Suggestions for initiating discussions in how an issue is posed

issuewise.md

Sample 1

The gender roles as exist in human societies as of a late is more of a social construct than biological. Sure biology has played it's part, but our positions are more conditioned than being biological(innate). We shall solve half our problems if we deconstruct existing notions of sex and sexuality. http://www.therobinhead.com/gender-roles/

Alternative:

Existing gender roles in our societies are a social construct not biological. Separating notions of sex and sexuality will definitely solve the gender-based problems in our society. This webcomic humorously depicts how an alien would feel uncomfortable with our propensity for discretely categorising people.

Observations on original phrasing:

• long sentences -> less readable
• issue not posed strongly, and simply, enough
• (suggestion)it would make sense to discuss the nuances or the intensity in the answers/opinions
• for cases when simplifying the concept takes away some of its nuances, there should be an additional block for description
• links should come with a short explanation of what they contain (ala stackoverflow)

Sample 2:

Ok! since it is a controversial topic and I have a 'strong' stand on this topic I would like to 'sample' opinions on 'misogyny and its effect on survivors of sexual abuse' #‪issuewise_issues‬

Alternative:

What would be some ways to eliminate the shaming of sexual abuse victims? Or minimize the effects of victim blaming?

Observations on original phrasing:

• wasn't meaningful. I changed the focus of the issue to illustrate.
• is largely redundant and unneccessary use of quotes.

Sample 3:

Interesting, you say? But it raises a very pertinent and philosophical question: Who should pay the cost for justice? Should a terrorist's jail sentence and interrogation cost be also levied on the family? How conservative or liberal is this thought? Quote:

Russia is no longer a tourist destination for terrorists!

Putin has got a law passed that forces relatives of terrorists to pay for damages caused by their attacks. It also boosts penalties for launching, participating, or financing militant or terrorist groups.

Under the law, all damages – including moral damage – should be compensated “at the expense of the means of the person committing the terrorist act and also at the expense of the means of his [or her] family, relatives and close people.”

Given how relatives of terrorists are more often than not, complicit in their acts (in varying degrees, of course), it's only fair that they pay for their crimes too. This could well act as a good deterrence for some 'young budding talents' who plan to be terrorists in near future. What do you think ?

Alternative:

Russia has passed a law that forces -

relatives of terrorists to pay for damages caused by their attacks. It also boosts penalties for launching, participating, or financing militant or terrorist groups.

Do you agree with the rationale of this law? ##Observations on original phrasing:

• short summary of link absent - in facebook links show up so not neccessary
• how conservative or liberal is this thought - these terms change enormously with the continent one is on. not specific at all
• the phrasing refers to the link as a primary source without being self contained. the effect is incoherent.
• redundant - needed a lot of trimming

Sample 4:

‪issuewise_showcase‬

Probably you have all heard about the recent stupid move by our favourite TRAI to release names along with the e-mail ID's of a million citizens who wrote to them supporting net neutrality. Irked by their overflowing inbox, they probably thought it was payback time! Does anyone have a different take on this? Could they have only published the names of the people and pass it off as a transparent move on their part? What could have been the purpose behind this... anyone wants to play the devil's advocate? http://yourstory.com/…/04/net-neutrality-trai-million-email/

Alternative:

Telecom regulator TRAI faced flak on the social media including Twitter for making public, the names and email ids of >one million people who have submitted their comments on Net Neutrality.

Recently TRAI faced flak all over social media for making a million accounts public. Is it possible that they were irritated and wanted to take revenge on the public for wiring to them in large numbers? What else do you think might have been their purpose behind this?

Observations on original phrasing:

• absurd premise
• redundant content

Sample 5:

‪issuewise_issues‬

when the man is the victim...how do we prevent situations like this? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/Male-student-sues-Columbia-University-failing-protect-classmate-publicly-branded-rapist.html ##Alternative: There has been an incident in Columbia University when a man was publicly shamed of being a rapist without proof, or a criminal conviction. This indicates a bias towards treating a rape accusation as fact. How can this be avoided? ##Observations on original phrasing:

• refers to link for primary context
• minimal, single query works for it

Self Critique:

1. I am aware that my suggested alternatives aren't perfect, but they are a nudge towards better inviting opinions towards simplistic issues. Simple questions work here because the complexity of opinions would be drawn out in the opinions later. Simple, stark, minimal phrasing invites better response, atleast for me as an user/participant.
2. The bit about summarizing links is only following in some stackexchange sites. I feel this is appropriate here to set the stage up for a discussion that does not dispute the initial facts that are summarised in the posed issue.
3. Stackexchange has a persistent reminder on question forms to remind people to google first, and ask the question clearly. Then there is a link to a guide to asking a good question e.g. Stack Overflow, Math StackExchange This, it seems to me, is a system that works for them.