DEBATE: Social Networking

[Twobagger]

Mar 18, 2010 16:47:12 GMT -5 Sir Lans said:

I also have a question for the entire opposition: Do you consider NationStates and this forum a form of social networking? Just curious because I did hear one of you at the beginning say you didn't have the time for facebook or twitter, but ironicaly, there's time to debate this issue here in this forum with people you've never even met!

This is a moot point, since the question in this debate defines social networking as pertaining to Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz, etc. I suppose NationStates was excluded since the point of NationStates isn't social networking, but the point of those other sites is.

[MinnaCaroline]

The point of Nationstates is Social Networking, how could it possibly be not social networking? In fact there is a couple here in the forum who met on NS and have since gotten married! Tell me how that is not social networking?

[Twobagger]

Mar 18, 2010 19:37:18 GMT -5 MinnaCaroline said:

The point of Nationstates is Social Networking, how could it possibly be not social networking? In fact there is a couple here in the forum who met on NS and have since gotten married! Tell me how that is not social networking?

Ah, now you're writing my arguments for me:
The point of social networking sites is to meet children to abuse, how could it possibly be not meeting children to abuse? In fact there are old men who use social networking sites that have met their child victims on those sites! Tell me how that is not meeting children to abuse?
By this logic, the point of social networking sites is clearly to meet children to abuse. This is an evil action. Therefore, social networking is evil.

[XKI University]

POINT OF ORDER

From the site,

NationStates is a free nation simulation game. Build a nation and run it according to your own warped political ideals. Create a Utopian paradise for society's less fortunate or a totalitarian corporate police state. Care for your people or deliberately oppress them. Join the World Assembly or remain a rogue state. It's up to you.

So Nationstates is not a social networking site or covered by the motion. Please leave it out of the discussion. I might use it as the basis for a future debate though.

Hmm... one more day of open debating, this is very interesting reading.

[Bad Infinitum]

Mar 19, 2010 16:34:08 GMT -5 XKI University said:

POINT OF ORDER

From the site,

NationStates is a free nation simulation game. Build a nation and run it according to your own warped political ideals. Create a Utopian paradise for society's less fortunate or a totalitarian corporate police state. Care for your people or deliberately oppress them. Join the World Assembly or remain a rogue state. It's up to you.

So Nationstates is not a social networking site or covered by the motion. Please leave it out of the discussion. I might use it as the basis for a future debate though.

Hmm... one more day of open debating, this is very interesting reading.

POINT OF ORDER

Misuse of the "point of order" incidental motion. According to Robert's Rules, point of order is used to call into question misuse of parliamentary procedure, not question the validity of a fact presented to be relevant to the debate at hand. I believe the honourable moderator meant to move for division of the question.

[Walabamba]

Mar 17, 2010 19:33:03 GMT -5 Bad Infinitum said:

I have a question for Walabamba.

Wala, your post suggested that personal connections are being destroyed by Facebook. Does this imply that you believe that Facebook is to blame for relationship neglect, rather than the laziness or apathy of the Facebook user? Like you said, it's quite easy to pick up a telephone and call your grandmother, but being Facebook friends with her prohibits a phone call?

I didn't mean to imply that would prohibit a phone call but think about it, if you were in your living romm with your laptop with your phone and your computer would you go on Facebook or phone her? Your oppinion may be different but I know many people who would definately go on Facebook and almost never talk to those bpeople on the phone or in person which I think is destroying society.

[Bad Infinitum]

Mar 19, 2010 17:06:30 GMT -5 Walabamba said:

I didn't mean to imply that would prohibit a phone call but think about it, if you were in your living romm with your laptop with your phone and your computer would you go on Facebook or phone her? Your oppinion may be different but I know many people who would definately go on Facebook and almost never talk to those bpeople on the phone or in person which I think is destroying society.

Personally? I'd call her. I hate Facebook. There are tons of people just like me, basically anyone over 22, who feel the same way. Just because the younger generation can't get off their computer doesn't mean the rest of the world is out of the loop.

If you could please, would you address my question regarding whether or not Facebook is directly to blame, as opposed to human laziness?

[XKI University]

Ah, my mistake. Division of the question.

[Walabamba]

Well PAI, I think it is a mixture of both. People who use Facebook and/or other social networking sites generally spend more time on their computers then out in the real world talking to their friends and doing productive things. I believe that if there wasn't any social networking people would have more thoughtful and productive lives because, if there isn't any social networking I'll guarentee you that less people would be on their computers for a shorter period of time and that is why I hate social networking.

[Bad Infinitum]

Mar 19, 2010 18:31:30 GMT -5 Walabamba said:

Well PAI, I think it is a mixture of both. People who use Facebook and/or other social networking sites generally spend more time on their computers then out in the real world talking to their friends and doing productive things. I believe that if there wasn't any social networking people would have more thoughtful and productive lives because, if there isn't any social networking I'll guarentee you that less people would be on their computers for a shorter period of time and that is why I hate social networking.

Again, you're implying that social networking sites are forcing people to abandon all other forms of communication in favor of Facebook or Twitter. You're blaming the gun, instead the killer, for committing the murder.

So again, I ask, would you place more blame on the lack of human willpower to prevent social decay, or an inanimate and lifeless social tool such as Facebook?

[MinnaCaroline]

I'd much rather receive or make a phone call than text or tweet someone. Case in point: I blocked my own father from emailing me, and the next day I got call from him asking me why his email bounced back. I very calmly explained I'd rather chat with him on the phone than receive an email from him.

[Walabamba]

Mar 19, 2010 18:40:39 GMT -5 Bad Infinitum said:

Mar 19, 2010 18:31:30 GMT -5 Walabamba said:

Well PAI, I think it is a mixture of both. People who use Facebook and/or other social networking sites generally spend more time on their computers then out in the real world talking to their friends and doing productive things. I believe that if there wasn't any social networking people would have more thoughtful and productive lives because, if there isn't any social networking I'll guarentee you that less people would be on their computers for a shorter period of time and that is why I hate social networking.

Again, you're implying that social networking sites are forcing people to abandon all other forms of communication in favor of Facebook or Twitter. You're blaming the gun, instead the killer, for committing the murder.

So again, I ask, would you place more blame on the lack of human willpower to prevent social decay, or an inanimate and lifeless social tool such as Facebook?

I believe I did answer the question when I said "I think it's a mixture of both" I also never said that social networking sites were forcing people. Think about it, if there wasn't a mcdonalds would less people eat hamburgers and become overweight? Of course! That''s why it's a mixture of both. Human will-power will account for some of it but so will the non-existance of it.

[XKI University]

10000islands.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=xkiecondept&thread=14590

Please take the time to vote, but feel free to continue discussing until the poll closes.

[XKI University]

Congratulations to the proposition on winning the debate. The prizes have just been sent through now. Let me know if they didn't come through properly.

The next debate will be up in a few days.