Debunky Aims to Civilize the Internet

New York, NY, April 27, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The world-wide-web is littered with arguments. Opposing opinions are flung around with bravado. The problem is that the structure of most websites make online debate a side-show. DeBunky, a New York based startup, is hoping to change that dynamic by turning arguing into a competitive game. The stakes, for those who take it seriously, are their reputations.

DeBunky pits debaters against each other in real-time, shotgun debates that last only about a minute or two. The site rewards participants who are nimble minded and well-informed of the issues, as well as those who are funny or clever enough to get people on their side. While the site is in a beta phase, the finished product will presumably match debaters according to their respective “dScore.”

The website’s algorithms provide a relative ranking system to those who register for an account. Debates are open to the public and viewers can watch and score them live. Users can follow other users and create teams. Among other things, the site can offer a centralized community for members of debate clubs to test their rhetorical skills. Their stated goal is to move debate from forums and the comments sections of news blogs onto a better platform.

“Debunky eliminates noise precisely because the debates are so short,” claim one of the founders in an email. “The biggest problem in online debating is the obstruction of the meat of the issues – It’s easy to do that if you can go off on pseudo intellectual tangents. The shotgun style structure forces you to focus on only the important aspects of your position. In fact, the strength of the three-minute debates might be precisely that it helps us understand what those important aspects are without getting bogged down in the minutia.”

"DeBunky is real-time, Twitter-style debate complete with a winner, loser and a ranking system. Why do no good online debate sites exist? That's what we thought. Now one does. We’re currently beta testing. Help us make it a success – check out the site and start debating."

So, what can be said about Debunky’s lofty goal of bringing civility and a little bit of fun to online arguments? If reasoned opinions backed by verifiable facts lead to wins, then maybe they’ve unearthed the internet’s hidden potential for debate. If blasting your opponent with hyperbolic statements and crazy pictures becomes the preferred path to victory, then maybe it will be business as usual on the web. However, as long as it doesn’t devolve into dude’s showing their genitals, it’s safe to say they’re moving in the right direction.