if it is just to listen, it should only be sharing... but if u look
through the threads, it more of fingers pointing at who is right
who is wrong... who wins hands down and who needs to prove
something. Those are just for winning and arguments sake... not
even healthy for discussion.
I think you may be confused between discussions and debates. In
discussions you mostly share opinions and talk about and
around the topic, list pros and cons and research data and bounce
off ideas etc. In debates you attempt to persuade the listeners
using the tools of rhetoric i.e. you want to have the better
argument but to do that you also need to back up claims with
evidence or challenge the claims of the opponent.
It is in the nature of arguments that claims be supported
and conclusions be sound. If you want your argument to be sound and
not just valid then you also have to show that the premises are
true or well supported by the evidence. It is unheard of that
both sides can make claims and arguments but no one calls the other
to back up the claims. Maybe you personally just do not like
debating but prefer only discussion? I agree with you though that
sometimes we can get carried away and end up being argumentative
instead of making arguments. That's where the Mods
should play their part to steer things back on track. Sad to
say there are some who prefer to blow up the tracks and
sometimes the trains as well.