Have we lost or are we losing the art to debate in a reasonable manner?

Rational discussion usually takes a back seat to the outpouring of unresolved anger.

I think there also exists a phenomenon in which most people are reluctant to concede even the most obvious point for fear that it will undermine their position on anything and everything. The more flawed their entire world-view is, the more pronounced this tendency becomes.

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Oops - looks like Wendle had to go. Maybe he hadn't gotten the word that insulting other members is a violation of the terms of service. Or maybe he knew that, but has some of the unresolved anger issues I alluded to.

We never won it in the first place. There has not been a period in American history where the common people actually debated real policy and policy-results because the common people don't have the background to really know what's going on. This has left it up to intellectuals and the media.

The media never really cared. It is, after all, a business. They want money, not boring policy explanations about things people don't understand anyway.

So really, the only ones left are the intellectuals. I would suggest that intellectuals are probably too smart to get their hands dirty in something ridiculous like politics. I would also suggest that there is this odd resentment toward intellectuals in America; some type of hostility. Just having too much education makes it harder for people to vote for you, and people will attack you for it.

So that's my position. I don't know what idyllic age you're going back to, but I don't think it ever existed. We lost a long time ago.

The idea of intellectual debate was lost long ago as the people have turned to a team mentality. The idea of hating the opposition used to be relegated to the professional sports teams who smartly promoted the concept. Now our politicians use this same advertising tactic to divide Americans so they can get elected. the Tea Party express announced that they were going to spend their money on negative advertising because it offered the greater return. It won't stop until people stop buying what they see on TV or at least stop imitating it.

True debate of issues is missing from public forums such as government. Today people appear to have lost the ability of critical thought, but its nothing new if you know your history. I have trouble with elected officials that refuse an honest debate with constituents or anyone who is bullied from a stage. There is no honest debate today, due to political correctness. In today's climate, speaking factually is considered hate speech by many people as they have been manipulated by media and political/activist groups.

lol--I saw "prime example" here and than gone--lol. I didn't catch the name. They were in the wrong group anyways, you wanted intelligent answers. And I think you got some who well stated their views.

I do believe we are losing the art of debate. And I don't think the web has helped. Sad as that is. It's a wonderful tool but many misuse it.

Why do they do this? I think some are just followers so they don't really have the knowledge to reason on issues and they think rants and such shows they do.

The us/them divide has never been bigger than over the past decade, and especially the last two years.

Even in the radicalized 60s, there was room for airing of ideas, the ability to vehemently defend your own ideas while at the same time listening to the other's.

wow, too long...

long diatribes like this are part of the loss in debate tactics

no, i read your blathering, and answered your question.. the problem is you have not transitioned to the current medium of communication

nice try john d but there is nothing insulting in what i wrote

YA is no place for any kind of debates it's just a playground kinda like yahoo chat used to be

You can't be serious.