Impossible to have a fair debate?

Question

Yesterday someone posted an interesting question about what 'really' happened to the Arab population of Palestine when Israel was established.

May I draw your attention to the response given by CIA? He said 'you won't get an honest answer from the pro Israel crowd here, they just use propoganda'.

My question is: When we attempt to answer posts about Israel etc, many people like CIA accuse us of 'bias'. Yet when Muslims answer, equally passionately, they are not 'biased' they are 'factual' or 'honest'.

So how can we ever have a fair debate? And according to the 'logic' employed by CIA, a woman could never discuss abortion, as she'd be 'biased'. A black person could never discuss discrimination or racial issues, they too would be 'biased'.

So how can we all ever have a fair and candid debate when people like CIA instantly reject anything we say?

Note please, that CIA blocked me, but I have not blocked him. I am not threatened by differing opinions.

'cia' you are paranoid. We all get posts removed, stop being such a cry baby. And if you're going to keep answering my posts at least have the decency to remove the block on me, otherwise you are a total hypocrite.

edit Jdriven, I haven't blocked CIA. I have already stated that.

Answer 1

I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible to have a good debate on this forum, and I think we do have that here.

Of course we all have natural biases related to our ethnicity or cultural backgrounds, and we are therefore entitled to take other people's opinions with a pinch of salt and challenge anything which seems not to have a fair basis in truth, but that doesn't mean that our discussions are worthless or in vain.

And the debates don't have to be all about point-scoring either - if we all come away having learned to understand a little of other people's perspectives, then as far as I'm concerned everyone wins. I've definitely learned a great deal here myself.

Edit: Cheers to you Jasmine!

Answer 2

I only want to say thumbs up to kirisut, all in a nutshell , he's got it. The politicians have been hammering peace treaties and debates for over 60 years. I also agree in YA it is not possible. Although I have come to like many and now understand many peoples opinions, I am often saddened that more than a few cannot see the other side of the debate. Without a doubt it will continue to be the worlds most heated debate perhaps for a long long time to come. Cheers!

Answer 3

the trouble with the human race is that we are emotional....it is only when we, as a person,can detach ourselves from the emotional context of any given argument that a truly un-bias discussion can take place....
at some point most people are effected by one thing or another..war, terrorism,rape,murder..whatever...and through that trauma you form an opinion on the subject...regardless of what that opinion is...you almost instantly become bias to your own viewpoint and it is very very hard to become otherwise....
psychologically it is only through lack of emotion and an almost pessimistic and cynical outlook upon an argument that you can truly "play devils advocate" and see all sides of a discussion....

philosophy teaches many things, one of which is the ability to understand what emotions can do to cloud a perception or an understanding of a given topic.....the problem occurs when people let their emotions rule their arguments and understanding of a topic, without being able to leave their emotions to one side and clearly "see" what people are talking about in a manner that is open and welcoming to debate and discussion. Sadly forums on the internet are notorious for such debates being nothing more than slanging matches with little or no understanding or willingness to understand a viewpoint...
if you want a decent discussion i would recommend looking elsewhere! LOL

Answer 4

By blocking each other you end any chance of debate. Is debate really pointing each and every fault or weakness you can find in a person.
You cut him off, he cuts you off, I don't think either one of you is really interested in debate.
If you are such a woman with a mission as you have been described, why not teach , give information on the asked rather than the asker.
Are you familiar with the log and splinter parable?
I'm sure you could teach me a lot but not hiding behind a close email and taking potshots.

Answer 5

Well for the Arabs (it is wrong to say Muslims because we are not race and this makes the Issue religious although it is political and has nothing to do with religion) the Jewish media is biased and all propaganda. Similarly for the Jews the Arabic media is biased and all propaganda.
I noticed that in that question, I stated all facts and I got 4 thumbs down. Those who gave me thumbs down probably didn't read my answer, they just read my nic name. Or they read it and they know for sure that all what I said is facts but they thumbed down.
In short, when it comes to politics we will never agree because each of us see the others liars. We always refuse to listen to the opposite point of view and we never think logically (I don't mean I, because I think for both sides but most of he people aren't like that). Even if we know that we are wrong or our side is wrong we refuse to admit the mistake. This way we will never agree. There are three main things we have to consider: Honesty with oneself, Logic, and tolerance. If we all can do these, peace will be an easier goal.

Peace

Answer 6

Fair debate is easy to attain. All it requires is for both (or all) sides to have their say, both sides be prepared, and both sides substantiate their facts by providing a reliable source. Any debate based on these principles is going to be fair, and the victor will be he who argues better or who has a better position. It is a foregone conclusion that anyone who answers will be biased, but that does not make a fair debate impossible.

Answer 7

You keep referring to an answer by CIA, but there is none.

In the centuries after Muhammad there have been periods when the Jews were able to live in relative peace under Arabs, but their position was never secure. They were generally viewed with contempt by their Arab neighbors, and their survival was always predicated on their abject subordination and degradation to them. Mass murders of Jewish "protected people" started in Morocco as early as the eighth century, where Idris I wiped out whole communities. A century later Baghdad's Caliph al-Mutawakkil designated a yellow badge for Jews (setting a precedent that would be followed centuries later in Nazi Germany), and synagogues were destroyed throughout Mesopotamia in 854-859. In Tripolitania, Jews were considered the property of their Arab masters, who would bequeath the Jews to their heirs upon death. In the 12th century, after anti-Jewish riots, the contemporaries commented that their population had 'greatly declined.'


.

Answer 8

How can you debate people who for years living on Zionists propaganda:
There was no country called Palestine before 1948. And we all know that history books are saying " there was the mandate government of Palestine"
There were no people living in Palestine before 1948.
The occupied Palestinian territories are part of Israel.
Israel has the right to exist but the Palestinians do not have the same right to exist.
Israel has the right to self defense if attacked but the Palestinians have no right to defend themselves.

Answer 9

I understand. Everything's okay when someone else says it, but not the Jews. So all we have to do is push our opinions no matter what they say. I mean we all have the rights to say so, why not say how we see things from OUR point of view?

Answer 10

ignoring someone is being chicken.

CIA must stand for Chickensh*t Ignorant A**hole.


Edit:
Guys, guys, Mimi is someone you debate with, even HopelessZoo is someone you debate with.

CIA, on the other hand, you must just insult, cause he won't listen to your reasonable arguments, and he will keep on accusing you of things that never happened, because that is the only weapon he uses in an argument.
He is worthless, so I just spit in his face.