
Protocols of Debate
1. We can
enter into one of three modes.
·
Teaching
·
Learning
·
Arbitration
2. One topic
must be defined or a question must be stated clearly
3. Exactly
two sides of the stated proposition must be taken by the “student” and
“teacher” role
4. If a
“teacher” makes a statement, he/she must defend it. There is no need to ask why
the questioner is asking, what is the questioner’s belief, how others are wrong
or any off-topic replies. These violations must be called by the arbitrator and
explicitly cited.
5. If a
student asks a question, he/she must allow the teacher to articulate their
point. They may defer to the arbitrator to rule on whether or not the question
has been address appropriately.
6. The
answer to the question the student has asked must directly relate to the
question, not go into preaching mode or spout unrelated statements.
7. An
arbitrator must adhere to the protocols of debate. That is their primary
function and not to take sides or give their own opinion on matters. They can
clarify questions and set the expectations for the debate. The arbitrator is
also the consistency checker.
8. Each
person must stay within the topic until it is answered or agreed to be
deferred.
9. If the
teacher contradicts or changes an earlier statement even with a clarification,
the student reserves the right to iterate through the points previously
discussed. If not, the same point must not be beleaguered.
10. Each statement can branch off into other sub-debates and a tracking mechanism will be in place to identify fallacies, unethical tactics or circular arguments.