Your Threading Replies idea is one that has been requested many times and will be implemented soon - actually we just wrote a post about it http://barklesapp.tumblr.com
To go into more depth here: Threaded replies will allow both sides to interact - so if you are on the Bark side you can still reply to a response on the Bite side - vice versa.
My thought exactly. Integrate better with twitter. You're hopeless trying to build a platform of your own.
When we first started working on this we considered an "add-on" platform to the likes of Twitter/Facebook - but decided we wanted our own system from the get-go. There was no real data-set to explain why, only the fact that we can control every part of the User Experience that way.
The obvious downfall to creating another Social Network is the challenge of building a userbase - but with the natural virality of debating we feel we have a strong chance to bring friends of friends into Barkles.
Thanks for your honesty :)
As for the actual debating though, there leaves much to be desired.
When people argue, they simply do not put their statement out there to take its stand. They interact with the opposing arguments, and pick their points apart. What you have is simply an aggregate of a bunch of individual opinions, with no real debate going on. Responding to someone in this interface is extremely difficult, so no discussion is going to happen.
Maybe take a look into threading replies?