The Great Debate Community Reclaimed
Channel: Badger
Date: 2019-07-01

TL/DR: Nobody owns either the topic, or the 'community' that gravitates around it. Nobody has a right to be paid for their opinion - on this, or any other topic. We, "the community" reclaim our de-facto description and reject the proper noun.

The Great Debate has existed in many forms over the centuries - from the agoras of Ancient Greece; discussions in theological colleges; debates from the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris on the public stage; and conversations / arguments between peers on the Internet.

Whilst one could make the argument that those participating in the above could be deemed a 'community' in the de-facto sense, YouTube has been at the forefront of any 'community' forming in any real, global sense around the topic.

Sure, there have been forums centred around The Great Debate, but none of these has had anywhere near the prominence of the community forming around this topic on YouTube.

...and then came monetisation...

...and the 'purity testing' and monopolisation that comes with branding...

The result has been a number of people being blocked, 'de-plaformed,' and otherwise ostracised from these discussions, whilst the discussions themselves have devolved into a mire of inter-personal dramas, squabbles over revenue, and the unreasonable expectation that one should 'get paid' for simply expressing one's opinion.

We, "the community," assert and contest that it is not possible for anybody to 'own' this discussion, nor monopolise presentation of it on YouTube. We also assert, that the ONLY 'qualification' required to become a member of "The Great Debate Community" here on YouTube, is to participate in the ages old discussion on the existence of a deity, or deities - given any value for 'deity' that proponents of a viewpoint may define.

It is with this firmly in mind that this, and future hangouts held by the NUMEROUS members of the Great Debate community, reclaim the de-facto name for peers discussing this topic - with NONE of us laying claim to either the topic, or the community that gravitates around it.

Topics for discussion:
1) Reclaiming the community from branding and monopolisation
2) Actual discussion on the nature and possible existence of a deity, or deities, for any (given) definition of deity.

Tracing YouTube's Great Debate Community origins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGCb1SE9-xU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44oHfLhPohI

Obligatory centralised contact info:
Email: greatdebatecommunity@gmail.com
Twitter: @GreatDebateComm
MeWe: Great Debate Community