Community Rules & Code of Conduct
Debategle is a platform for serious, structured debate. We believe the best debates happen when participants argue with intellectual honesty and treat each other with respect, even when holding radically different views.
Debate Format
Every debate follows a structured format. Each phase has a time limit. If you don't submit before time runs out, the phase advances automatically.
| Phase | Who | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Statement | Player 1 | 2 min |
| Opening Statement | Player 2 | 2 min |
| Rebuttal | Player 1 | 2 min |
| Rebuttal | Player 2 | 2 min |
| Cross-Examination | Both (alternating) | 3 min total / 30s per turn |
| Closing Statement | Player 1 | 1 min |
| Closing Statement | Player 2 | 1 min |
🤖 AI Judging
After both closing statements are submitted, the AI judge reads the full transcript and independently scores each player. Results appear within ~20 seconds. ELO is updated immediately after.
Each message can be up to 2,000 characters (~300–400 words). You can also debate using your voice. Click the Video button in the debate room to turn on voice mode. Your speech gets transcribed in real time and submitted as your turn.
Scoring Breakdown
Politically neutral. The judge is explicitly instructed not to favor any ideology, religion, or worldview. A well-argued minority position scores just as high as a popular one.
Scores are independent. Both players are graded separately, a close, high-quality debate produces two high scores, not forced separation.
Nuance is rewarded. Dogmatic or inflexible positions score lower than well-reasoned, nuanced arguments, even when the conclusion is the same.
🔞 Adults Only (18+)
Debategle is for adults. You must be 18 or older to hold an account. If you believe your opponent is under 18, report them with the 'User appears to be under 18' category. Reported accounts are reviewed and suspended if we believe they belong to a minor.
🤝 Respect Your Opponent
You may strongly disagree with someone's views. That's the entire point. Disagree with their arguments, not with them as a person. Treat every opponent with basic human dignity, even if you find their position repugnant.
🚫 Zero Tolerance for Hate Speech
Slurs, dehumanizing language, and hate speech targeting race, religion, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or disability are strictly prohibited. There is no grey area here. First offense results in an automatic strike; repeated offenses result in a permanent ban.
💬 No Personal Attacks (Ad Hominem)
Attack the argument, not the person. Saying "your point is wrong because X" is debate. Saying "you're an idiot" is a rule violation. The AI judge will specifically penalize fallacious reasoning, including ad hominem attacks.
⏱️ Respect the Format
The structured turn system exists for a reason. It prevents shouting matches and ensures both sides are heard. Do not attempt to circumvent turn locks or flood your turns with off-topic content to waste time.
📋 Argue in Good Faith
Engage seriously with your opponent's actual position (no strawmanning). Don't deliberately misrepresent facts. Don't concede a point and then act like you didn't. The AI judge evaluates intellectual honesty.
🚫 No Inappropriate Content (Zero Tolerance)
Sexual content on camera, sexual solicitation, grooming, sharing private information (doxxing), credible threats, and graphic violence are zero-tolerance violations. Video debates are monitored by automated AI moderation that can end a video session immediately. Child sexual abuse material is reported to the authorities. Severe violations lead to suspension or permanent bans; see the escalation ladder below.
🏳️ Forfeiting
You may forfeit a debate at any time by clicking 'Forfeit'. Your opponent wins automatically. Rage-quitting (disconnecting without forfeiting) results in the same outcome, and repeated disconnects flag your account for review.
🚩 Use the Report Button
If your opponent violates these rules, use the report button. Include specific details. False reports intended to harass opponents are themselves a violation. Our moderation team reviews all reports.
⚡ Automated Strike System
An automated moderation system monitors all debate messages in real time. The following escalation applies:
- 1.Strike 1: Warning. Your message is blocked and you are notified.
- 2.Strike 2: Second warning. Your message is blocked. Opponent is notified of a violation.
- 3.Strike 3: Automatic forfeit. You lose the debate and receive a matchmaking ban.
- 4.Severe violations (hate speech, slurs, NSFW): Immediate 3-strike forfeit on first offense.
- 5.Bans escalate with repeat offenses: 24 hours, then 72 hours, then 7 days, then permanent.
- 6.Strikes come from three moderation layers: pattern filters, AI review of submitted arguments, and AI review of voice captions and sampled video frames.
🎥 Video Safety
Video debates are optional and start only when both sides agree. While video is on, automated AI moderation periodically checks a downscaled sample of each camera for explicit content, violence, and weapon threats. Explicit sexual content ends the video session immediately. We never record your video or voice, and sampled frames are never stored. What the AI cannot catch, your report can: the report button works during video debates too.
💙 If You or Someone Else Is in Crisis
If a debate leaves you or your opponent talking about self-harm, take it seriously. In the United States, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Elsewhere, findahelpline.com lists free, confidential helplines by country. Report the conversation with the “Self-harm concern” category so our team can review it.
Appeals
If you believe a ban or moderation action was applied in error, you may contest it via the contact page. Debate verdicts can be appealed from the results page. A human reviews every appeal; we target a decision within 7 days. See the Appeals Policy.
These rules apply to all users regardless of rank, seniority, or political position. Enforcement is applied equally.