1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using Debatism, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our platform.
2. Description of Service
Debatism is a platform for structured debates where users can:
- Create and participate in public debates
- Post arguments supporting different positions
- Vote on arguments using a limited allocation system
- Switch sides based on persuasive arguments (defection)
3. User Accounts
- You must be at least 13 years old to create an account
- You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
- You must provide accurate information when creating an account
- You may not create multiple accounts or impersonate others
- You are responsible for all activity under your account
4. User Content
Ownership
You retain ownership of content you create. By posting content, you grant Debatism a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content on our platform.
Content Guidelines
You agree not to post content that:
- Is illegal, threatening, or promotes violence
- Is harassing, abusive, or discriminatory
- Contains personal attacks or doxxing
- Is spam, misleading, or deceptive
- Infringes on intellectual property rights
- Contains malware or malicious links
- Violates the privacy of others
5. Debate Rules
Voting System
- Each user receives 6 votes per side per debate (3 positive, 3 negative)
- Votes are locked for 7 days before they can be moved
- Vote manipulation, including coordinated voting, is prohibited
Arguments
- Arguments should be substantive and relevant to the debate topic
- Arguments cannot be edited after receiving votes
- Low-quality or off-topic arguments may be removed
Side Switching (Defection)
- Users may switch sides up to 3 times per debate
- Switching is subject to increasing time constraints
- Switching does not affect existing votes or arguments
6. Moderation
We use a combination of automated systems and human review to moderate content:
- Content may be automatically flagged for review
- Moderators may remove content that violates our guidelines
- Repeated violations may result in account suspension
- You may appeal moderation decisions through our appeals process
7. Prohibited Activities
You agree not to:
- Use automated tools or bots to interact with the platform
- Attempt to manipulate debates through fake accounts (sockpuppeting)
- Circumvent security measures or access restrictions
- Scrape or harvest data from the platform
- Use the platform for commercial purposes without authorization
- Interfere with the proper functioning of the platform
8. Intellectual Property
The Debatism name, logo, and platform design are our intellectual property. You may not use our branding without written permission. If you believe content on our platform infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact us at legal@debatism.com.
9. Disclaimer of Warranties
Debatism is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee that the platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. We are not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of user-generated content.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Debatism and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the platform.
11. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these terms or for any other reason at our discretion. You may delete your account at any time through your account settings.
12. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. We will notify users of material changes by posting a notice on the platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
13. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where Debatism operates. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of that jurisdiction.
14. Contact
If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:
Email: legal@debatism.com