Can We Get Some "Point-Counterpoint" Debates Going on DU?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Just one-on-one showdowns between two DUers to see who the best debater on the site is?

Obviously, a topic would have to be picked that DUers seem polarized on.

But wouldn't it be cool to have a sort of NCAA Tournament for debating. We could start with 64 DUers. Put them into brackets and then at the end of the debate, other DUers would rate who did the best job of debating and they'd move onto the next round.

Until a final, supreme debate champion of DU was chosen.

What do you think, good idea?

[LuminousX]

1. Interesting potential

in developing guidelines for acceptable arguments and guidelines for acceptable evidence.

[felonious thunk]

2. Magic Rat, you ignorant slut

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Richardo]

3. took my smart-ass remark, felonious...

Hee! :D :thumbsup:

[BigMcLargehuge]

4. please repost this in the ask the administrators forum

they could maybe set it up

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. but I wasn't asking the administrators

I was asking other DUers. It's kinda pointless to ask the admin's if no DUers want to partake in something like this.

I'm just curious if anyone thinks its a cool idea?

[BigMcLargehuge]

10. notice I didn't lock the thread

I figured maybe the admins could help organize or facilitate with a special forum, something like that.

[THUNDER HANDS]

12. hmm...interesting idea

I think I will post it in that forum...thanks...

[piece sine]

16. you mean, just for once...

I could stop PRETENDING I don't have a hard-earned law degree while surfing here and I could actually butt-heads in a condoned forum for the purposes of broadening the discourse and not have to worry about getting flamed, or even worse, having the DU screen-door slap my ass as I'm getting kicked-out???

Where do I sign up??!!!

[Bertha Venation]

6. Great idea.

I'm willing to be a pawn. I'm not very good at debate, but I try. I hope it gets set up!

[brainshrub]

7. Great idea!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. I'm In

How about everyone interested send you a PM, and then a list of topics is floated and agreed-upon by the collective body, with a random draw to determine each pairing and topic?

DTH

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. sounds good to me

I think we should try to establish some rules ahead of time. So people know how to properly evaluate a debate and don't just base a winner on whatever side of the argument they agree with more.

:)

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. Great Point (eom)

DTH

[greyl]

23. some possible resources for "the rules":

Logical fallacies and the Art of Debate
http://www.csun.edu/~dgw61315/fallacies.html

Thinking Straight - a brief introduction to logic and argumentation
http://www.freewebs.com/thinkingstraight/index.htm

Logic, Fallacies, Political Philosophy etc
http://www.philosophicalsociety.com/Logical%20Fallacies.htm
http://www.philosophicalsociety.com

edit:
Some more specific "Debate Rules":
http://www.sad39.k12.me.us/bjshs/seniorsymposium/dabaterules.html
http://web.buckfield.sad39.k12.me.us/bjshs/seniorsymposium/dabaterules.html
http://ontology.buffalo.edu/smith//courses98/rules.htm

[THUNDER HANDS]

13. kick

for those who might not have seen this idea earlier.

:)

[PVnRT]

14. Good luck

I doubt if more than 10% of the people here know how to do an honest-to-God, real debate.

[THUNDER HANDS]

15. I have faith in DUers

I think if, given the chance. A majority of DUers can act with civility and grace. We could pull this off, I think.

[pmbryant]

18. I certainly don't

How does an honest-to-God real debate work exactly?

:shrug:

--Peter

[THUNDER HANDS]

19. I believe

And don't quote me on this because I'm recalling it from memory of my sophomore year Argument & Debate class...

But I believe that each person starts out with an opening statement.
I guess for the purposes of this format instead of being timed, we'll limit the statements for size.

Lets say the opening statement gets a maximum of six paragraphs.

After those, we get the rebuttal round. Which, I guess we can limit to a max of four paragraphs. These will be where the two participants critique the opening statements of the candid...er, DUers.

After that, Round III if you will, will be where the two debatees can pose questions to eachother in a more free form (read, DU) format. Each will get the opportunity for one question and answer each.

Then, Round IV, we'd open it up to the DU community, where the two participants will agree to receive questions about said topic from three DUers.

And Round V would be the closing statements.

If anyone else has any suggestions on how to improve the format, please jump in.

:hi:

[PVnRT]

22. That's essentially it

But a lot of it has to do with how you present your arguments - usually, if you turn into a howler monkey, throwing insults and veiled personal attacks around, you lose.

[brainshrub]

20. That is EXACTLY why this should be done

It will be a great learning & teaching tool.

I used to LOVE being on the debate team in High School & College. This would be just like it, except you wouldn't have to travel.

[THUNDER HANDS]

21. I hope it would do some good

I think people could really get into this, if we do it right.

:)

[VermontDem2004]

17. Good idea! Watch me get elimanated after the first round!

;) When do we start?