There are a large number of debates on the Internet message boards I frequent. I don't get involved most of the time. Sometimes it is because I am not too interested in the subject, but very often it is because of the terms by which the debate is framed.
This is my excuse for not joining in.
Most of the time, debate is pointless. The real challenge is not to debate interesting issues, but to debate them the right way - in a way that is, or at least might be, useful.
What usually happens is that people set up a debate between a wrong idea or practice and 'the alternative' - the 'right' idea or practice. Sometimes it is between the two ('wrong') extremes and the ('right') balanced position in the middle.
If you debate the wrong question, or frame the right question in the wrong way, it really doesn't matter what conclusion you reach - it will not be of any real use.
