(02-22-2015, 09:13 PM)Verranicus Wrote: There will be people in the world who are uncomfortable with -everything-. If we were to move any discussion that made anyone uncomfortable out of the public eye nobody would talk ever. People need to get over themselves and realize the world can't always cater to them and they need to toughen up.
The subject is irrelevant. It could be a debate on religion, lore, or a gruesome tale of medical traumas. What matters is that you've offended someone. Are there people who are more sensitive to certain issues that others? Yes, certainly, this varies by individual. Which is precisely why debaters must be aware and conscientious of their audiences. Everyone has a topic that they are uncomfortable with. Be that religion, or rape, or white magic, or blood, sex, or guts. It is not your place to decide what other people are comfortable being subjected to. It is well within their rights as unwilling, third parties to make known that they are uncomfortable either with the topic at hand or, more likely, how the debate has been handled between the two participants.
You would not want certain topics to be discussed around your kid, for instance. It is well within the parent's right to ask the debaters to take their conversation elsewhere. Would you tell the kid to grow up and get a thicker skin? He'll learn it eventually. Or would you respect that parent's wishes? You have absolutely no reason not to, other than to demonstrate being a dick right? The same could be said to any public LS discussion. You do not know who is on the other side of that computer and what tolerances or triggers they may have.
You have absolutely nothing to lose by moving your discussion elsewhere and being courteous to the other party, even if you believe they are being prudish. Your brazen reply demonstrates a severe lack of tact or empathy towards a bystander who disagrees with your personal stance. And if you show that little care for a third party who is offended by your discussion, what does that show of your ability to respect the differing opinion of your debate opponent.
Debates can be fun, but what separates a debate from an argument is the amount of respect afforded the other participants.
