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.