# Facts vs. Opinions in Great Debates **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 8, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347 "2016-05-08T22:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/41 "2016-05-09T01:07:24Z")
Then you may feel free to report them for dishonest debating and your loving moderators can review the case. If it’s egregious enough either of us may choose to intervene. On the other hand, having reviewed the thread in question it appears that the issue of Georgia/Kentucky was a mistake. Hectoring him about it, especially following his admission of error, was not germane to the debate and has significantly derailed the thread. Tom was absolutely right in declaring the hijack over with and I support his ruling and will enforce it if need be. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/42 "2016-05-09T01:32:53Z")
[Goddamn it, I posted an ATMB message in the GD thread. Thank you Jon Chance for not giving me a warning. I meant to put it here. (All that time cutting and pasting, _ruined_. ☹] Here’s my post: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19316274&postcount=169](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19316274&postcount=169) Apologies to the board. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/43 "2016-05-09T01:35:41Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Then you may feel free to report them for dishonest debating and your loving moderators can review the case. If it’s egregious enough either of us may choose to intervene. > > On the other hand, having reviewed the thread in question it appears that the issue of Georgia/Kentucky was a mistake. Hectoring him about it, especially following his admission of error, was not germane to the debate and has significantly derailed the thread. Tom was absolutely right in declaring the hijack over with and I support his ruling and will enforce it if need be. Georgia vs. Kentucky is a “mistake”. New Jersey vs. New York is a “'mistake”. Sub tropical depressions vs. Hurricanes are a “mistake”. At some point, it’s no longer a “mistake”. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/44 "2016-05-09T01:39:15Z")
The person who decides that is me, not you. If you feel someone is debating dishonestly you may report it as such. Haranguing them is not good debate and can derail threads. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/45 "2016-05-09T01:43:01Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Georgia vs. Kentucky is a “mistake”. > > New Jersey vs. New York is a “'mistake”. > > Sub tropical depressions vs. Hurricanes are a “mistake”. > > At some point, it’s no longer a “mistake”. Unless you’re referring to the NHL team, hurricanes is not capitalized. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/46 "2016-05-09T01:48:02Z")
I don’t get this, and maybe you can explain it to me. You have a rule against calling people liars in GD/Elections which I totally understand and support. What doesn’t make sense is that you allow people to POST lies in GD/Elections without an equivalent sanction. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/47 "2016-05-09T01:49:52Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Unless you’re referring to the NHL team, hurricanes is not capitalized. I figured that was an honest mistake by D’Anconia. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/48 "2016-05-09T01:51:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If I’m ever tempted to moderate GD someone hit me with something heavy. Okay, let me lay this on you: you know, “war” is like, “raw” backwards, man. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/49 "2016-05-09T01:56:20Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I misspoke. Facts are not up to debate. so it’s ok if you misspeak, but if anyone else does, it’s a lie and should be subject to official sanction? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/50 "2016-05-09T02:10:18Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I don’t get this, and maybe you can explain it to me. > > You have a rule against calling people liars in GD/Elections which I totally understand and support. > > What doesn’t make sense is that you allow people to POST lies in GD/Elections without an equivalent sanction. Would you really want us making value judgements on the truthfulness of poster’s statements? That way lies madness. I have, on rare occasion, intervened in a thread when a poster was being deliberating baiting by posting the same thing over and over without responding to questions. That’s a point where it appears a poster is trolling instead of participating in honest debate. Also, in the case you’re going on about, Trinopus made a mistake and acknowledged it. That should be the end of the story. In fact, it will be the end of this particular story. This thread is asked and answered and can serve no further purpose. If you still don’t understand the point I know no way to further explain it to you. Opening another, similar thread is contraindicated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347.md?page=2)