibrium between Creationism and Evolution. To start off, the one kind of evolution I believe in is called "micro-evolution" and is, in fact, the only observable form of evolution.
Several years ago the Wichita Eagle-Beacon carried a story which reported the Flat Earth Society to be alive and well in modern America. This select group of traditionalists have held tenaciously to the archaic notion that the earth is flat, not spherical. Such a society reminds one of the self-proclaimed scientist who said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up!”
In the most recent court battle concerning this issue, U.S. District Judge William Overton struck down Arkansas’ “Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act” by rejecting two state arguments that are crucial elements in this debate: 1) that evolution is as religious as creationism, and 2) that public schools should teach what the public wants. In striking down the Arkansas law requiring schools to give a balanced presentation of both evolution and creationism Judge Overton stated, “No group, no matter how large or small, may use the organs of movement, of which the public schools are the most conspicuous and influential, to foist its religious beliefs on others.”
What about the question, “Is evolution just as religious as creationism?” My answer is, “yes,” because the system of evolution is, in its definition, a belief system. Sir Julian Huxley, one of today’s most respected evolutionists has defined evolution as
a directional and essentially irreversible process occurring in time, which in its course gives rise to an increase of variety and an increasingly high level of organization in its products. Our present knowledge indeed forces us to the view that the whole of reality is evolution—a single process of self-transformation (What Is Science? p. 272).
I refer to such a definition because there is not a shred of scientific evidence to scientifically demonstrate Huxley’s statement. The definition of science shows that something is scientific only if it can be observed {25} and verified. All must admit that it is impossible to prove scientifically any particular concept of origins, creationism or evolution. No human being was there in the beginning to observe and verify how matter and life came into existence.
For nearly one hundred years evolution-as-a-dogma has been accepted and perpetuated in America’s public educational institutions, and the proof of such a statement is seen in the almost universal acceptance of three sub-beliefs: 1) faith in spontaneous generation of life substance, 2) faith in transitional forms between different kinds of organisms, (unverifiable on the basis of anatomy, embryology, blood and protein analyses, fossils, or genetics) and 3) faith in mutations as a source of raw materials by which supposed evolutionary changes in organisms might have come about in the past. Each of these three sub-beliefs is dependent upon the other, as well as the very definition of evolution as given by Huxley. And each of these statements is made without experimentally verifiable or observable scientific evidence.
The point is that both evolution and creationism are belief systems. Both are embraced through “believing what is unobservable” rather than on the basis of what is scientifically provable. I disagree with Judge Overton in striking down the Arkansas law on this basis. He has closed his mind to the true definitions of science and religion. Science deals with observable data. Religion deals with belief and faith in the unobservable.As part of counter-strike to an article posted on Current, I have decided to fend for... more
I have had my share of encounters with Christians or Christ-Followers who are very judgmental of others; especially atheists, agnostics, LGBT's and still many more. I have had even more encounters with atheists or agnostics or others who have a deep resentment for Christians because of bad encounters with them, but even they begin to judge all Christians as the same and condemning them for "ignorance" or some other kind of ridicule. The question here is should any Christian or Christ-Follower be judging anyone and should any non-Christians be judging them back?
I know there are MANY hypocrites that say they're Christians. I know there are MANY that say they're Christian, but then go around condemning anyone that isn't. I know there are many real WACKO'S out there that say God is glad our soldiers are dying (and that it's because of the gays in the U.S.). I know there are also MANY who go around condemning Christians for their beliefs.
I am sure they're not all like that! I have NEVER told anyone they were going to hell for their lifestyle.
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged."1 This command was given by Jesus Christ as He was preaching to the crowds on the Mount of Olives. This and similar verses are often cited as proof that Christians should not go around condemning others about their behavior. Is this what Jesus meant when He gave this command? Why does it seem that Christians are always judging others?
As human beings, we all make judgments all the live long day. Often in our everyday judgments, we judge unfairly. For instance if I get a bad meal at a restaurant my first time there, I am apt to say the place is no good and not go back. If not only the food was bad, but the service as well, I may just tell others not to go there. And my experience may have been a fluke; there may have been a problem going on that I was completely unaware of. Maybe the chef called in sick and his assistant was not as experienced or as talented, or perhaps one of the wait staff didn't show for work. However, based on my personal experience, I have judged the restaurant unfairly without ever realizing it. That is how we humans are, we make snap judgments and usually don't look back.
And yet still others like to say------"Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1) is often misunderstood. The verse continues, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged" (Matthew 7:2) It is a stiff warning about judging, but it is not an admonition not to judge.
Matthew 7:3-5 continues, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
So WHO is right and what is the answer to these questions?I have had my share of encounters with Christians or Christ-Followers who are very... more
In a follow up to the arrest of the Iraq Vets protest at the final Presidential Debate,reporter Stephen Dohnberg talks with member Sgt Chiroux about the charges faced,support they are receiving,tactics of the Nassau County Police, and Sgt Morgan's injury.
Darrell Castle, the Constitution Party VP candidate, Matt Gonzalez, Independent Ralph Nader's running mate, and Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarian Party VP candidate, have all formally agreed to the Vice-Presidential Debate in Las Vegas.
Please CALL C-Span at (202) 737-3220, FAX (202) 737-6226, or EMAIL CSPAN viewer@c-span.org ASK THEM POLITELY BROADCAST THIS LIVE!
Thanks!Darrell Castle, the Constitution Party VP candidate, Matt Gonzalez, Independent Ralph... more
Ralph Nader made 21 speeches in 15 hours, travelled 365 miles through MA in what has been dubbed the "Massachusetts Marathon".The 74 year old independent presidential candidate dedicated the Guinness Record breaking run to childhood hero Lou Gehrig.
The Massachusetts Marathon
On Oct 23rd the Nader campaign had contacted me to let me know that Ralph Nader would be making 21 speeches throughout the state of Massachusetts during a one day period on Sat. Oct 25.
By doing so, Nader has also found himself in the Guinness Book or World records. This successful campaign action should garner Nader some national attention, as the mainstream media has largely ignored his campaign.
Speaking to an AP reporter, Ryan Mehta, a Nader campaign spokesperson said, “the so-called 'Massachusetts Marathon' aims to raise awareness because two-thirds of the nation doesn’t know Nader is running as an independent. The campaign speech record would be a bonus.”
Jason Kafourey confirmed with the Guinness Records Society Thursday that Nader would have to make 15 speeches to break the record for Most Campaign Speeches in a 24 hour period.
But Nader, never one to settle for status quo, “will campaign in 21 cities and towns across Massachusetts in one day.” according to correspondence from the Nader Campaign Team. Ralph Nader made 21 speeches in 15 hours, travelled 365 miles through MA in what has... more
Excellent debate held last night in Washington, DC between Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader and Constitutional Party Presidential Candidate Chuck Baldwin. All voters should watch this before casting your ballot.Excellent debate held last night in Washington, DC between Independent Presidential... more
This weeks top 8 News Headlines and current events are presented in a random and absurd manor by the cast . Every week we take the top 8 and present a diverse range of commentary in a nutshell. This weeks Headlines include Joe the Plumber, Madonna's divorce, Bombs falling in Vegas, Marsha Brady and more.This weeks top 8 News Headlines and current events are presented in a random and... more
