GTP Mass-Debating Contest Thread!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Danny
  • 337 comments
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Too bad I missed the join deadline. I'll just have to argue both teams' decisions as a 3rd party debater when I have enough free time from flaming my school's administration and debating issues in classes.
Yeah, so many people missed out(myself included). Also, who I consider to be the best Mass-Debater( :p ) is missing. ///M-Spec. I would love to see him in the future debate. Pako, too.


Is it a possibility that a forum is created that only the judges have access to so that we can then commincate easily around all the time zones?
I think that's the best idea I've heard so far, but also the hardest one to put into play.
 
Why cant AIM be nice and simple for an old gal like me.

AIM ID - wenders9999

Best if you guys add me cos I have no idea what I'm doing with it! :boggled:
I still vote for Yahoo or MSN.

Edit: On second thoughts AIM really sucks but you can add my ICQ ID thru AIM and I'll use that 11698462
 
I've never touched AIM myself, I did have MSN messenger for a couple of months and then I stopped using it.
 
Damn, why didn't I look in this thread earlier? I'm so in for the next round. ;)
 
Radicools Mum, you're now added to my AIM. Your online and idle at the moment.

Having a private forum would be much easier than other alternatives, but I don't see it happening.
 
I think that's the best idea I've heard so far, but also the hardest one to put into play.

All the judges would have to be temporary (unless they already are) Mods or Admins to do that, I think.

EDIT: Ditto Burnout's Ditto.
 
I wouldn't think any higher powers would need to be given to the judges at all. I don't see why a forum couldn't be made that allowed access to only judges.
 
I have a good idea, in the future, set up a separate forum for mass debators with a separate password and ID!
 
Potential or Stereotypical Debate Topics
-----------------------------------------
Capital Punishment
Abortion
Gun Control
Universal Health Care
Illegal Immigration
Global Warming
Animal Rights
Social Security
Football vs. Soccer
Star Trek vs. Star Wars
Affirmative Action
Access for People with Disabilities
Car Safety Belts
 
That's no debate at all. Data FTW.

:)
Not to kick off the debate too quickly here but...

Granted:
Data > 3PO + R2

But:
Force > Picard or Kirk
Light Sabers > Phasers
Death Star > (Federation of) Planets

Although:
Warf>Windu
Troy>Amidala (<- Telepathy)
Shuttle Craft > Speeders
Klingon Warriors > Storm Troopers

It's a tough battle.
 
Potential or Stereotypical Debate Topics
-----------------------------------------
Capital Punishment
Abortion
Gun Control
Universal Health Care
Illegal Immigration
Global Warming
Animal Rights
Social Security
Football vs. Soccer
Star Trek vs. Star Wars
Affirmative Action
Access for People with Disabilities
Car Safety Belts

Good topic list, but I have the debate topics picked already...
 
I'd like to put in a request for a format change/clarification. Earlier it was posted that we'd get "questions" to respond to the opposing team's argument. I'd like to recommend that instead we get one rebuttle to their argument with a word limit shorter than whatever we work out for the main argument.... Say for example we write a 500 word argument followed by a 200 word rebuttle.

Either that, or no follow-ups at all and the judging only applies to the main argument.

What format are we submitting? Posts? Word Documents? PDF? I'd prefer word documents but I can see some compatibility issues already. If we want to stick to posts that would be cool too. I just want to know what my options are.

Okay- here's an attempt at a structure, debater-san.

  • Team A vs. Team B
  • New thread made, topic and for/against assigned.
  • Three days to prepare arguement between your team using sources/resources you see fit.
  • By the end of the 3 days, a final 400-word text will be posted in the thread by one member of each team.
  • If anyone posts something off-topic (badum-bum-tsch) they will face the wrath of my flying monkeys. I'll be cross, and will probably post the angry picture.
  • In the next 4 days (longer for more detail) each team may post a 200 word rebuttle, but it must be based on what has been said in the 400 word text, not the rebuttle of the other team.
  • When both teams have a text/rebuttle, then the judges will each make a post voting for either Team A or Team B.
  • Points add up.
 
:)
Not to kick off the debate too quickly here but...

Granted:
Data > 3PO + R2

But:
Force > Picard or Kirk
Light Sabers > Phasers
Death Star > (Federation of) Planets

Although:
Warf>Windu
Troy>Amidala (<- Telepathy)
Shuttle Craft > Speeders
Klingon Warriors > Storm Troopers

It's a tough battle.

I was with you until you said the red one. On a technical note, Mace has a lightsaber that could tear through the weapons a Klingon would use, so I think MAce would win that one.
 
I was with you until you said the red one. On a technical note, Mace has a lightsaber that could tear through the weapons a Klingon would use, so I think MAce would win that one.

I never realised quite what an absolute geek you were until that comment.


:lol:👍
 
Ultrabeat: Make sure to have time zones figured out too.

Um, is there any general consensus on how to handle communication? (For both the teams and the judges.)
 
I would encourage the judges to write a paragraph explaining their decision.

I meant to put that in. I put it in the earlier versions but forgot here, thanks for the reminder.

Ultrabeat: Make sure to have time zones figured out too.
I think three days would be enough, seeing as how most people are online each day.
If not, perhaps another timestretch? We'll see what other people think too.
Sage
Um, is there any general consensus on how to handle communication? (For both the teams and the judges.)

Some people are organising AIM. Perhaps judges could do that too? You won't need to communicate that much though, each vote is your own, not a general concensus.
Perhaps PM?
 
I never realised quite what an absolute geek you were until that comment.


:lol:👍

Make no mistake sir, I'm certainly a geek. I just tend to hide it pretty well in most cases ;)


Ultrabeat: Make sure to have time zones figured out too.

Hmm...that could get tricky I would think. Especially since teams have members in mulitple time zones.

Um, is there any general consensus on how to handle communication? (For both the teams and the judges.)

The question is are we going by a pure points scale here or more like the supreme court where you get one bote either way and in a tie Ultrabeat would be the swing vote?

If we go with the supreme court way, then they need their own forum or something like that. If it's just points, then they don't need to communicate.
 
The question is are we going by a pure points scale here or more like the supreme court where you get one bote either way and in a tie Ultrabeat would be the swing vote?

If we go with the supreme court way, then they need their own forum or something like that. If it's just points, then they don't need to communicate.

I'd suggest keeping it simple. This kind of thing could get messy :D

Also, 5 judges=No tie

I was thinking you all post a vote of "team x because..." and the majority of votes wins.
But since you're judging, you can change it.
 
:)
Not to kick off the debate too quickly here but...

Granted:
Data > 3PO + R2

But:
Force > Picard or Kirk
Light Sabers > Phasers
Death Star > (Federation of) Planets

Although:
Warf>Windu
Troy>Amidala (<- Telepathy)
Shuttle Craft > Speeders
Klingon Warriors > Storm Troopers

It's a tough battle.

Teleporters and cloaks aside...

Q.

I win.

:lol:
 
I was with you until you said the red one. On a technical note, Mace has a lightsaber that could tear through the weapons a Klingon would use, so I think MAce would win that one.

2nded. Mace, 2nd most powerful jedi in the universe, only jedi to have mastered the combat form he uses and defeat Palpatine in a duel, Windu? Warf would get totally Sam Jackson'd (defeated, accompanied by lots of F-words).
 
I would encourage the judges to write a paragraph explaining their decision.


A paragraph is a group of four to five sentences. Anyone feel a judge may need to explain his/her reason more elaborately?

I'm fine with a paragraph and fine with something a bit more. I don't think a judge should have to go into detail as to why they have chosen their pick, but then again, others may want to know why a vote was cast a certain way.

What do the debaters/judges think about the explanation portion of vote casting?
 
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