Phase 1.
Starting out, I am going to select the topics for discussion, provide the background and write both the Points and Counterpoints. There will be two discourses from each side which I will write using facts obtained from acceptably objective sources. (A chart will be provided on the blog site which identifies acceptable and unacceptable news sources.) The discourses will remain on topic throughout. They will not exceed 1,000 words. No attempt will be made to change the topic; nor will any “red herrings” employed to distract readers from the main topic. There will be no demeaning comments nor ad hominem attacks of the author of the “other side”.
Phase 1 – Revising/Improving the discourses. If a reader believes that he/she can improve on the discourses I have made or has something to contribute in addition to the points or counterpoints that I have made, they are to send me an email with the revisions or new contributions. I will review them and if I think they add something to the discussion, I will incorporate them into the discussion.
All commentary will be done respectfully.
Phase 3
Ultimately, there will be two teams. I will be the captain of the “Progressive/Anti-Trump” Team. Someone else will have stepped forward who convinces me that he or she will be the right person to captain the “Conservative/Pro-Trump” Team. Each captain will recruit like-minded people to assist with making his side’s arguments. In this phase, we will take turns selecting the topics for discussion. The captain who selects the topic will, with the help of his teammates, write the “Background” and will write Point 1. The other captain with his team will write Counterpoint 1.
We may decide to go more than two discourses from each side, but the word count must remain below 1,000 for each discourse.
The main objective is not to convince people from “the other side” that you are right and they are wrong. Rather, it will be to demonstrate that your team has valid, truth-based reasons for believing what you do.
Phase 2.
During this phase, I will give readers who request it and agree to abide by the editing rules the right to edit the points and counterpoints. They will send me an email to dtcre@bellsouth.net and acknowledge that they have read and agree to the rules for editing on the block. They will then receive an invitation from WordPress to gain access to the blog. This will be a free registration.
Like Wikipedia, those invited will be able to revise and add to the existing posts. I will have the ability to review any changes to the blog and if I determine they are not appropriate, I will delete the changes and advise the contributor that I did so and why. If that contributor continues to violate the rules, his/her access will be revoked.
If you have any suggestions for improving this process, please let me know.
David Treppendahl dtcre@bellsouth.net