Purpose of an Online Debat ...

[Keeper]

What do you think the purpose of an online debate is? Force your ideas down someones throat? To learn? To honestly try to convince someone you are right? To Troll? Something else entirely?

[Xox]

To honestly try to convince someone you are right? Atleast me that is. =)

[Alcarinquë]

Of course it is to convince that I'm right. I am.

[Oneironaught]

You wouldn't debate if you didn't think you were correct and wanted to convince others of that. That's my reason: usually. Sometimes I genuinely want to learn something. But usually, I don't debate unless I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about.

[arby]

To convince yourself you are right. In other words, hardcore online debating = fail.

[Howie]

I think you would be kidding yourself if you do not say you are trying to convince other members you are right. But debate is a wonderful thing. If we stay open minded we can learn so much. IMO people have to realize that they are not always right. What is your source? How am I conditioned to think this or that? etc. Debate is attached with emotion. This usually kills the 'learning' part, unfortunately.

[Mes Tarrant]

I agree with what's been said. I think people have bloated egos online, way more bloated than in real life. Everyone tries to sounds more intelligent than they are, and when they are shown to be otherwise, they resort to getting personal. But hey, it would take a saint to admit defeat in a timely fashion.

[Man of Steel]

I voted other, mainly because I try not to get involved in online debates when at all possible. When I do, it's usually because of a combination of learning, trying to make the other party see that I am least not altogether wrong in my points, and just trying to make a difference, even though I know that's extremely unlikely. I almost always only engage in a debate after not only knowing exactly where I stand, but also doing a bit of research first, if I it is a fact-based debate. If there is no clear right or wrong side, and it's just a matter of opinion, I generally try and stay out of it. The thing is, it is nearly impossible to win an online debate/argument, even a factual-based one, simply because of the inevitable difference in opinion. I have won one or two in my time, but generally I find that it isn't worth my time. Though I must admit, if I'm in a bad mood I will sometimes find myself arguing just for fun, which may or may not fall under trolling. I hope not. It can be a great stress-reliever to put a real know-it-all in their place on occasion.