Debates 

Chatterbox: Down to Earth

Debates&nbsp

Debates

 

The Admin said a lot about the religion debate on Mary Jo's post about her posts getting zapped. I think it's important to have a debate about, well, debates. I think debates are fine and great and good, but I think it's important to respect each other's opinions at the same time. I also think that religion is a little bit too... well, you know - for here, and that maybe we should stick to Twiight if we we want to argue. If you haven't read Twilight, well then, come up with some other controversial book. :) What do you all think?

submitted by Lena G, age 11
(April 30, 2009 - 5:48 pm)

Well, that's true. But again I say it: if a person is old enough to vote, and therefore assist in making a major decision for their country, why should they not have the right to choose whether or not to drink?

submitted by Mary W., age 11.35, NJ
(May 12, 2009 - 4:35 pm)

I totally agree.

submitted by Mary Jo-HI MARY!!!!, age 13, Georgia
(May 14, 2009 - 3:03 pm)

I've stated my reasons, and waiting a few necessary years to drink, for someone who is mature, shouldn't be an issue anyway. (Ok, it's starting to feel like we're going around in circles again.)

submitted by Megan M., age 13, Ohio
(May 12, 2009 - 5:23 pm)

Yeah, pretty much. Anything else?

submitted by Mary W., age 11.35, NJ
(May 13, 2009 - 2:36 pm)

@ whoever asked: Yes, I'm in a debate club (though I think that was a rhetorical question).

@ Meadow: I think smoking should be banned because if an activity endangers yourself or others, it's not good. Not only does smoking hurt the smoker (a lot), the fumes can make people around the smoker very ill, to the point of death.

You said that a smoker can "stop any time they want to." I must disagree. It is often very difficult for someone who is addicted or enjoys smoking to immediately go "cold turkey," as they say. It can take years; it may never happen. It took me a few months to break my addiction to computer solitaire, and that's just  few months of SOLITAIRE. Think how hard it must be for many people to break what may be an addiction that started when the smoker was as young as twelve or thirteen.

submitted by Mary W., age 11.35, NJ
(May 14, 2009 - 2:59 pm)

They can stop any time, and I know it can take a while to stop. My mom used to smoke, but now she doesn't anymore. They have control over their bodies don't they?  (you know what I mean)  If someone enjoys something, shouldn't they be able to do it?  They shouldn't ban smoking.  A bunch of people would smoke even if it was banned. Probobly the people that smoke a lot.  And there are a lot of people that like smoking.   

submitted by Meadow, age 11
(May 16, 2009 - 5:24 pm)

I have one last thing to say on this subject, and then I'll shut up (at least on this topic ;D), in response to Meadow: I don't think smoking should be banned either, just as drinking shouldn't, for various reasons. But to the point, it isn't so easy to just stop smoking. For people who are really addicted, it can take years and years if ever. I know, because I have an uncle who has a bad smoking addiction. He's tried and tried again and again to quit, because he knows it's not good for you. But he can't. For some people, yes, it's easier, like you said your mom quit smoking (which is great, by the way:D). But many, many people are not that fortunate and they can't simply stop.

submitted by Megan M., age 13, Ohio
(May 17, 2009 - 1:35 pm)

As the drinking/smoking debate is dieing, how 'bout we start a debate on... censorship? I don't think schools should censor books they want kids not to read. They should make it required, but never test them on it.

submitted by Pirocks/Enceladus
(May 15, 2009 - 5:49 am)

I disagree. Why souldn't we talk about religion? If someone is sensitive abouy talking about it, then they should go on the other topics.

submitted by Anna
(July 31, 2009 - 4:32 pm)

Yes, but... I guess you're right, and that's a good point, but:

1. Religious things have a way of getting all over the site and off their threads. I'm not specifying because I don't want to give names, but discussions that would seem safe sometimes have religious remarks that I'm sure the person didn't mean in a bad way, but could be interpreted as offensive.

2. They make me uncomfortable. When I go on the Chatterbox, I'm looking for fun socializing. If you see it as an output for your beliefs, then fine, but I feel there are enough of those - in the news, on other sites, in the world, and especially when there are people who get kind of... oh, I don't know, it's hard to say, enthusiastic about their beliefs (which is great, but it... I can't explain it. You'd have to see one to get what I'm saying.

So, you can do what you like, but I don't like them. 

submitted by Lena
(July 31, 2009 - 5:07 pm)

Can't we just let this topic go?

submitted by Lena
(August 1, 2009 - 6:57 am)

I stay off the debates and hot topics in general, so I don't really have much of an opinion about these things.

submitted by Cara
(July 31, 2009 - 7:24 pm)

This place is so sad.

submitted by Don
(August 1, 2009 - 11:41 am)

Lena if you don't like them then STAY AWAY from them.  I'm on your side, though, so I'm not being mean to you.  But if you guys want to debate, go ahead, I just won't... unless I really have something to say!! :D  But, anyway, Lena, you ARE one of our best debaters!!!!! :D LOL!!!!

submitted by R~D~ R~D~ R~D~
(August 1, 2009 - 11:54 am)

Aw, thanks! :) I thought I debated against you once... oh well, doesn't matter. Yes, I'm keeping mostly off the Philosophy thread, which among other things went over my head.

submitted by Lena
(August 1, 2009 - 5:20 pm)