It's a great idea to have, but the main question is whether it holds up in reality... I think it can, but it's almost impossible to always do so.

I can't control my emotions, only how to I react to them. I don't know why certain things make me feel certain ways (it'd be cool if I did). I'm just trying to work on the reacting part.

It's hard, man.
I'd say about 90% of the time I write a post and then decide to not post it usually because it's either me disagreeing with someone or I know people will strongly disagree with it.

I think that happens to all of us. We all try to keep the peace.

I definitely agree there, I just wrote a post, and went back and edited it over and over trying to make sure it was offensive. kinda frustrating, but it's how we have to go along to keep the peace for now.

Yep, it's for a good cause. ;) Plus I hope that no one here really wants to offend anyone anyway, even if by accident. ;)

orly? :p

No one WANTS to offend people. But everyone is offended by different things and some are quicker to be offended.

So instead we should all just hug and dance!

Great idea! *hugs everyone and dances*

That's like my perfect dream, we all hug and dance around a fire pit somewhere in the forest, and sing songs and play music.

That dream can be attainable, it just takes time and effort on everyone's part.

I'm all down with huggin' and grindin on some bitches but I don't know if I'ma dance round a fire. I'll just play the drum. :P

Wow I have no idea what's been going on while I was away dealing with some personal stuff...

I just want to say I know I'm late to the party here... Not only with what's going on, I mean to ToS period. I didn't join until this year, but I truly do feel like I know some of you and I would like to know more of you better. I think this is a lovely place to all come together, and so I hope whatever has happened here can be fixed for all parties involved.

Group hug? lol :)

Hug? I'll give ya a nice french kiss ;) :P

But yeah, things seem to be going smoothly once again for the most part.
This truly is a great place.

Haha okay. Well, good! :)

I'm not even sure. I've been trying, since that whole incident, but sometimes things just don't feel right now, like it's changed people's perceptions of this.

:S I don't think I really understood this at first, but now I'm starting to get it. Debates never put me off before, but now that I've had a chance to see the way they repeat and spiral down, I'm kind of sad that we can't all be a little less heavy about everything.

Debates are fine as long as we remember to not take them too seriously, but at times people can get carried away by emotions and whatnot, so it's not always that easy. Still, always remember that it takes at least two to argue, so if you find something frustrating, then don't partake in it. Personally I'm far too stubborn to follow such guidelines, but I try to acknowledge my faults and not rile people up too much.

It's because all too often people put their egos on the line in debates.

That's the problem.

Nobody can actually talk about such things because all they are actually doing is stating why they believe they are right and therefore so great, as an ego thing. That of course can't go unchallenged by others, so they respond. Nobody discusses anything, they just fight. Keeping this forum going with 'debates' on it is like treating a lung cancer sufferer who insists on still smoking 10 packs per day.

Is it really that bad?

Removing the debate forum would probably just move the debating into the general discussion and other areas of potential disagreement, so what exactly do you mean by keeping the debates on so to speak?

The thing that I'm worried about is that this week there has been hardly any activity on these forums..I'm not sure if people are just busy on weekdays or if more people are spending less time on here.

I agree with Aquaplant here, if we close the debate threads then debates could leak into the general forums..

i blame the increasing amount of ponies

:P Naww let them have their fun.

i think the debates should be done on web cam chats.... then we'll see if people really have the balls to say their opinions to each other's faces 8D

Good idea! That would be so much better. There would be less misunderstandings that way as well.

exactly, because written words dont convey true emotions

LOL that would be fun :xD:

I'd be interested in this :)

Oh goodness, I'd be on there once before I'm told never to return again.

Now who would say something like that? :P

Everyone. It's best I type my thoughts or I get quite vulgar.

I wouldn't say something mean to you Iron Jones, no matter how vulgar you could get. You're just the way you are. ;)
To be honest I think it's bad to say anything mean to/about anyone. It would be easier if people followed Gadhi's non violent and peaceful resistance philosophy.

I for one am more of a reactionary poster than anything else, so any lack of activity usually leads to more lack of activity on my part. Also, I have an uncanny ability to scare people by writing stuff so that they interpret it in the worst possible way.

I'm really not that much like her, am I?

I have to ask Isard for some more Fluttershy to mellow this place a bit. In the meantime, here is some first aid.

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/20...na-d3jslnu.jpg

xkcd: Internet Argument

Ooops sorry my moment of concentration lapsed then sorry Aquaplant. Will edit post in 3, 2, 1.

Also that link to that site: Though webcams and face to face arguments there might be more clarity then in text based posts.

No worries, I just find it amusing that someone would confuse two people who couldn't really be more different, but the brain is funny that way when it doesn't always work as intended.

And yes, moving from text based communication to verbal one usually improves the amount of understanding passed between participants, but they always eventually just lead to this.

Brilliant find! That can be quite true. Or someone ends up walking away.

I find that there is less, since I'm not able to write an argument as fast as I can actually say it aloud. :P By the time I've actually thought through the point and made sure it's correct, someone in RL would be left waiting.

They could see that you would be thinking and hopefully wouldn't mind too much.

As a fellow slow thinker I would agree with that concept, but no matter how well one articulates their point in words, someone is bound to interpret them in a wrong way. And as it is typical to internet conversation, rather than asking for clarification, they usually jump to their own conclusions and start throwing counter accusations or whatever.