Hey, Let’s Talk About Debate A Little Bit.

Hey, let’s talk about debate a little bit.

I was a high school and college debater. Lincoln-Douglas, parli, humorous interpretation, extemp. I was on one of the top teams in the country. (I was not one of the top debaters personally, I was just okay, but just-okay at a high level. If you get me.) I’ve got trophies in being an “um, actually” dude.

And this is why I don’t believe in the power of debate for settling serious issues. Because teams alternate positions over the course of a tournament, but teams with better preparation and training tend to win no matter which position they take. The whole sport wouldn’t work if the morally right side of an issue was always the one with the strongest arguments.

(In fact, being personally invested in the rightness of your argument is sometimes a detriment, because you can get flustered and emotional while the other guy is projecting nothing but calm confidence.)

I learned to speak passionately about why the US needs to retain nuclear supremacy for world peace, and also to speak passionately about why the US needs to lead the world in nuclear disarmament. I can’t say “I can convince you of both,” because your own preconceptions are such a huge factor, but if you agree to be an impartial judge, I can absolutely convince you of both. The “but in the end the truth wins out” factor is so much smaller than you’d like to think.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t ever engage in debate. If you think you can win, go in and kick some ass. It’s a valid way to present and defend your beliefs. But don’t trust debate as a truth-finding process. Don’t leave human welfare up to “whoever wins the debate.” Don’t get sucked into believing debate is somehow a morally superior tactic to deplatforming or protest. There’s so much style and technique involved in debate, it’s little better than saying “we’ll agree the truth is on the side of whoever wins this arm-wrestling match.”

Impartially moderated debate is a great college sport for people who don’t work out. But there’s absolutely nothing sacred about it as a political process.

Dear Anyone Who Hates Cats

My cat literally sleeps next to my face until she thinks I’m asleep and then she’ll move to the end of my bed. If I wake up at night she’ll go back up to me head and stay with me until I fall asleep again. In the morning she’ll follow me when I call her. She’s a precious lil nugget.

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like-luke-likes

10 years ago

What she says: I'm fine

What she means: why did Thor's hammer only move a little when Steve tried to pick it up? Did it change its mind after a second and decide he wasn't worthy? Or was Steve pretending he couldn't lift it so as not to cause any problems? Surely someone can either be worthy or not, there is no almost worthy

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like-luke-likes

7 years ago

me: I’m not bitter

narrator: she was bitter

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like-luke-likes

10 years ago

Bible version: a king lusts after another man's wife

Veggie Tales version: a king wants another man's rubber duck

Bible version: threat of genocide

Veggie Tales version: threat of banishment to the island of perpetual tickling

Bible version: since they won't bow down before an idol, the king has them burned alive

Veggie Tales version: since they won't bow down before a chocolate bunny, the manager has them burned alive

Tags

that last one though

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like-luke-likes

6 years ago

(via Li4mricee)

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like-luke-likes

7 years ago

i accidentally an entire coke bottle

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like-luke-likes

8 years ago

Every music video in the early 2000's 😂

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like-luke-likes

5 years ago

The best part about being in law school is knowing all the laws.

I slowly rolled down my window as the cop approached, careful to keep my hands where he could see them on the steering wheel.

“Registration and license,” the officer commanded.

As I made my way to the glove box, all I could think about was how people in arid areas of the United States probably get less utility out of their glove box because they never really need to store gloves in there for colder seasons, unless, of course, their use of gloves doesn’t go hand-in-hand with the climate, but rather for gripping or style reasons.

I handed the documents to him in silence, careful to scowl at the officer just enough for him to notice but not enough for him to get angry enough to scowl back. I had won the scowl-off.

“Do you know how fast you were going?” the policeman asked, leaning down to peer into my mysterious dark green eyes.

I breathed in deeply, filling my lungs to the brim with O2 and car air freshener. This was my moment.

“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on September 25, 1789 A.D.”

He let me off with a speeding ticket.

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like-luke-likes

7 years ago

when exactly is uptown funk gon give it to me?

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like-luke-likes

7 years ago