Debate Contest (COMPLETED)

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200467

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Posted: 15 years ago

#71

Originally posted by: Mister.K.

........All conversations regarding the actual debate could have been carried out over here. Only the real entries were supposed to appear in that thread.

Sarina, is that whip only for show or are you gonna crack it to show who's the boss?!............

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/debate-mansion/1401117/debate-contest-what-would-you-do-dm-remix

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

You can ask questions here for judges to answer. Maybe other contestants have questions.

Edited by Gauri_3 - 15 years ago

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return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 15 years ago

#72

To respond to some posts.....

K. I can see where you are coming from. However, there are some aspects I have to disagree with. I decided to allow questions related to the Debate to be discussed in the thread because more than one person may have the same questions. It also is ridiculous to go to another thread for questions pertaining to that debate.

Yes, I agree with you that people here lack discipline. I will not deny that even I have been frustrated with the chaos that reigns here. As I stated in another post recently - I might have better luck reforming a red neck trailer park. Why I might even have success convincing Ellen she has been straight all these years.

But I think you are being too harsh on the whole population due to some. As Ajnu said, you have not been here long and you definitely have missed some of the best debate days. Some still lurk hoping for a good debate.

Also IF has a more casual atmosphere. Most people are here for 'fun' rather than 'serious' debate. Even the serious debaters are not the perpetually serious time. I've seen some excellent discussion boards and debate forums out there where they have a plethora of topics being ardently discussed. I tend to stay clear because it is too intense and I realize that I too need the atmosphere to be more casual. It would be nice if some of the 'fun' people respected that there is a time and place for everything, but the 'serious' people can also learn that not everything can always be perfectly ordered. (On a side note all extremely serious people go to some serious forum, all the goofballs please stick to your juvenile AOL buddy list)

I crack my whip when I deem necessary, not per my whims and what I vision as perfect rules. If so there would be no one in DM. Not even Ajnu maybe. I'm sorry if you feel that I am not doing enough or not doing right.

@Ajnu

The topic given is debatable. Mister. K explained some debatable aspects and even I posted on how it could be approached and debated. The problem is what I stated in the 'nothing' thread - ignorance and apathy. Most people are unaware of the issues or really don't care as it was in the past. A high school debate would have topics like this and people would make do. Also it is a topic that has not been beaten about on DM before.

However, I will give you that - it is perhaps not a topic that would bring about any excitement to DM members. It does not make an attempt do draw DM people in on issues they like to debate. I will also admit that I did not put much time and thought into the topics. In my defense I am not sure if it is worth it. Last times topic may have been more interesting, but even you and Cloddy had to be kind of forced into it. The interest in debate was low and I did not want to go to efforts as I previously did, and actually sometimes I do think I am wasting my time with all this.

BUT since most of you complained about the topic. I am changing it (slightly). Go check out the change. POH you should get the two pillars of debate that you asked for, or at least one. And if that still does not appeal to people - and I'm the one debating on the debates and about the debates - trashing topics is just one click away. It will be done.

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413342

Suspended

Posted: 15 years ago

#73

Originally posted by: return_to_hades
I decided to allow questions related to the Debate to be discussed in the thread because more than one person may have the same questions. It also is ridiculous to go to another thread for questions pertaining to that debate.

It does look like that but I am of the opinion that reasonable assumptions could (should) be made by the participants when data / information is not explicitly provided . Otherwise, there is no limit to the number of questions that could be posed. Plus, it's not clear at what stage during the contest a question could be raised.

As an analogy, in the examination hall, one is not allowed to question the question paper unless there is a misprint somewhere.

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

I crack my whip when I deem necessary, not per my whims and what I vision as perfect rules. If so there would be no one in DM. Not even Ajnu maybe. I'm sorry if you feel that I am not doing enough or not doing right.

I am sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I completely understand the predicaments you face when it comes to handling the crowd. No doubt, it's a fine balancing act.

Good luck!

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Ajnabee

@*Woh Ajnabee*

Stunner

Posted: 15 years ago

#74

Originally posted by: Mister.K.
^^Ajnu, the ones that incite passions and draw out emotions could prove to be more appealing to the participants but are also harder to judge. On these boards I have noticed that, more often than not, the replies are replete with homilies and platitudes. Most people seem to have a collection of these which they relish unleashing at will. These idioms and proverbs and homilies and what-have-you might score heavily with the audience but when it comes to judging them one has to strip them out and look at the actual content. I am afraid that might not sit well with the participants.

The one Sarina posted is issue-based. There is a tremendous scope for debate. The struggles, adversities, prejudice faced by African Americans in the US and Dalits in India is legendary. The conditions started to improve towards the final few decades of the 20th century. If birth was inevitable and these were the only two choices one had, which section amongst these two oppressed classes, according to the participant, stood a better chance to turn it around quicker, faster and better? How would the participant play the odds? What went right, knowing what we know now? What could have gone wrong? Those were some points to ponder.

We've had a contest in the past where the case tugged on heartstrings, but the debate was carried out as a court proceeding - morals/values or emotional cries were not allowed as part of the debate. I guess what I really meant was that because the debate wasn't something that tugged at people's inner beliefs, it lacked a response from members, including myself. I didn't immediately know which one to pick off the top of my head. But your explanation makes sense, I had my debate planned in my head too, I finally knew what I was going to pick - and well, it doesn't matter now. 😆

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Ajnabee

@*Woh Ajnabee*

Stunner

Posted: 15 years ago

#75

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

@Ajnu

The topic given is debatable. Mister. K explained some debatable aspects and even I posted on how it could be approached and debated. The problem is what I stated in the 'nothing' thread - ignorance and apathy. Most people are unaware of the issues or really don't care as it was in the past. A high school debate would have topics like this and people would make do. Also it is a topic that has not been beaten about on DM before.

However, I will give you that - it is perhaps not a topic that would bring about any excitement to DM members. It does not make an attempt do draw DM people in on issues they like to debate. I will also admit that I did not put much time and thought into the topics. In my defense I am not sure if it is worth it. Last times topic may have been more interesting, but even you and Cloddy had to be kind of forced into it. The interest in debate was low and I did not want to go to efforts as I previously did, and actually sometimes I do think I am wasting my time with all this.

BUT since most of you complained about the topic. I am changing it (slightly). Go check out the change. POH you should get the two pillars of debate that you asked for, or at least one. And if that still does not appeal to people - and I'm the one debating on the debates and about the debates - trashing topics is just one click away. It will be done.

Sarina, you addressed the problem itself, it did not spark excitement or interest at first glance. Perhaps that's why no one responded. Having said that, everyone's busy with things going on in their life, and I think you should've waited and given people a chance before changing the debate altogether. It certainly took me a while to gather my thoughts and finally decide which one I was going to pick.

Also, your clarification made more sense along with Mister K's post as to what you guys were looking for. June 5th is the deadline, and that's still a long way. Certainly there were questions regarding the debate, but I don't think anyone was asking for you to change the topic itself.

Anyways, I hope that everyone's satisfied now and participation increases.

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Sneha Desai

@-Sneha

Inactive

+ 3

Posted: 15 years ago

#76

Well all I can say is sorry about responding so late, and yes, as Ajnu said in the post above, it's not out of sheer fun or choice, but I've sincerely been busy. My A-Level Biology exams are going on, and I actually have just returned from sitting for my Paper 1, which went awfully well. 😆 - Kidding, it was ok, ok...

The thing is, though I never saw the first topic, the second one seems really interesting. I wouldn't say there's nothing to debate about it. I personally would have loved to take part if I was not in the middle of a priority.

And I personally take DM very seriously, just in case... The only thing is, there are some weeks of the year, or rather this time round some months of this particular year, that other things, like boring studies, have to take the "dessus". I can't promise to be here 24/7 once am over in November, but I'll sure be much much more regular.

Have fun!

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return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 15 years ago

#77

@K. If this was a formal debate contest or an exam where everyone had received plenty of information on preparation, scoring, procedure in depth then your point is valid. But this is an informal debate and no one has worked on elaborate details, so some fine tuning has to be accommodated as the contest goes on. That is if it goes on. 😆

As for the rest, I don't mind the criticism; I just wanted to lay my end out.

@Ajnu. Well everyone had a problem with topic, but there was no feedback. Everything was left up in the air. I had no information if people just needed time or the topic was not working out for them. So I decided to change it to make it more 'DMish'. Sorry if I jumped the gun and messed with anyone's preparations.

@Sneha. Your schedules are a bummer. Why does Mauritius school system have to be different? Why can't they have summer vac like the rest of the world.

Edited by return_to_hades - 15 years ago

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413342

Suspended

Posted: 15 years ago

#78

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

@K. If this was a formal debate contest or an exam where everyone had received plenty of information on preparation, scoring, procedure in depth then your point is valid. But this is an informal debate and no one has worked on elaborate details, so some fine tuning has to be accommodated as the contest goes on. That is if it goes on. 😆

Informal debates are what we have going on all the time on DM. Why make a contest out of one them then?

I think the non-participation is due to the word "contest" flashing at the top. It could be that people don't want to be judged. Even if it is all virtual and the stakes are not high. It's about reputation.

Out of curiosity, who were the winners the last time you guys conducted these contests?

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Sneha Desai

@-Sneha

Inactive

+ 3

Posted: 15 years ago

#79

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

@Sneha. Your schedules are a bummer. Why does Mauritius school system have to be different? Why can't they have summer vac like the rest of the world.

Hmm let's see, how about: maybe because our Summer's in December? 🤣

Oh you're right on. I can't tell you how frustrating it gets when you're so disconnected with half of the world. It's even more saddening when I visit Nani in India, where everyone is at school/college/uni during our visit. It's seriously disheartening. Already I am miles away from them, and the once-upon a year meeting ends up in some time spent together at night. The Cambridge system sucks I tell you. 🤢

Though I reckon it would have been horrible the other way round. Imagine having long vacations when it's freezing cold and having to go to school in a perfect sunny sky with a go-to-the-beach like mood. So I guess living in the tropical has its share of pros and cons. 😉

It's not so far of when I'll be joining you guys though. By next year this time, I'll be all set for Uni, and I am hoping everything will coincide thereon... 😉 So all I must do is pray for admission somewhere excellent... 😆

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return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 15 years ago

#80

Originally posted by: Mister.K.

Informal debates are what we have going on all the time on DM. Why make a contest out of one them then?
I think the non-participation is due to the word "contest" flashing at the top. It could be that people don't want to be judged. Even if it is all virtual and the stakes are not high. It's about reputation.
Out of curiosity, who were the winners the last time you guys conducted these contests?

@ Blue

Choose one answer.

1) Declare a winner
2) Chase away those who want to speak their mind without using sense or logic.

@ Red

No one. It was just Cloddy vs Wa and they gave up in some time. 😆

There were debate contests a long time back. One contest a while back was won by Souro and Meena. Most people from back in the day are not active anymore.

Sorry if I am too goofy for you today. If you had asked me last night I was in a more somber mood.

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