# What should be in Great Debates?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [December 27, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475 "2019-12-27T22:42:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/1 "2019-12-27T22:42:42Z")
I posted a straight up question in **General Questions** [What prompted IG Michael Horowitz to investigate FISA abuse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=887014) which was immediately moved to **Great Debates**. I started a different thread in **Great Debates** [FISA warrant was used to spy on the Trump campaign and presidency](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=887211) that was closed and I was giving this admonishment for not answering questions that had nothing to do with the topic:
> [@](#):
>
> I’m gonna say that doesn’t count as debating.
>
> I’m closing this. Easy Phil, no more threads on this topic until 2020. Then, you need to actually debate if you open them in Great Debates.
Can someone explain this to me?
---
### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/2 "2019-12-27T22:52:44Z")
I am not a mod, but I assume they are as tired as I am of your multiple threads on the same topic. I’d suggest you find another bee for your bonnet, if I were a mod.
ETA And you never answered my question in one of those threads, who is that Page clown and why should I care?
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/3 "2019-12-27T22:59:31Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#):
>
> Can someone explain this to me?
It means you can’t talk about the FISA warrant. I wouldn’t talk about it very much in 2020 either.
They don’t want to debate the FISA warrant. I would think that was pretty clear.
IANAM.
Regards,
Shodan
---
### Author:  [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/4 "2019-12-27T23:00:30Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> It means you can’t talk about the FISA warrant. I wouldn’t talk about it very much in 2020 either.
>
> They don’t want to debate the FISA warrant. I would think that was pretty clear.
>
> IANAM.
>
> Regards,
> Shodan
That’s what I thought.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/5 "2019-12-28T00:10:59Z")
Wrong. You don’t just get to start multiple threads on the exact same topic with content easily addressed in any other the other threads.
This board has a long history of dealing with one-trick ponies. Just because you’re aligning yourself with Trump supporters doesn’t make you a victim of even-handed moderation.
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/6 "2019-12-28T00:25:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> It means you can’t talk about the FISA warrant. …They don’t want to debate the FISA warrant.
Oh yeah. Sounds legit. :smack:
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/7 "2019-12-28T01:31:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> It means you can’t talk about the FISA warrant. I wouldn’t talk about it very much in 2020 either.
>
> They don’t want to debate the FISA warrant. I would think that was pretty clear.
>
> IANAM.
>
> Regards,
> Shodan
That’s nonsense, Shodan. And you know it.
What I want is debate. What I don’t want is one-trick ponies.
Phil, the idea is to start threads. Good.
The idea is not to start many threads on one topic. Doing so does not actually help. It’s more like that one guy who brings up his hobby horse.
Shodan, please do not try to read the minds of the moderation staff. We can speak for ourselves.
Never do so again.
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### Author:  [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/8 "2019-12-28T14:16:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> They don’t want to debate the FISA warrant. I would think that was pretty clear.
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> That’s nonsense, Shodan. And you know it.
I’m curious, I believe that the poster in question knew full well that what he wrote was not true, and I was going to post a reply to that effect but decided not to get into semantics about calling somebody a liar.
Lying, trolling, shit stirring, we can see what it is so call it what you want, I’m just curious why he is allowed to do it?
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### Author:  [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/9 "2019-12-28T14:25:05Z")
At a quick glance, I count four FISA related threads started by EasyPhil. It’s not just the two in the OP.
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/10 "2019-12-28T16:13:22Z")
A debate is not a topic. It involves laying out a reasoned case for or against something that includes verified facts and evidence and - here’s the important part - defending that case against others. A defense requires listening to the opponent’s arguments and, if possible, refuting them with additional facts and evidence. Without that second part, there is no debate, merely a screed.
The second part was missing in the OP’s threads. Therefore, they weren’t debates.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-in-great-debates/845475/11 "2019-12-28T18:24:38Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> What I want is debate. What I don’t want is one-trick ponies.
[He took his trick from GD to the Pit.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=887448)