This what debate is Gumby just incase you didnt know ill highligt the items important to you....

Other forms of debate

Online debating
With the increasing popularity and availability of the Internet to people, different opinions arise frequently. This paved the way for more formal debating websites, typically in the form of online forums or bulletin boards. The debate style is interesting, as research and well thought out points and counterpoints are possible because of the obvious lack of time restraints (although practical time restraints usually are in effect, e.g., no more than 5 days between posts, etc.). Many people use this to strengthen their points, or drop their weaker opinions on things, many times for debate in formal debates (such as the ones listed above) or for fun arguments with friends. The ease-of-use and friendly environments make new debaters welcome to share their opinions in many communities. Examples of online debating websites are shown in the external links.

Research= all those damn article i post

Debate and argumentation theory
All forms of debate, whether consciously or not, make certain assumptions about argumentation theory. The core concept of argumentation theory is the notion of advocacy. In most cases, at least one side in a debate needs to maintain the 'truth' of some proposition or advocate some sort of personal or political change or action. A debate could also potentially be between two or more competing propositions or actions. Or debate could also be a purely performative exercise of charisma and emotion with no assumption of fixed advocacy, but it would possibly lose much of its coherence and educational value. On the other hand, evolving and changing advocacies or no advocacies at all might be liberating and permit true advancement and understanding through debate. The variety of different debate forms and activities have different understandings about the nature and limits of advocacy, and different activities have different expectations about whether argumentation theory in relation to advocacy can be challenged within a competitive debate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate#Online_debating

Gumby you are so easy...its like debating with a 15 year old.... ohh wait