Debate.org should maintain it's policy of deletion

Thanks, Con. ==Framework==The purpose of this site is intelligent and productive debate. We should prefer whichever system is most conducive to *intelligent* debate--debates and threads which run contrary to this goal run contrary to the stated purpose of this site on the main page. The site is meant to be an: "online community where intelligent minds from around the world come to debate online and read the opinions of others". Vote for whoever best upholds this model. I. Spam My opponent is taking an extremely hardline position that would allow the site to become awash with spam. Literally. Anyone who has been active on this site for a reasonable amount of time remembers the "caste fortune teller" spam that was posted all over the forums. Dozens of topics were created, drowinging out topics that discussed the actual issues and preventing anyone from reading or discussing anything of substance which undermines the entire purpose of this site. You can already vote Pro. Spam topics and debates should be deleted. II. Offensive debates Let's get to the meat of the disagreement. This debate was started when Con made a thread in response to the controversy Wylteds "rape battle" caused suggesting that DDO should implement his "free debate" policy where nothing was deleted. My response was to suggest that I was going to create a series of debates personally attacking Con and calling into question his mental capabilities. To his credit, Con did not suggest that I be censored from creating such debates, but any sound moderation policy would delete debates and threads that are direct personal attacks on other members. If the moderators don't delete debates or threads that are egregious attacks on other members, the forums will collapse into a series of flame wars and ad hominem attacks. Does Con want the forums looking like this? The impact of this is twofold: Not only does it decrease productive dialogue between current members and would likely cause many to leave as nothing gets deleted and the site turns into a lesser version of 4chan, but it makes the site look *incredibly* bad and decreases the probability that more good members join. Particularly since DDO's algorithm for determining which deabtes get to the front page is based almost entirely on the amount of comments a debate receives, controversial and offensive debates quickly rise to the top, drowning out serious discussions. If I were looking to join a site to discuss serious issues and the first thing I saw was an incredibly stupid and knowingly shocking and offensive debate where the participants discussed which rape was "best", I would immediately look elsewhere. These kinds of topics certainly cost DDO valuable members, although how many we will never know. Still, this impact is far more valuable to the site than whatever benefit debates like the "rape battle" bring. During its run as the top debate advertised on the main page, Wylted's "rape battle" overshadowed the Bsh-Whiteflame debate which was by all accounts an excellent discussion. But instead DDO often presents to the world its most offensive and patently stupid debates. This is unfair to the site, its members, and anyone looking to join. And for what? So Wylted can get a few shock laughs in at the expense of rape victims? So that Malcolmxy can take over the main forum? I'll pass. Debates containing explicit material such as pornography should be censored for the benefit of the large youthful population on this site and because except under rare circumstances contributes nothing to any intellectual discussion. There are things that Juggle simply should not tolerate that ought to be censored as they harm both the stated intent of this site and the members.