Plate's Proposal for ED

It's kinda obvious that some people in the General Discussion are out for serious debate, and others simply are not. It's problematic when those two clash. One is upset because they are not being taken seriously and the other is upset because they are being criticized for not making sense/having evidence.

I suggest that there be an extended discussion board. Where there are standards of proof, and people are asked to shy away from logical fallacies.

For example:

"Welcome to the Extended Discussion forum! Extended Discussion (or ED for short) is intended for in-depth discussions and debates on a variety of topics. What makes a thread appropriate for ED is not subject matter alone, but the level of discussion and debate the thread topic generates. How 'serious' a subject is (war, abortion, politics) does not affect a thread's status in ED. If the subject is very broad or if the discussion that arises from the thread is not involved, the thread is not suitable for ED. Examples of this include topics like "What do you think of abortion?" or one line or low-content posts.

ED should be a place for users to have informed, engrossing discussions on topics that interest them and/or to read and learn about unfamiliar issues from users who are more familiar. It is not a place to dump opinions and leave, provide unsupported opinions, or to make short, low-content posts.

In short, ED is for users seeking a higher level of discussion than that available in other forums, without limitation on subject matter or a requirement that the subject be weighty or intellectual (although such subjects are by no means discouraged)."