Picking a topic and Starting a discussion

The choice of what to discuss and the boundaries of discussion influence the nature of the discussion.  In private use the project manager chooses the topic and can give instructions to the users about what to discuss.

In public use the originator can choose a topic, although the Clarimap Administrator may modify the initial contention in order to improve the discussion.

The top-level contention can be phrased as a question or as a statement.  It should be short, and exposition or background can be given in the background statement.  The background is designed to be long and include references to external authorities.  The top-level contention should be short enough so that users can read it in a few seconds. 

What is a good discussion?

A good discussion is one with concise unambiguous statements, plenty of references to authority to back up claimed facts, and in which all possible counterarguments to top-level statements are played out.

Neutral statements should truly have an unbiased point of view.  Users with strong opinions on all sides should be able to agree that statements marked as neutral are so.  If you are making a neutral statement, do your sporting best to make it unbiased.

Staying on topic.

Being a good and responsible Clarimap user means you should stay on topic and help the other users stay on topic.

That means

1) Don't bring up tangential or related issues in the main discussion.  If you want to mention a related topic and you think it worth discussing, start it and link it to the other discussion marked as a related topic.

2) Don't bait other users into going off topic.  Internet discussions are prone to attract trolling behavior where some participants seek to cause others t

Your opinions aren't sacred just because they are yours.  All opinions should be subject to inquiry.  Give your judgement a chance to overcome your pride.

3) Try not to repeat what someone else has posted unless you have additional information.

4) Try to add your statement at the lowest possible point on the argument tree.

5) Add your statement in response to the most direct point that applies.

6) Try to bring external references that are factual and free from opinion, and that other users will feel are authoritative.