Hello Idol faithful!
I thought it might be helpful to spend a few minutes going over some general ideas about posting and debating.
The wonderful world of Internet Forums.
Internet forums are first and foremost, about sharing ideas and opinions. It's a marvelous format for doing so, because as a reader you come in contact with people from all over the world, from various walks of life, and a multitiude of viewpoints and opinions. Reading and sharing opinions helps us understand ideas better, it makes us more informed about the topics we discuss, and of course, it's a great place to vent ideas and feelings when we've exhausted our more standard channels of communication.
Let's face it- there's only so much of this author's opinion that my poor girlfriend can handle on any given night...
That said- message forums are not without their hazards. We have ideas flying everywhere, rumors, truths, and lot of "non-truths" as well. It's defintiely a good idea to handle any information you get from message forums very carefully, because despite what we assume about the "safety" of anonymity- information here can be handled in dangerous ways.
So how does this relate to American Idol?
Message forums are a distinct form of media- and message forums can form up a particular synergy with something so dependent upon public opinion- and this is what "American Idol" is all about. People visiting or posting to these forums have the power to influence one another, and thus we have the power to influence other voters, and the outcome of the show. It's all the power of today's media- so you might think a topic on IdolMe forums may only affect those reading and visiting, but those people go back to their families and friends and share those ideas with them! It's all about synergy.
Debating
Debating is allowed on these forums. In fact- it's encouraged- so long as debate can remain
objective and
respectful. That's the key. People visit and post to these forums as a means of "entertainment", and it would be a bad thing long term for this site if all it boiled down to was a group of people flaming one another and getting carried away with a show about "karaoke". Debating can be very productive, because it provides people with a "counterpoint" to something they may believe, which would either reinforce their opinion, or maybe change their mind. For a show like American Idol- there are commonly two types of debates that ensue.
1. Opinion or perception debates.
Maybe you feel that contestant X is clearly a better singer than Y. Maybe you feel that Y is arrogant, or fake, or sincere. Maybe you thiink a certain judge is just way off the mark. This is fine- and we'd encourage you to voice your opinion!
Just be aware that not everyone will feel exactly the same way. They may feel the exact opposite. Or, they may have "evidence" to try and show you why they don't agree. These types of debates are perfectly fine, so long as we remember the comments about objectivity and respect. Remember:
a) Opinion is opinion. It should be respected whether you agree with it or not. Don't attack someone personally for their opinion. For example it is better to say:
"I don't like your opinion" rather than "I don't like you."
b) Perceptions are valid.
"I like contestant Z." Hey- no argument there, it is what it is. "I think conestant Y is ugly!" Again, perception is not up for debate. It's perfectly okay to reply with "I don't agree", but "I don't agree, and here's why..." may be a little more productive when sharing your perception.
2. Factual debates.
Factual debates are a little less common for this type of forum, but they do occur. In factual debates-
evidence is everything. Again- remember to dispute concepts or facts, be objective and respectful. Cite your resources!- this not only lends you credibility, it ensures that you aren't just spamming or trying to get a rise out of someone. "So and so slept with contestant X" with no relevancy to the topic nor any evidence are to be rgarded as flame-baiting, and will likely result in deletion and/or punishment to the poster.
3. Persuasive arguments
Persuasive arguments can be very, very productive on this type of forum. Persuasive arguments are formulated by stating your opinion, and backing it up with evidence:
"I like contestant Y"- that's an opinion.
"I like him/her because on the Feb 21 show....blah blah blah happened..."
Now we're in a persuasive argument backed by facts. This is an excellent format for getting your viewpoint across, and it is very informed and a solid argument. Persuasive arguments can be very productive and highly informative. Just remember:
1. Argue and attack viewpoints, NEVER posters.
2. Remain calm and objective. It helps you prove your point.
Happy posting!
- Son of Simon
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Productive posting and proper debate ettiquette.
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