Quote:
Originally Posted by khalleron
On the other hand, face-to-face debate also makes it easier for those who like to win by intimidation to do so. When all one has to argue with is words, it gives words more power.
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I was just thinking something like this when reading Steve's reply to me - then I scrolled down and you had written it khalleron! Whilst the dynamics of face-to-face dialogue avoid some of the problems that Steve speaks of in his essay, those very dynamics raise other problems to do with gender, ethnicity, age, disability and what one might be bundled under the heading of "personality", and the impact that they bring have on the nature of discussion. Whilst the anonymity provided by the internet might be abused by some, for others it is liberating and facilitates their participation. So, whilst I acknowledge the problem that Steve speaks of, I'm not sure the solution necessarily lies in the direction he indicates.