Any debaters in the house? (no pun intended)

***IronParrot*** · 11-19-2002, 01:17 AM

Okay... I know a lot of you are in high school, or perhaps college, and many of you at least got through one or both of those at some point.

My question: have any of you participated in formal debate?

I've done so since the tenth grade in my high school club, losing every round in my first tournament and eventually winning a city-level championship in my senior year, only to enter first-year university and start all over again. I bring up this topic now because I've just spent the past weekend at my first intervarsity tournament, in which I placed around the middle of the pack... man, discussing Arafat and the WTO and minimum prison sentences and appointed judges and extremist political parties and the like for a few days in a row is an extraordinarily tiring experience.

So, I guess I'll open the floor. Any other debaters here?

Khadrane · 11-19-2002, 01:22 AM

My sister is doing a debate on Harry Potter. (On whether or not it is "evil". She's arguing that it's not.) It's actually pretty good.

Amandil · 11-19-2002, 04:26 AM

I judged a debate once in university. I think it was the World University Debates, or something. A friend of mine (he's in law now) was one of the organizers, and he recruited me to judge. I thought it would be a great opportuninty to put my philosophical training to use, but it wasn't. Too much rhetoric...

Dunadan · 11-19-2002, 05:54 AM

If you wanted, you could have an online competition on the moot. Take a straw poll on a given issue, then set up a thread on it with speakers allocated to sides, then take another poll after a given period of time.

cheers

d.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 11-19-2002, 11:59 AM

When I was in high school many moons ago, I took a speech class, which all that was, was a class to teach you how to handle stage fright I think. Anyway, It involed debating and I was actually pretty good at it. I like to argue.

Lizra · 11-19-2002, 03:18 PM

Boy I hate to argue, though I seem to do it alot! I don't think I could keep my cool debating, at some point, I want to kill!

Laurelyn · 11-19-2002, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
When I was in high school many moons ago, I took a speech class, which all that was, was a class to teach you how to handle stage fright I think. Anyway, It involed debating and I was actually pretty good at it. I like to argue.

A class for stage fright, sgh? Eru, do I ever need something like that!

Duddun · 11-19-2002, 09:41 PM

I love to debate cause I always win hehe. I've never done a competition so I'm probably not that good. My sister is in a debate club (its a school elective at her school) they are always debating different stuff.

***Khamûl*** · 11-19-2002, 11:26 PM

Well, I've never had any formal debate classes (my school doesn't have them), but I enjoy a good debate. We had one in Government class about whether or not to go to war with Iraq. I'm with Sister Golden Hair on this one:

Quote:

I like to argue.

11-19-2002, 01:17 AM	#1
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	Any debaters in the house? (no pun intended) Okay... I know a lot of you are in high school, or perhaps college, and many of you at least got through one or both of those at some point. My question: have any of you participated in formal debate? I've done so since the tenth grade in my high school club, losing every round in my first tournament and eventually winning a city-level championship in my senior year, only to enter first-year university and start all over again. I bring up this topic now because I've just spent the past weekend at my first intervarsity tournament, in which I placed around the middle of the pack... man, discussing Arafat and the WTO and minimum prison sentences and appointed judges and extremist political parties and the like for a few days in a row is an extraordinarily tiring experience. So, I guess I'll open the floor. Any other debaters here? __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

11-19-2002, 01:22 AM	#2
Khadrane Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Middle Earth (I wish) Posts: 670	My sister is doing a debate on Harry Potter. (On whether or not it is "evil". She's arguing that it's not.) It's actually pretty good. __________________ Few know whither their road will take them till they come to its end. -Legolas FRODO LIVES! ABORTION IS HOMICIDE

11-19-2002, 04:26 AM	#3
Amandil Guy-who-should-come-here-more-often Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Alberta, in spirit -- Vlaanderen, in body (Canada? Never heard of it!) Posts: 120	I judged a debate once in university. I think it was the World University Debates, or something. A friend of mine (he's in law now) was one of the organizers, and he recruited me to judge. I thought it would be a great opportuninty to put my philosophical training to use, but it wasn't. Too much rhetoric... __________________ Amandil Mithadan "Why would you want to tamper with anything Tolkien did?" --Ralph Bashki "Seeking self, I find nothing but myself, but in this I drink the cup of gall I really am. I want everything, and I may have everything, but I have nothing except what I have. What I have I know is not what will fulfill me, and I know this in the bitterness of satisfied desire. Everything I have is still not enough, and in getting everything I have, I have not myself, indeed what I have may have twisted what I am and might be into an image of my own possessions. I will to possess, but I end up possessed by what I possess." -- William Desmond (Ethics and the Between, p. 209-210)

11-19-2002, 11:59 AM	#5
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	When I was in high school many moons ago, I took a speech class, which all that was, was a class to teach you how to handle stage fright I think. Anyway, It involed debating and I was actually pretty good at it. I like to argue. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

11-19-2002, 03:18 PM	#6
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	See it MY way, NOW! Boy I hate to argue, though I seem to do it alot! I don't think I could keep my cool debating, at some point, I want to kill! __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

11-19-2002, 05:54 AM	#4
Dunadan The Quite Querulous Quendi Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oxon, UK Posts: 638	If you wanted, you could have an online competition on the moot. Take a straw poll on a given issue, then set up a thread on it with speakers allocated to sides, then take another poll after a given period of time. cheers d.

11-19-2002, 09:41 PM	#8
Duddun I Antha Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: You expect ME to know? Posts: 784	I love to debate cause I always win hehe. I've never done a competition so I'm probably not that good. My sister is in a debate club (its a school elective at her school) they are always debating different stuff. __________________ If you say my name I go "What?" If you say my name twice I go and look it up in the dictionary. **************************** I'm Not Evil! ************************** If the critics say it's good, is it really That good? ************************** It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's a balloon! **************************** Duddun, Son of Bubbun

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