Well, in a rare case I'm going to disagree with HGrey (and not just to spite Jake)

One of the greatest enemies of a free thinking society is indoctrination.

Rarely is a person subjected to varying points of view before they graduate high school. And by then often all of a persons opinions are set solidly, impervious to change or even consideration.

While the influence of parents, friends, and teachers is a good thing for the most part, it can be a very narrow spectrum from which to view the world.

I don't believe that 7th graders would necessarily grasp many of the arguements, I do believe that it would keep them aware that there is never only one way to look at a topic, keep their minds open to different opinions, and encourage them to come up with there own ideas and valid reasoning to back up those ideas.

I think they should identify themselves though, so that people know we're dealing with a fetus :)

I think CreateDebate is a very useful tool for schools to leverage to encourage critical thinking, debate, and argumentation. You can monitor the language on your debate and use the "report" function for any argument that it is inappropriate. You can also use the "Moderator Panel" within the debate to ban any people who are making inappropriate arguments. I think the benefits of using CreateDebate outweigh any potential risks of exposing them to foul language. Plus, we are working on some really cool features that will make using CD in the classroom even better!

Yes they should be able to use this site. Everyone is entitled to an opinion whether they are 4 or 104. Whether there point is valid or not, that is a different story.

By the time students reach 7th grade, they've heard all the standard swear words on the school bus and the playground. That doesn't mean, however, that we want our children to become inured to vulgar speech. As in so many areas, there is a balancing act to be performed here: we want children to benefit from technological advances such as the ability to debate important issues with people around the globe, and yet we want to protect children from all the attendant dangers. The answer, I believe, is that parents must monitor their children's time on this site. Children should be taught that there are websites they are allowed to go to at any time, and websites that are allowed only when mom or dad is sitting right there.

Yes, they should. Even immature little seventh graders are entitled to their freedom of speech and should express their opinion. It's their choice, why not?

CreateDebate heavily employs freedom of speech. Whether an argument contains profanity or not, it wouldn't matter. I'd expect that most 7th graders would have a competent level of maturity. They should be able to recognize these words and know that they shouldn't be used. This is shown in your students. They use "I" instead of the word. Therefore, they should be allowed to use CD, as they sound like very enthusiastic students.

Just on the cursing part.

I have a crazy idea.

Let's all realize that they are just words we made up, and there is absolutely no curse placed on anyone who says these words.

If we just stop treating them like they're bad, tada, they won't be bad anymore.

Here, let's go through some samplse of what I mean.

"sex," "I don't like what just happened," and "I don't like you."

Are all perfectly acceptable, and all mean the exact same thing as.

"fuck," "fuck!," and "fuck you."

You'll notice the second group of phrases is far more efficient. Yet for some reason you can't use that second group.

Silly.

Here's another.

"poop," "I feel bad/ill/sick" "I really really don't like it/him/her."

Is all acceptable. What is not acceptable.

"shit," "I feel like shit," "what a piece of shit."

Again, they mean the exact same thing.

So why is one forbidden, and the other acceptable?

People really are still very superstitious. Imagine trying to explain the purpose of "curse words" to some alien intelligence. I for one would be embarassed by the whole thing.

Why not? Do you really think that 7th graders don't hear the swear words said on here all the time at their school? Of course they do. It's not a bad site, why should they be banned from it?

7th graders are old enough to realize that there are bad words out there on the Internet. They will also quickly realize that using foul language to make their argument sound better actually has the reverse effect, and their arguments will likely be voted down by the community if there are cuss words in them. They'll learn that eloquence is much more effective than trash talk / cursing.

Why does it matter, maybe if stop all of our cursing and sexual interpetations then maybe it would be safer for not only them but us. Causing there just words that are taken more seriously than reg words so, yeah I think if were on here we really have no choice on who signs up or not. But we do need to stop our negative influence if they are on here!!! Yes, I'm even talking about me!!!!

They should be able to use this website

Yes, I also think that they should be allowed to use this site. They can learn a lot of useful things here at the same time allowing them to participate and take a stand on the current political issues and events that are quite thought-provoking these days. They can practice their critical thinking and argue what what they believe in. This site could be a learning tool, if you want to use it that way.

I don't see why they coudn't use it. If you say that can't it is just as bad as discriination and its not right. Freedom of the speech is it not for all or is it just for 8th grade and above that is denying a right stated in the US constutution, that freedom of speech is for everyone not for 8th grade and above

Not all seventh graders are stupidheads, like all those on the no side think. Even we know important facts.

Also, some of us are mature. All those people that think that seventh graders are immature are being stereotypical. That is like saying that all black people rap. They don't. All seventh graders are not immature. Some are mature.

I believe that createdebate.com is a useful tool or foundation for pupils to start their steps towards argumentative essays, debates etc.

By reading other people's views, pupils can learn how to debate properly and effectively. The points system in this website also encourages the pupils to get as many points as possible.

As this is an international website, they can actually debate with the professionals from all over the world.

I believe that anybody who has an interest in debate, as well as the ability to intelligently support their views, should be allowed on this site.

In my opinion, the better the variety of debaters, the more interesting the debate.

Now, I'm hardly older than a 7th grader, but being on my school's debate team, I can't help but notice that some debates we have rival the quality of debates had by adults on this site.

I think this widens the 7th grade knowledge of things such as politics, technology, religion and other important subjects. I am a 7th grader myself and this site has great info and my mind widens each time i choose a different topic to debate about.

Fuck it, why not? Swear words are not a big deal.

You could always ban people or hit the report link located under every argument if you come across anything especially obscene.

You could also send out permission slips.

Anyone should be able to use any site. I understand the social networks (i.e. MySpace and Facebook) being banned from schools because it has nothing to do with education, but if you're going to use this site for educational purposes I'd say yes on using it. Come on, we're not the Middle East here where they ban almost every website in their countries.

Of course they should, and Jessald's idea of permission slips is great. I just don't want them to join. Or they should have their own section of the site, "CreateDebate 4 Kidz!" so I don't have to deal with their shit.

If you're gonna put them on the site, teach them the rudiments of rhetoric, and assign them reading on logical fallacies. They'll be a step ahead when they get here :P

7th Graders really are not mature enough for some of the arguments we have here at CD. I do not think that they would put much into the website other than crap. Not to name anyone but there are a couple of people at this site around my age that put up the stupidest posts and their arguments annoy me because they are ridiculous and stupid. This ( these are ) high school student(s) that I am speaking of.

Some of the debates here are over my head at 16 those are the debates I do not post in. Maybe we could mark debates as being 15 years or older debates. There are reasons for why middle schoolers cannot ' get ahead ' in 8th grade in classes like English (like they can in Algebra ), because they are not mature enough to understand the material given to them.

All in all they just are not mature enough for some of the debates here. I just do not think they would put in enough logical arguments.

No, they should not. And I'll give you one reason why..... ready?..... Joe Cavalry ;)

If you think TV rots your brain, just try a heavy dose of JC. ;)

Many debates mentioned on this site are too sophisticated for someone of a 7th grade education to put a well thought out argument about. If they are allowed to join this site then soon we will have people putting up debates like Jesus or Politico used to! That alone is enough reason not to allow them to join. If you want to give them a website where they can learn how to debate, check out the boards of neopoets.

NO! They should not be allowed to use this site unless an age category or categories are listed for them. I believe no one under the age of 18 should be here, on the main CD boards. I believe, beyond the shadow of a doubt there should be two additional age categories added. Those that are ages 12 - 14 and those that are 15 - 17. The levels of debate have suffered here on CD since allowing entrance through the school debates. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and some teens will be smarter than their age and vice-versa.

The only thing is...will they be honest when listing their ages? They may or may not be but one can always tell if they've lied about that. It comes through very clearly in their debates and rebuttals. Information can be had but it's when you begin to disagree that it becomes sophomoric and obvious.

Although I have many friends that are in the underage groups, these are the special ones...who not only possess the knowledge, but for the most part do not engage in child-like responses.

no they shouldn't because once one finds out about this then they will tell there friends and it will all become one big joke to them making our discussions useless and pointless besides most of their opinions are based off there parents so it wouldnt even be there thoughts :P thanks for reading

no i do not beleave they should simply becuase they don't know enough of whats going on in the world, and of course you are gonna have your random crazy smart ones but there is always an exption to the rule and so you must vote on the majority and the majority is that no they sould not

I think the middle schoolers, if they REALLY want to go on this site, should get their own "Junior Debate" forum. I honestly don't think the average 7th grader has a good grasp on valid points in these debates.

If you make them take logic/debate classes first, fine.

In fact, I wish this site had more moderation along the lines of correcting logical fallacies. What we have here, by and large, is not real debate, but gainsaying and simplistic, regurgitated rhetoric. Real debate requires a moderator. When debates are self-moderated by the creator, it becomes simplistic, farcical, and an aberration of what debate is designed to promote.

Kids are not well developed enough to be critical thinkers or disagree politely.

Please only invite the clever students who aren't 'know-it-alls' to avoid a flurry of spam.

I'm saying no strictly for the reason that the majority of 7th graders, and any teenager, would make this site less appealing. Teenagers are truly good at dominating the web and annoying the the mature populations. There should definitely be an age limit to joining this site, although anyone could lie about their age to gain access. But I wouldn't recommend teenagers on here. But on the other hand... would a 7th grader truly into debate be a bad idea? Wouldn't the 7th graders that don't even like debating probably rather wander to other sites on web to spend their time, like, myspace? It really takes a lot of determination to wander to a site like this to annoy people. So, maybe it wouldn't matter if 7th graders came on because many probably wouldn't even bother.

I agree that if young students enjoy debate, they should receive their own section of the website or an entirely different website for their benefit. Their participation in CD could be harmful to them when they are faced with adult issues and harmful to its users when they are being deceived into believing that they are arguing with responsible, intelligent adults as opposed to young, if perhaps bright, children.

It wouldn't be a good idea, considering the language many users choose to use.

I agree with either a censored site that will not allow publishing of foul language, or a site just for students.