Armstrong Challenges White

[CommonMan]

The advantages of written debate are undeniable.

To each his own. I have read written debates, they go on all the time in the editorial pages. I can’t agree that they are better. An oral debate is as reviewable as a written one is. It easy to record and it can all be transcribed so I don’t see any advantadge there. The other points you make are fair, but the face to face debate is far more of a challange and much more interesting as least to me. Political debates can be very good but thay can also have the negatives you listed but I don’t see much advantadge in smearing your opponent in this type of debate. True, you do have to be skilled in debating but if you know you stuff well you can overcome a person with debate skill but lacking in knowledge on a given subject.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Word processing is a beautiful thing.

It allows us to consider a phrase carefully - reworking it as often as we like - before it is made public.

Public debate does not give us this same opportunity.

I should have said…
I wish I hadn’t said…

Written debate - especially that which takes place over time as opposed to live online chat - is always superior in terms of presenting an argument in its best light.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

To each his own. I have read written debates, they go on all the time in the editorial pages.

Which pages are these and what type of debates are they?

I can’t agree that they are better. An oral debate is as reviewable as a written one is. It easy to record and it can all be transcribed so I don’t see any advantage there.

You are correct to a degree, its also worth noting some recordings have turned out poorly and the time and authorization it takes for transcripts is another wait for us.

The other points you make are fair, but the face to face debate is far more of a challenge and much more interesting as least to me. Political debates can be very good but thay can also have the negatives you listed but I don’t see much advantage in smearing your opponent in this type of debate.

The fact is there is a lot of “smearing your opponent” in Protestant versus Catholic debates, it is very clear James White uses that tactic all the time.

True, you do have to be skilled in debating but if you know you stuff well you can overcome a person with debate skill but lacking in knowledge on a given subject.

The problem is the mass majority of oral debates are more about who is a better speaker, not whos argument is better.

 

[Michael_Francis]

Departed from OP topic and closed.