Since DU is not a debate forum, what are some good choices?

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

I'd like to practice my debate skills with conservatives. I'm looking for a debate forum that is well moderated (no flaming allowed) and where there is some feedback on people's debate skills.

Any ideas???

[my2sense]

1. debate.com ?

I've never used it. I was surfing and stumbled across it.

[moreno]

15. Not mature enough for me

There are a lot a Teenagers on that debate site.

[realisticphish]

2. unless you wade in at yahoo or something like that

i don't think you'll have much luck. places like somethingawful.com have decent political discussions, but even then it's liberal-dominated. the problem is that too often mods start to mod based on their political beliefs, and drive people away. And even if they don't, misbalance in political opinion results in people getting hog piled, thus driving more people away.

But good luck

[TahitiNut]

3. /.

[DJ13]

4. Hillaryis44

I hear they love debates.

[mcctatas]

13. ....

:spank:

[Sundoggy]

5. Try the political forum at randi.org

Might seem like an odd suggestion but lots of very smart folks there.

[Warpy]

6. Try IRC

Download mIRC and install it. On the sign on screen, scroll down to Undernet and click any site. Then sign on.

Good channels on Undernet used to be #political and #newsgarden. To join, type /join #whateverchannel. To sign off, type /quit.

There are right wingers everywhere and Undernet is no exception. #politics is the winger channel there and #politics on Efnet is also right wing.

IRC has two advantages: first, the channels are moderated and assholes are bounced; second, the mIRC itself is just difficult enough to use that it discourages the abysmally stupid.

Channels do tend to be international, so be prepared for some creative spelling and odd grammar. However, if you're interested in debate, that's the place to go. Just be aware that statements can be challenged and you will be asked for sites to back them up.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. 'The Politics Forum'

www.politicsforum.org

Not necessarily any feedback on skills, but all ideologies allowed (apart from neo-nazis). It's international, but since it's all English-speaking, you'll find more Americans than any other single nationality (though maybe not a majority). No insulting allowed.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

10. All ideologies apart from Neo-Nazis...

Does this mean that Non-Nazi Fascists and Stalinists are OK?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. It does, in theory

though they're pretty rare. Racist comments can get you banned, and few Fascists manage to stay non-racist forever - the nationalism almost always spills over into racism. And while it has plenty of communists of various flavours, actual Stalinists aren't all that common. Lenin or Trotsky tend to be more popular.

[Boojatta]

8. Here's a link...

http://forum.objectivismonline.net/index.php?s=&showforum=50

First read all the rules carefully. For example, always capitalize "Objectivism." They say that an "egregious" kind of improper "grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style" is failure to capitalize proper names. They provide exactly one example of a proper name: "Objectivism."

Note specifically this:

Agreement with Objectivism is not required for participation. Anyone interested in Ayn Rand's philosophy may join.

That's a general rule of their entire message board. Their debate forum has more relaxed rules than the rest of their board.

Have fun and please report back.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. wrest of the story

it is well moderated

http://wrestofthestory.com/

[The Night Owl]

12. If you like debate, one forum you might want to check out is...

...www.neutralunderground.com. NU provides fora for people of all political persuasions to engage in discussion and debate, but it also has private fora for the various factions. To be honest, I can't claim that NU is completely free of flame wars, but members who are quick to resort to insults or name-calling are usually rebuked or not taken seriously.

[moreno]

14. yickyak.com might be your answer

I'm pretty active there and you will find your share of conservatives there.
Its well moderated and the debates are very mature. The moderators don't allow personal attacks.
You can also get into 1 on 1 debates or join in on Socratic Debates which are pretty fun.