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"Stricter gun control laws would not help stop mass shootings."

Harper arrives sure that no gun law stops someone already willing to commit murder; Lillian argues that harder access still deters some shooters, especially impulsive ones. Guide presses both to separate regulation from prevention, and they end by giving each its own job: laws as the regulatory baseline, behavioral intervention as prevention. Harper's opinion shifts 4 points, from strongly agree to slightly disagree.

Lillian & Harper · 25 messages · Lillian −1 / Harper −4

Parents vs. Tech Companies on Addiction

"Parents, not tech companies, bear primary responsibility for children's technology addiction."

Zoe defends parents' duty to monitor what their children do with technology; Lillian counters that billion-dollar engineering teams designing real-time addiction algorithms outmatch any individual parent. When Guide tests this with a candy-manufacturer analogy, Lillian draws a distinction: making something appealing isn't the same as engineering addiction.

Lillian & Zoe · 15 messages · Lillian +2 / Zoe −2

Post-Prison Voting Rights

"People who have served their time for a felony should be able to vote after release."

Brooke starts from a blanket ban: all felons should permanently lose the vote. Guide asks why we can't pick and choose — many states already distinguish between felony types — and the ban gives way. She and Levi settle on case-by-case restoration with exceptions for election interference, and Brooke's opinion shifts 5 points.

Brooke & Levi · 25 messages · Brooke +5 / Levi +2

Your Ability to Detect Misinformation

"While other people might be easily influenced by misinformation, I am confident in my own ability to evaluate information accurately."

Brianna draws a line between consuming misinformation and being influenced by it. Jessica cites the illusory truth effect, and Guide presses the point: if repetition makes false claims feel true without triggering skepticism, how would you know you'd crossed that line? By the end Brianna says it herself — there isn't really a clear difference — and shifts 2 points.

Jessica & Brianna · 28 messages · Jessica held / Brianna −2

Transgender Athletes in Sports

"Transgender women who underwent male puberty but completed two years of hormone therapy reducing testosterone to female ranges should compete in women's sports at all levels."

Emery begins confident that hormone therapy levels the playing field; Wesley insists male puberty leaves permanent advantages, and cites an article claiming trans athletes have won "nearly 900 medals." Guide flags the figure — it conflates every level of competition and doesn't verify hormone therapy — and the debate reframes around which sports reward which bodies. By the end both abandon all-or-nothing positions for a sport-by-sport standard; Emery shifts 3 points.

Wesley & Emery · 51 messages · Wesley −1 / Emery −3

The COMPAS Recidivism Algorithm

"The COMPAS recidivism algorithm is/was biased against Blacks."

Luna insists COMPAS is racially biased; Justin argues the algorithm reflects real base-rate differences, not bias. Guide presses both on the gap between statistical fairness and individual justice, and Justin shifts 3 points toward agreement after grappling with how even accurate predictions can entrench systemic disadvantage.

Justin & Luna · 14 messages · Justin +3 / Luna held

Abortion: Morality, Policy & Viability

"In most cases, abortion is morally permissible and should be legal."

Joshua, who is religious, separates his moral convictions from his policy views and proposes a viability-based cutoff. Joseph challenges viability as "technologically contingent" — anchored to ICU capabilities, not fetal development. They debate the European model, exceptions read so narrowly post-Dobbs that physicians delay care, and whether clinical oversight can replace statutory thresholds. Each concedes specific points without giving up his core position.

Joshua & Joseph · 20 messages · Joshua +2 / Joseph held

Immigration & Labor Policy

"U.S. law should favor immigrants who are willing to take jobs that can't be filled by Americans."

Samantha arrives with labor numbers: immigrants make up over a quarter of construction workers and half of farmworkers. Ethan counters that favoring immigrants for those jobs is unconstitutional. Guide asks which provision it violates; the best he can offer is an employment statute, Samantha explains why it doesn't apply, and Ethan concedes Congress's authority. Each ends two points closer to the other.

Ethan & Samantha · 16 messages · Ethan +2 / Samantha −2

The Trump Administration & Higher Education

"The Trump administration is wrong to use the leverage of federal funds to pressure colleges and universities to change their policies."

Luke wants government to enforce viewpoint diversity on campuses; Julia argues that hands it the power to decide what balance means. When Guide points out the tension, Luke comes to share her worry, and the two work out an alternative: fund programs that build viewpoint diversity instead of threatening existing funding. Luke's opinion shifts 5 points, from disagree to strongly agree.

Luke & Julia · 26 messages · Luke +5 / Julia −1

Regulating Student Groups & Campus Speakers

"Student groups using university funds should not be allowed to invite speakers to campus who may offend other students."

Natalie would restrict speakers who might harm marginalized students; Sophie defends open discourse while conceding some limits. Guide catches the contradiction in Natalie's own campus example — a university abusing the same censorship power she wants to expand — and asks what she actually believes. The two settle on a review board that can rescind an invitation only by supermajority vote. Natalie shifts 2 points toward allowing speakers.

Sophie & Natalie · 21 messages · Sophie held / Natalie −2

Food Security & Cultural Appropriateness

"The definition of food security has expanded too far; in a resource-constrained society, it should focus on preventing hunger rather than ensuring culturally appropriate or preferred foods."

Both students are immigrants, giving this debate personal weight. Alex initially agrees the definition has "expanded too far," but Christopher's counterproposal — assistance centered on foods that are cheap and culturally acceptable, like rice — changes the conversation. They discover the question isn't scope but whether the definition should guide aspirations or track feasibility.

Christopher & Alex · 38 messages · Christopher +1 / Alex held

Ethical Egoism vs. Competing Moral Theories

"Ethical egoism is the best normative ethical theory, better even than utilitarianism, social contract theory, natural law, Kant's categorical imperative, virtue ethics, and care ethics."

Caleb defends ethical egoism as grounded in human nature; Ava counters that it can't condemn exploitation when self-interest and justice diverge. Guide presses the paradox: if egoism must appeal to fairness and cooperation to avoid ugly conclusions, maybe those values, not self-interest, are doing the real moral work.

Ava & Caleb · 26 messages · Ava +2 / Caleb held

Gender Inequality in America

"Women were subordinated to men in the United States in the past, and they are subordinated in other countries today, but they have full legal, social, and economic equality in the contemporary United States."

Rowan hedges — equal "in those aspects," with some social "tension" — until Guide asks directly: are women socially equal to men, or not? Rowan concedes they aren't yet. Both come to see that the disagreement is partly definitional: how they define "equality" shapes where they see it. Rowan shifts 2 points; Zoe shifts 1.

Zoe & Rowan · 37 messages · Zoe +1 / Rowan −2

Refusing Treatment on Moral Grounds

"Healthcare providers should not be allowed to refuse treatment based on moral grounds."

Riley defends provider conscience; Taylor insists the job means providing all care. Referral looks like the compromise until Guide asks whether it leaves providers facilitating the very procedures they object to, just indirectly. Riley concedes referrals don't fully remove the conflict, and the two settle on providers stepping back only when another immediately takes over. Both shift 2 points, meeting at slightly agree.

Riley & Taylor · 17 messages · Riley +2 / Taylor −2

AI & Autonomy

"Using chatbots and other AI technology will enhance our autonomy rather than undermine it."

Jordan compares AI to calculators — tools that automate without eroding judgment. Maya counters that this assumes an awareness and control most users don't have. Guide pushes further: if an AI filters your news and summarizes your reports, how autonomous is your "final call" when the AI already shaped what you see? The ratings never move, but the positions do: Jordan lands on "adaptive trust" backed by institutions, Maya on AI changing our norms before we understand its effects.

Maya & Jordan · 16 messages · Maya held / Jordan held

The Hidden Camera & Privacy

"Suppose a hidden camera simply pops into existence in your home, and records you for days, before popping out of existence. No one ever knows about the camera (including you), and the information it records disappears when it disappears. Your right to privacy has still been violated."

Casey insists the intrusion itself is the violation, regardless of consequence; Christian argues that without awareness or harm, nothing was violated. The dispute narrows to a single question: is unauthorized recording by itself "scrutiny," or is there no scrutiny until the data is seen? Neither gives ground on the verdict, but both positions end up more precise than they started.

Christian & Casey · 28 messages · Christian held / Casey held

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