Z-Bate! A New Form of Focused Dialog On Zaadz.

What the @#$% is  Z-Bate?!

I am thrilled to announce that I am experimenting with a new form of
focused dialog on Zaadz called "Z-Bate."

I have been finding that the discussion/debate that happens through blog
comments and pod posting is really fun and stimulating.

I have noticed too that certain important central themes tend to recur
and get recycled.

The wonderful community give-and-take in these forums has seeded in me
the desire to create an additional "next level" of focused dialog.

The idea of the Z-Bate is that it is a forum for already established
debate/dialog that wants to go to this next level of focused exploration.

In a Z-Bate, two Zaadsters discuss their points of view, while other
users are free to play along in the comments section, should they choose.

Z-Bate is an exercise in transformational dialog. It brings the best of
intellectual debate and respectful discussion to the key distinctions
and differences that arise in the melting pot of our world-changing
virtual community.

In Z-bate there are often disagreements, but no ad hominem attacks.
Points may be debated with a passion for truth, beauty and goodness,
while maintaining compassionate respect for one-another's humanity.

The rules of logic apply and courageous, compassionate reflection
defines the spirit of the conversation.

In Z-Bate reference to theories, worldviews, ideas, arguments and
whether or not we think they are sound or fallacious (and why) is
encouraged, while ad hominems, psychoanalyzing, straw man-ing, or otherwise
personally criticizing the other participant is strongly discouraged.

In Z-Bate spiritual awareness meets critical thinking, logical
discussion meets transformational experience, and the desire to "be the
change" gets challenged focused and refined.


Z-Bate Guidelines (in progress)

There are a total of three exchanges in a Z-Bate.

Each response must be posted within 24hours of the previous post for a
total of 6 posts.

The Zaadster who initiates the Z-Bate goes first.

Prior agreement is required from the other participant.

Each Z-Bater may use only two quotes or hyper-links from other
recognized writers in each post.

Each post in the Z-bate series must be no longer than 2,000 words, most will probably be much shorter. Stick to the point.

Anyone else may comment, but until the end of exchange three, the two
Z-Baters will only participate within the form and only address their
writing to eachother.

After the third exchange, the Z-Baters may choose to participate in the
comments section of any of the 6 posts created over 6 days on the 2 blogs.


Here's How it Works:

I am going to do my first Z-Bate starting tomorrow morning  with C4Chaos.

Having gotten his agreement ahead of time, I will put up a Z-Bate blog post
on the topic we have agreed upon and make my case, including where I
think we differ, based on our conversations so far.

The topic is: Faith and Reason In A Four Quadrant Kosmos

He then has 24 hours to put up his response post on his blog.

When that post is up, C4Chaos will post a comment here on my original blog
post with a link to his response on his blog and maybe one phrase/sentence like "my
response for exchange one is live.."

In the meantime, as is usually the case in Z-blogland, people may have
been making their own comments and getting into their own discussions
under the original posting.

Once C4Chaos has made his response, the attention shifts to his blog. I
do not comment on his blog, except to announce, within 24 hours, that my
response is up "live" – and so begins exchange two.

Should be fun!