Interested in an Honest Argument?

December 7, 2005 11:28 PM

Interested in an Honest Argument?
HonestArgument.com is a place where people gather to discuss topics big and small, to hash out a complete argument. What makes this site particularly interesting is that the argument is mapped out visually, in a tree structure of supporting and refuting assertions, until the argument reaches a natural conclusion.

The arguing, of course, is not the point of the site, but simply the means of getting there - exposing the half-truths, untruths and fallacies that the hacks use to convince you that their side is right. Just as importantly, the hacks don't get to hide from inconvenient facts, or assertions that fail to fit neatly into their belief systems.

An Argument Moderator creates an Argument. If the Member community thinks that the Argument is worth consideration - a reasonable Thesis, with well constructed Assertions - they vote to release the Argument for General Discussion. Once released, the Argument enters a cycle wherein

• the Member community Comments on the Assertions
• the Moderator adds further (supporting or refuting) Assertions to the Argument based on Member Comments

This cycle continues until the Argument reaches its natural conclusion.

Something similar to this was on the Blue a few months ago, but I didn't pay too much attention to it. I had been been working on my site loooong before the other site was posted.

My site:

• lets the user community create and moderate the arguments
• encourages bar-room as well as academic arguments
• employs relatively sophisticated user behavior management

In order to kickstart things a little beyond just my friends, I'm making the following two offers to MeFi members:

• For the next 4 days (through Sunday), anybody that registers identifying themselves as a MeFi user will get an automatic upgrade to Member level. This allows you to comment on arguments in general discussion and vote on pending arguments. (This will normally require a 48 hour waiting period (to prevent junk accounts from piling onto an argument))
• For the next 2 days only, any MeFi member (already registered on my site) that emails me from an address from which they maintain their own website will be upgraded to Moderator status. This allows you to create your own argument(s). (Just restricting it to site maintainers for now because I know that they appreciate what it's like for others to run wild through their lawn. If you don't fit the criteria but really, really want an account, asking will most likely work.)

I'm working on this alone, while working a full-time gig for the man. So if this turns out to have been a larger response on the Moderator part than I expected, please indulge any delays in my response.

Thanks, and I hope you all enjoy the site.
posted by coolgeek (0 comments total)