We have a problem in the United States.  We are now seeing the results of educational indoctrination. There seems to be no ability for people to hold a true debate.

Social media is noting more than what the taverns, coffee shops, and town squares were before social media.  Go to a park, strike up a conversation and exchange views.  Maybe organize a protest or parade.  Make it a little more private, go to the coffee shop and start discussing. Want to keep the kids away from the discussion, go to the tavern and start discussing.  There may not be consensus, but there would be facts and opinion flying around.  When someone was on a definite losing end of a discussion then they would try to attack there person of a different view directly and go after their character.

Social media has now become the extended town square, coffee shop, and tavern. But the ability for people to debate points seems to be weak if not nonexistent at times.

In a group in Facebook called The Political Debate, a post was made stating with a picture meme of Barack Obama stating “We pulled it off without firing a missile.  We got 97% of their enriched Uranium out.  They were able to maintain a modest civilian nuclear program for energy. There’s no dispute that it worked, and we didn’t have to kill a whole bunch of people or shut down the strait of Hormuz.”

And it may have worked in that snapshot of time.  However recent reports found Iran building nuclear enrichment and military nuclear facilities underground.  Iran was found not abiding by the agreement.  The United Nations, an organization about as useful as the League of Nations cannot seem to monitor nuclear proliferation.  Also, President Trump is trying to have a long term solution which seems to include returning Iran back to the Persian population.

How silly of me to think that everyone in the group can debate.  I did a simple statement that the 3% grew.  There was a valid response.  I replied that the people of Persia were overtaken by radical Islamic clerics. I also stated that the United Nations (UN) has proven to be a useless organization on this front and that a better solution needs to be created to keep weapons out of the Islamists.  I also stated that maybe it is time to implode the continent of Africa, a sentiment of many around the world.

But a participant responded with this comment and I am not sure who it is directed at and even what side of the issue he is debating.  The comment “Stfu. You snort coke off gay strippers asses.  And you’re a married to a man. Go fuck off somewhere, but not here.” The person commenting does not have the nerve to direct the comment to someone in particular. It does not tie to the issue.  It seems like a throw it out there so I can say something.

In various classes in grade school, high school, and even college we were taught to debate both sides of the issue.   But I am seeing a lack of debate skills in debate groups.  What happened to critical teaching of how to agree and to disagree? How many people have not had a speech class in high school or college to do a persuasive speech?  How many people had a persuasive writing assignment?  How many people had a journalism class?  How many people role played a court situation? How many people had exercises in convincing people on both sides of an issue?

Looking at many “debate” groups on social media, looking at many “individual” postings in social media the passions are there but the skill to debate is non-existent at best.  If people want to have their point considered, do this exercise while posting; write the view you are opposed to, then write your response.  This is the technique I was taught in a variety of classes to debate and write opinion.

Debate is very similar to playing Chess. In Chess you make your move after considering your move and the counter moves.  In debate if you can predict the opposing points you can counter them prior to the point being used. You can build the strength of you point.  You do not need to go after the person with the opposing point.  That rarely wins.

It is fine to debate, but think it through so we can have a very strong debate. Strong debate if done well can be fun, insightful, educating, and people can be convinced.