Contributing to Discussions

Clarimap organizes discussions as pyramids of position statements. At the top is a first position statement. Users then respond to the first or any other position statement with further position statements. The responding position statements can take a position: (Supporting or Opposing) or be background (Neutral) or clarifying (Neutral)  All statements in Clarimap are called position statements, even those that provide purely non-controversial factual information.

Every user is encouraged to provide references to other authoritative web sites as evidence for their position statements.

Q. What is a Position Statement?
A. A position statement is a statement (not a question) in response to another position statement.

Q. How do I respond to a position statement?
A. There is a blue button called Add Position Statement. Click on it and you will get a pop-up box. Two of the fields must be filled out: the Title and the Position. The Title is a short statement. If you want to include more information, use the Description box. The Position options are Support, Oppose, and Neutral. The Source Description and Source URL boxes allow you to refer to external web pages with evidence for your position statement.

Q. How do I know which position statement my position statement is responding to?
A. The focus position statement is in the gray box just below the top navigation bar. If you press the Add Position Statement button the position statement you add will be below that focus position statement. You might see the titles of other position statements below the focus position statement. These are also in response to the focus position statement. Your addition will be at the same level as these responses.

Q. Can I add to any discussion or position statement?
A. There are different permission levels for accounts. Some accounts are observer-only and do not permit additions. If you see a button at the bottom of a page that says, “Add Position Statement” then you can add a position statement to that listing. If you want to respond with a supporting or opposing position statement click on the title of the position statement and on the following page click on the “Add Position Statement” button.

Q. Can I see the ratings others have given?
A. Usually no. The project manager can see others' ratings but otherwise users cannot see each others' individual ratings. The project manager will usually accumulate the results and provide the team with aggregate results.

Q.When I click on a position statement I get a blank page. What do I do?
A. If you want to add a sub-position statement, click on Add Position Statement button.  Otherwise, click back on your browser.

Q. Is there a limit to how long I can make my position statement?
A. Clarimap does not impose a practical limit (there is a limit, but it is really large). You want your position statements to be convincing, however, so don’t make them so long that people won’t read them.
If you want to say a lot, it is probably better to make many smaller position statements than one large one.

Q. If I just want to add information, but do not want to argue in favor or against an position statement, what do I do?
A. Add a position statement and specify it as Neutral.

Q. When I have to choose Support or Oppose, am I indicating support or opposition to the immediate position statement I am responding to, or to the top-level position statement?
A. Support and Oppose should be chosen in relation to the immediate position statement they are in response to. That is: in relation to the position statement which is in the grey box at the top of your screen. If your position statement opposes the position statement it is listed as responding to, choose Oppose, even if your position statement supports the top-level position statement.

Q. How can I anticipate opposition to my position statements and answer them proactively?
A. Two things: referring to external sources and their URLs which are authoritative, and by creating supporting sub-position statements for your position statement. When you add a position statement, you can add an optional Source URL and Source Description.