What are the basic road rules on arguments ?

The right way to debate....is debatable.

The scholarly way to argue is to present an explicit claim and support that claim with the necessary evidence and elaboration. I tend to agree with that view on the subject.

The improper way to argue is to make a claim without volunteering the necessary evidence, ignoring other views, and rejecting those who ask for elaboration. The entire point of making an argument should be to educate and convince others of a view that you believe to be right. Arguing with providing elaboration, interaction with opposing views, or evidence is rarely beneficial.

 

Of course, you did because this is posted in the Help and Feedback forum...

Disregarding my lack of attention, a good argument is a debate in which members consider one another's views and work towards forming a degree of understanding or educated one another. An argument that would violate the CoC would be an argument that falls into the ad hominem category; in which members attack each others character, use condescending language, or generally speak without respect or consideration for others. Ultimately arguments fueled by anger and aggression rather than a desire to understand or open the mind of another.

 

Based on personal experience, I would say that Empty Closets is a bad place in general to practice your argumentation and rhetorical skills. There are plenty of fora all over the web that are MADE for heated debate.

 

Yes, please do take it from me, this is a support site, not a debate site.

I do wish EC would provide links to some other fora where all the cagematches on all hot button issues can go on among people who are members here.