Debate is an important instrument for spreading awareness among people whilst also helping to introduce understanding on the various issues. This is a great way of ensuring participation of common people in the issues important to society.

Debate does not mean fighting over a point to prove oneself right. It is a representational argument, where people put up their point of view with logical and practical consistency, factual accuracy and some degree of emotional appeal. It is a platform where many important issues relating to different fields are discussed in length, churning out a solution of sort. Public debate is instrumental for developing consensus on contentious issues.

The quality of the debate depends upon the knowledge and interactive skills of the people participating in it. The objective of a debate forum is to make the participants totally aware of the happenings around the issue so that they are able to deliberate on an issue in its totality. The debate forums are very much instrumental in spreading awareness and providing an understanding of various aspects of a particular issue being debated by the people.

In this age of internet, social networking communities are buzzing with people's opinions on important issues related to each and everyday happenings, from social to political. This phenomenon has given rise to debating websites which conduct debates in the form of online forums and bulletin boards. Such forums are updated frequently and invite people from all backgrounds with appropriate knowledge and informed opinion for taking part in debates and contributing to the constructive discussion in a friendly format. Easy access to the internet has made this a wider platform for the people to express their views and interact with each other, and thus new debaters join almost everyday to the online communities.

Online debating forums are a great way of involving common people in important issues affecting the society at large, be it social, political, economical or legal and especially controversial issues that need to be discussed. During the whole process of the debate all participating people give their opinions on the issue according to their own perspective, which gives the discussion a broader and practical sense. This also enlightens the people about the pros and cons at the conclusion of the issue.

Some universities have opened their own forums where people with an informed opinion are invited to debate over recent happenings in the social, political or economical field, along with their leading academics which include highly knowledgeable professors and students. It is a great initiative on the part of the universities who are providing a platform to the common people to express their thoughts and involving them in finding the answer to various problems and issues which will also ultimately affect them. Thus it is an excellent way of empowering the people.

Social and political debate is an excellent way of making the government or any other institution answerable for all their decisions and responsibilities as it allows a cross examination of all their work. Thus if you are striving to make your voice heard, then there are many online debating communities waiting for you to raise your voice. So just go and join one.