I’ve noticed in some threads that posters (I’ll not be specific because I do not intend this as a Pit against anyone in particular) will at times respond to a General Question thread with a Great Debates type response. And I’m somewhat at a loss for how to respond.
Should I reports the post? Seems too extreme. Should I respond in kind? Not my style. Should I suggest starting a new thread in GD? Maybe, but risks breaking up the flow of the discussion. Request that the thread be moved? But that’s a hijack.
Additionally, the border between GQ and GD is not entirely clearcut. Any guidance?
There is, of course, a difference between a debate-style answer, arguing for one of several possible answers to a question, and a response that examines one or more of possible answers to a debatable question.
For example, to take a question-with-an-answer where responses may vary, suppose some Doper sees a reference to I Maccabees as a Bible-style quotation, notices that the Bible available to him has no such book, and asks about it.
To get into a debate about the canon(s) of the Bible, and which is “right,” would be G.D. territory.
But certainly Tomndebb could offer the explanation about the Deuterocanon accepted by Catholics and some other churches but not by Protestants, Abbie Carmichael could explain in more detail why Protestants reject the Deuterocanon, yBeayf could offer the Orthodox perspective, and so on – all differing answers, but within the framework of providing a clear answer to a “question with a definite answer.”
On the other hand, if any of the above (who in reality wouldn’t) took a G.D.-style argumentative approach in that thread, it would then be beyond the scope of G.Q., and either they would be warned, or the thread moved, or both.
The “accurate answer” to a GQ question may be “opinions differ.” It’s not beyond proper board protocol for GQ for a number of posters to respectfully disagree with each other, explaining in what manner opinions differ regarding the question asked. They should, however, not engage in debate per se, but rather write in a way that supplements previous answers.
Question: What’s the scientific name for the tiger?
First answer: Panthera tigris.
Second answer: That’s accurate if you use the distinction between Panthera and Felis that’s most common in mammalogy. But about 20% of students of the Felidae, including this expert (cite given), say Felis tigris.
Third answer: Henry Wolfson, Professor of Zoology at Princeton U. (who is, by the way, fictitious, made up for this example) is virtually alone in regarding the tiger as a separate genus with three species: Tigris bengalis, Tigris chinensis, and Tigris siberica. But he makes a good case for it (cite).
As Professor Wolfson’s lawyer, I have been instructed to begin proceedings against the SDMB for defaming his character by denying his existence. Professor Wolfson has been a noted member of his field for many years and his reputation is unjustly suffering as a result of these totally unjustified accusations that he is purely a ‘made-up’ character. Should legal proceedings proceed to court, he is prepared to present himself to testify that he is alive well and very much not just a product of anyone’s imagination.
