# Argument mapping

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/argument-mapping/117446>\
**Category:** Community Building\
**Created:** [May 11, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/argument-mapping/117446 "2019-05-11T05:43:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![P16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b19c9b/32.png) [@P16](https://meta.discourse.org/u/P16)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/argument-mapping/117446/1 "2019-05-11T05:43:39Z")

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I came across an interesting concept at [Arguman](https://en.arguman.org/python-is-better-than-ruby) where every topic is presented in the form of argument maps.

Looks like this

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/b/a/ba68d6423f4a74b7bfdb92b95900a52b42550286.jpeg)

It could be interesting to have this as part of an expanded topic summary where different points of view are laid out based on the number of likes and replies. A bit of manual tagging as a sort of wiki could help define them.

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**Author:** ![JimPas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jimpas/32/148179_2.png) [@JimPas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JimPas)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 3:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/argument-mapping/117446/2 "2019-09-03T03:48:34Z")

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That may work if there are not a lot of people tossing their two cents into the argument. However, if you get a large number of “contributors” to the argument, then it could get very messy in a hurry. You end up with a lot of “because” and even more “buts”… especially if someone comes into the “argument” late. I think that would be a manual tagging nightmare.

I see in the left column that one “but” had 27 supporters. What would happen if those 27 supporters all had their own “buts?” 😬

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**Author:** ![P16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b19c9b/32.png) [@P16](https://meta.discourse.org/u/P16)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/argument-mapping/117446/3 "2019-09-03T05:40:42Z")

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I think you would need to have some sort of limits to reduce clutter. Maybe something like only the arguments with the highest supporters get listed.

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**Author:** ![JimPas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jimpas/32/148179_2.png) [@JimPas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JimPas)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 6:34am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/argument-mapping/117446/4 "2019-09-03T06:34:41Z")

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> [@P16](#):
>
> only the arguments with the highest supporters get listed.

But how would a new user’s post become part of the argument map… after getting supporters (likes)?  
I kind of remember something along these lines decades ago, but for the life of me I can’t remember what the subject matter was. I think I’m having a “senior moment.” 🤨