A few weeks ago, I posted something up here about how a tool called Debategraph could be used to map the ‘whataboutery’ that darkens so many of Slugger’s comment threads.
It had a mixed response, but quite a few commenters initially didn’t like the idea until they got inside and played around with it a bit. Personally, I like the way that it can just park those extraneous arguments that are, somehow, relevant, but that can derail another – more interesting – argument down an unproductive and well-trodden path.
Anyway, here it is again.
I’m mentioning it now because I’ve stumbled across the much-improved Debatepedia – another (perhaps simpler?) tool that you can use to map the pros and cons around a particular issue. Again, useful for parking arguments that are getting in the way – and particularly useful for those very rare commenters who insist on only acknowledging one side of an argument.
Someone has already started a debate on whether Northern Ireland and the Republic should merge their football teams. Have a look.
Living in London, working as a trade union official in the film and TV industry (opinions my own). Author of “Save Democracy, Abolish Voting” (published by Demsoc in November 2017). Personal website with link to other writing here. On twitter as @paul0evans1
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