Reserved Debate Forum Rules

by Matt Slick

The purpose of the "Reserved" Debate Boards is to facilitate debates between individuals.   They are here because the regular boards are usually quite busy and individual debates are often buried in cross-dialogues and moving threads.  I reserve the right to copy the debates and post them on CARM should I so desire.

The Boards are reserved by one or more of the debaters by posting a request for it on the announcement board -- still working out that methodology. 

Following are suggested debate guidelines.  These do not have to be adhered to in order to debate on the reserved boards.  The only requirement is that there be an agreed upon set of rules before the debate begins.  The rules can even change during the debate if the debaters agree.  Following are suggestions.  I will modify them and/or add other formats as necessary.

1. FIRST - Limited to 200 , 300 , 400 , 500  or more words per post.
   1. Topic must be posted and agreed upon along with debate room reserved.
   2. Opening
      1. Debater 1 makes opening statement
      2. Debater 2 responds
      3. Response from Debater 1
      4. Response from Debater 2
      5. Response from Debater 1
      6. Response from Debater 2
   3. Cross Examination - Part 1
      1. Debater 2 asks 1st question
      2. Debater 1 responds
      3. Debater 2 asks 2nd question
      4. Debater 1 responds
   4. Cross Examination - Part 2
      1. Debater 1 asks 1st question
      2. Debater 2 responds
      3. Debater 1 asks 2nd question
      4. Debater 2 responds
   5. Concluding remarks from both sides.
      1. Debater 2 makes closing statement
      2. Debater 1 makes closing statement
2. SECOND - Limited to 200 , 300 , 400 , 500  or more words per post.
   1.  Topic must be posted and agreed upon along with debate room reserved.
   2.  Opening
      1. Debater 1 makes opening statement.
      2. Debater 2 responds
      3. Debater 2 makes "second" opening statement
      4. Debater 1 responds
   3.  Cross Examination
      1. Debater 2 asks 1 question
      2. Debater 1 responds
      3. Debater 1 asks 1 question
      4. Debater 2 responds
   4.  Concluding remarks from both sides
      1. Debater 2 makes closing statement
      2. Debater 1 makes closing statement
3. THIRD - Free for all back and forth - Limited to 200 , 300 , 400 , 500  or more words per post.
   1. Debaters agree on particulars of debate and go for it.