The Difference Between a Debate and a Discussion?
Discussion
What is it?
I always thought....
A debate seeks to impart knowledge and convince through argument between selected speakers, and the chief function of the audience is to listen rather than to talk.
And the purpose of a discussion is to extract ideas from the audience, whose function is to express those ideas in speech.
So debate was from 2 opposing sides and they will never see eye to eye?
Dicussion can be 25% disagree, 75% agree with the other person and it still be classed as a discussion even tho there is not 100% agreement? Its a way to encourage the expression of opinion whilst sometimes not agreeing?
Is this correct?
I have what I call a disscussion and im 90% in agreement of the other persons thoughts and how they think, just not 100% as that is just an agreement, In a discussion you would talk about something and seek peoples opinions on it on how to express ways to do things? Yet I always get classed as the opponent and then it gets classed as a debate?
Why, what is the difference?
I always thought....
A debate seeks to impart knowledge and convince through argument between selected speakers, and the chief function of the audience is to listen rather than to talk.
And the purpose of a discussion is to extract ideas from the audience, whose function is to express those ideas in speech.
So debate was from 2 opposing sides and they will never see eye to eye?
Dicussion can be 25% disagree, 75% agree with the other person and it still be classed as a discussion even tho there is not 100% agreement? Its a way to encourage the expression of opinion whilst sometimes not agreeing?
Is this correct?
I have what I call a disscussion and im 90% in agreement of the other persons thoughts and how they think, just not 100% as that is just an agreement, In a discussion you would talk about something and seek peoples opinions on it on how to express ways to do things? Yet I always get classed as the opponent and then it gets classed as a debate?
Why, what is the difference?
SoapyShowerBoy said:
Not agreeing on a specific point is a debate. That is why MPs will always have a debate and not a discussion.
THats why I have always classed it as a discussion, the initial/main point is agreed on, but some sub points are not, but then he gets aggrovated about it and then claims that becuase its not 100% agree on it, its a debate and im the opponent???Discussed Unions last week and he said it was a disgrace that WalMart would vito any union created and as such they are scum.
I said that whilst I agree unions are good, they must be there for the correct reason, if its the empowerment of the workers and giving them a voice then good so they are fairly treated, if its like the bad unions that are just there to cause havoc till they get their way and black mail people (miners, post office, RMT), usually done by a leader who is a megalomaniac, then I can see were WallMart are coming from and dont want a union.
AT which point he went mental and called me an ignorant f
k and why was I always the opposition turning it into a debate and why didnt I look at the bigger picture and stop concentrating on smaller things like RMT, etc (remember they used WalMart as the initial talk) and that unions are great, etc...I can understand were the initial talk came from but the outburst... no???
Can someone point that out where I changed it from a discussion to a debate and why my values are so different from theirs????
Worst thing is that my mate is only just out of Uni and not had a job yet so its still rose tinted glases... but woah betide that coming up, I would die if thats mentioned, as all knowledge he has in from books and lectures....
Sometimes I hate the academicals that my OH introduces me to... no Im not allowed to bite or punch to get out of the situation...
Very good.Simpo Two said:
SoapyShowerBoy said:
Not agreeing on a specific point is a debate. That is why MPs will always have a debate and not a discussion.
I thought a debate was View A vs View B, with a winner. Surely a discussion is where you chat about stuff and wander off?
Pints said:
Possibly put into PH context...
Discussion: "Nice car. How does it drive?"
Debate: "Nice car. Bet it doesn't drive well though?"
I don't think this would warrant debate, I believe this just to be more antagonistic as there is no substance to the comment. If I may I would like to offer the following Discussion: "Nice car. How does it drive?"
Debate: "Nice car. Bet it doesn't drive well though?"
Discussion: "How does your car drive with the live rear axle set up?" The person starting this topic does not have opinion that can be opposed (at this point) about the live rear axle, either way at this point he willing to accept it is either a good thing or a bad thing.
Debate: "Your car doesn't drive well because it has a live rear axle" The person starting this topic has a belief that the live rear axle is the main reason for the car not driving well, in the knowledge that his belief will be met with opposition (but not saying it to be antagonistic, one would hope.)
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