NationStates Jolt Archive

Anyway, was wondering if anyone else on NS was a debater of any sort (high school, college, whatever) or had been in the past.

I'm currently a Lincoln-Douglas debater in my high school - any other LDers out here? Policy debaters? Even public forum-types? After a quick post search, found that there are in fact a few, so if you're interesting in responding, what do you think of the current resolution? Any particular cases you're running?

Anyway, was wondering if anyone else on NS was a debater of any sort (high school, college, whatever) or had been in the past.

I'm currently a Lincoln-Douglas debater in my high school - any other LDers out here? Policy debaters? Even public forum-types? After a quick post search, found that there are in fact a few, so if you're interesting in responding, what do you think of the current resolution? Any particular cases you're running?

I was a team debater in high school and my first year of college. Policy debate in high-school and, if I strain my memory, I think CEDA in college.

I was in Model UN and Junior State of America in highschool.

Im a policy debater, and no offense but I think LD and Po-Fo kinda suck

Euuchh... sophistry.

*washes hands*

Eh I was in my students' union exec, which suggests that I was pretty good as mass debating, no?

I was banned from school councils :(

*blows some stuff up in the Basque country*

Eh I was in my students' union exec, which suggests that I was pretty good as mass debating, no?

are you suggesting people pay attention to student unions?

are you suggesting people pay attention to student unions?
No, I'm suggesting I was voted into power for both terms at York College, which is true in the vaguest of terms.

Euuchh... sophistry.

*washes hands*

at least the sophists got paid. but sophistry as a hobby? bizarre.

I did LD in high school. 'Twas fun.

Eh I was in my students' union exec, which suggests that I was pretty good as mass debating, no?

I began my political activity at school at 14 (by occupying the school). After 18 years I'm still in politics... and debating issues (in public speeches, or in meetings) is, of course, crucial.

*waves at Yafor 2*

I argue a lot. Does that count?

I've also known several people who were in debating clubs of various types, and have been unsuccessfully persuaded to join them. Partly because I'm bad at public speaking of any kind. For some reason. (I used to be pretty good at it. Meh.)

Do you know how difficult it is to resist describing myself as a master debater? :tongue:

Do you know how difficult it is to resist describing myself as a master debater? :tongue:

I like to fish, personally. I consider myself a master baiter.

Speaking of getting banned from student councils...

I tried running for Student Body President, and created the "Social Students Party", better known as the "Black Shirts" due to, go figure, the black clothes we insisted on wearing. We dressed exquisitely in black suits, black shoes, etc. Since I came from a very priviledged school, armani suits and such weren't uncommon for our group. Yes, this was supposed to be a fascist joke and we were slaughtered in the elections...noone else except my football team buddies got the joke, but eh, it got us a few chuckles!

The administration didn't find the old Italian propaganda posters we hung around the school funny though. We weren't allowed to take office but the administrators were curious to see if we'd actually come out...we didn't. :P

I like to fish, personally. I consider myself a master baiter.

http://www.uncov.com/assets/2007/6/29/fry-see-what-you-did-there-scaled.jpg

Im a policy debater, and no offense but I think LD and Po-Fo kinda suck

Any reason as to why? I've got this from random policy debaters before and am always curious.

*waves at Yafor 2*

I argue a lot. Does that count?

*waves back, wondering who is waving at him :p* If that counted, I think everybody on here would count. ;)

I like to fish, personally. I consider myself a master baiter.

*smack*. Ooh. Two pages. I feel speshul. Now, if only people read my RPs. :p

I was in debate all through high school, and I've kept doing it at university. I mainly do Canadian Parlimentary style (no Lincoln/Douglas up here), but when the alternative is British Parlimentary...;)

Anyway, was wondering if anyone else on NS was a debater of any sort (high school, college, whatever) or had been in the past.

I'm currently a Lincoln-Douglas debater in my high school - any other LDers out here? Policy debaters? Even public forum-types? After a quick post search, found that there are in fact a few, so if you're interesting in responding, what do you think of the current resolution? Any particular cases you're running?

I just took a lot of philosophy courses in college, which meant lots of informal debates. Nothing with an organization though.

Hang out with a bunch of pretentious psuedo-intellectual ideologues who will attempt to force their ideas down my throat with barely disguised aggression, while thinking they're engaged in some noble campaign for truth?

No. Fuck no. I can think of nothing I'd find less enjoyable than debating, aside perhaps from stabbing myself repeatedly in the face. Talk may be cheap, but sitting around listening to a bunch of fools spouting junk can only be costly concerning my general sense of well-being.

Hang out with a bunch of pretentious psuedo-intellectual ideologues who will attempt to force their ideas down my throat with barely disguised aggression, while thinking they're engaged in some noble campaign for truth?

I'm curious as to how you came the conclusion that any debater does this. In debate, what we do is to debate an issue in a round against someone else and, in the course of a tournament, one has to debate both sides of said issue. No one is ramming any "truth" down anyone's face. In fact, it's probably more accurate to say that debaters are among the most cynical people in the world, because, since they have seen/argued both sides of multiple issues, they begin to doubt the accuracy of either side, or despair of the underhand tactics employed in the real world by proponents of those ideas. If anything, in a debate, there is no guarantee anyone is forcing "their ideas" into anyone.

And I'm not even going to touch the "psuedo-intellectual ideologues", as it's essentially an insult.

I just took a lot of philosophy courses in college, which meant lots of informal debates. Nothing with an organization though.

now there's an interesting question - how much philosophy has NSG had? perhaps worthy of a thread and poll of its own...

I'm curious as to how you came the conclusion that any debater does this. In debate, what we do is to debate an issue in a round against someone else and, in the course of a tournament, one has to debate both sides of said issue. No one is ramming any "truth" down anyone's face. In fact, it's probably more accurate to say that debaters are among the most cynical people in the world, because, since they have seen/argued both sides of multiple issues, they begin to doubt the accuracy of either side, or despair of the underhand tactics employed in the real world by proponents of those ideas. If anything, in a debate, there is no guarantee anyone is forcing "their ideas" into anyone.

And I'm not even going to touch the "psuedo-intellectual ideologues", as it's essentially an insult.

Ah. Thats what I've always found informal debates to be like. And when I looked in at the newly-established debating society back when I was at school, it was exactly the same. If the formal debating realm isn't meant to be like that, fair enough :)

Ah. Thats what I've always found informal debates to be like. And I looked it at the newly-established debating society back when I was at school, and it was exactly the same. If the formal debating realm isn't meant to be like that, fair enough :)

Yeah, that's a bit like judging Major League Baseball based on high school baseball. ;) It's okay, it makes sense, and you're right, a lot of debaters are insanely egotistical, but it's important to note that informal debate is quite a bit different than the actual thing.

now there's an interesting question - how much philosophy has NSG had? perhaps worthy of a thread and poll of its own...

Don't look at me. I'm thoroughly unmotivated and going to work here in a few minutes.

Anyway, was wondering if anyone else on NS was a debater of any sort (high school, college, whatever) or had been in the past.

I'm currently a Lincoln-Douglas debater in my high school - any other LDers out here? Policy debaters? Even public forum-types? After a quick post search, found that there are in fact a few, so if you're interesting in responding, what do you think of the current resolution? Any particular cases you're running?

What exactly is a Lincoln-Douglas debater? Is it simply just a name of some organisation or something?

I wasn't in any form of debate club at high school simply because the Australian education system doesn't really cater to it some schools do have them but they are rare but nothing that is is a majority of schools. I have been in various committees and councils through high-school, university and work places and have had to debate to get my point across.

Speaking of getting banned from student councils...

I tried running for Student Body President, and created the "Social Students Party", better known as the "Black Shirts" due to, go figure, the black clothes we insisted on wearing. We dressed exquisitely in black suits, black shoes, etc. Since I came from a very priviledged school, armani suits and such weren't uncommon for our group. Yes, this was supposed to be a fascist joke and we were slaughtered in the elections...noone else except my football team buddies got the joke, but eh, it got us a few chuckles!

The administration didn't find the old Italian propaganda posters we hung around the school funny though. We weren't allowed to take office but the administrators were curious to see if we'd actually come out...we didn't. :P

Gold, I wish our elections at school was like this all we did is one day a year our teacher would say have a vote for who you want to represent you in the council and that was that. Even managed to get elected a couple of years.

I was a debator in high school. Won a best speaker award at this big convention dealy my senior year.

What exactly is a Lincoln-Douglas debater? Is it simply just a name of some organisation or something?

It's a specific type of one-man debate - wiki actually has a somewhat good explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln-Douglas_debate#Format) of it.

It's a specific type of one-man debate - wiki actually has a somewhat good explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln-Douglas_debate#Format) of it.

Fair enough, cheers. And yes I could have loked it up but I am just to lazy to do it. :tongue:

Anyway, was wondering if anyone else on NS was a debater of any sort (high school, college, whatever) or had been in the past.

I'm currently a Lincoln-Douglas debater in my high school - any other LDers out here? Policy debaters? Even public forum-types? After a quick post search, found that there are in fact a few, so if you're interesting in responding, what do you think of the current resolution? Any particular cases you're running?

I'm a policy debater.

Obviously, the rez is: "The USfg should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States"

We've currently broken a decentralized solar AFF, and we've got a couple things in the bag that we might be breaking out at other tournaments.

Do you know how difficult it is to resist describing myself as a master debater? :tongue:

I understand. You see, the great thing about policy debate though is not only do you become a master debater, but you also have a partner (and we're all cunning linguists).

Any reason as to why? I've got this from random policy debaters before and am always curious.



Probably because you're in PF/LD. It's called circular logic. Everyone knows that policy debaters are the shit, and everyone else is shit. :)

Most policy debaters that say such things are talking out of their ass, which is fun, we're debaters. I personally like being able to rely on someone (although I guess this depends on your partner), as well as the general format of policy debate. I've felt like its more focused on the argument itself, rather than how the argument is presented. In some respects, the fact that it's become somewhat of a speed game also makes it more challenging (and when you go against slower people, it allows you to dominate). If you want to have a more in-depth discussion on the differences though, I don't mind. I recognize that policy isn't perfect, but I enjoy it more than my other options.

at least the sophists got paid. but sophistry as a hobby? bizarre.
No, it's fun. It's not great as a philosophical enterprise, but as a sort of logic puzzle it makes for a good game.

Surprisingly, in High School,
I was in both Oxford and LD debate. infact, I qualified for State champion, but due to a freak accident... I was in state qualifiers for Oxford, Lincoln-Douglas AS WELL AS Poetry reading and Impromptu speaking.

I think it secretly amused the judges to have me running between rooms during the various rounds. :p

Still, I came in second for LD, forth for Oxford and took third for Impromptu Speaking.


then came college... and that class... *shudder*

one of the many things I blame that sorry excuse of a professor. :mad:

No - I did drugs when I was in high school... like any normal teenager.

Speaking of getting banned from student councils...

I tried running for Student Body President, and created the "Social Students Party", better known as the "Black Shirts" due to, go figure, the black clothes we insisted on wearing. We dressed exquisitely in black suits, black shoes, etc. Since I came from a very priviledged school, armani suits and such weren't uncommon for our group. Yes, this was supposed to be a fascist joke and we were slaughtered in the elections...noone else except my football team buddies got the joke, but eh, it got us a few chuckles!

The administration didn't find the old Italian propaganda posters we hung around the school funny though. We weren't allowed to take office but the administrators were curious to see if we'd actually come out...we didn't. :P

At my school, I was one of the founders of the "Acid House Party" in our school elections. Obviously we didn't win, but we managed a decent third place (which means we placed ahead of the Liberal Democrats) despite having all our materials constantly banned.

I debate things about music and aspects of various media, but not formally.