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Saturday, September 13, 2008

If there are a hundred reasons why people SHOULD debate, then there are equally a hundred reasons why people SHOULDN'T debate. Why? Well that's because of the undying theory that every argument is FLAWED. Thus, in this assignment, we were once again forced to reawaken that small creature called creativity, which had stayed dormant in our psyches for too long because unfortunately, it takes creative rebuttals to pulverize creative arguments.

Reason: Debating is undeniably the best form of exercise.

Rebuttal: Anxiety-induced forms of exercises, such as debating, are definitely unhealthy because the human body is actually "forced" to release a certain amount of energy to respond to the stimulus called stress, thus disrupting the normal chemical balance of the body. Debating spawns stress, and some of its effects include an increase in the gastrointestinal activity (which can prove to be very disturbing and which, in time, may lead to digestive disorders such as gastric ulcer), and an increase in blood pressure, wherein the heart exerts a lot of effort in pumping blood throughout the system (which, in time, may lead to hypertension and other heart diseases).

Reason: Debating is the easiest way to stardom.

Rebuttal: Being a popular debater does not mean anything. It does not mean that you're one good-looking ass, nor does it suggest that you are and you will be a good actor/actress/singer. Being seen on t.v. as a debater does not mean that you will make an effective entertainer someday because let's face it: it takes a lot more than debating skills to belong among the ranks of Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Eddie Garcia, Johnny Depp, Katherine Heigl, Marilyn Monroe, Patrick Dempsey, Angelica Panganiban, Julia Roberts, George Clooney...(the list goes on and on and on...). Though being a popular debater may hint something about having an intellectual advantage, it is clearly unnecessary in the field of show business (thus we deem the reason as irrelevant).

Reason: Debating gives you bragging rights.

Rebuttal: Debating does not necessarily give you the right to brag, especially when you're on the losing side. More importantly, it is not an avenue to showcase that stunningly polished vocabulary that you've just refurbished an hour before debating because in debate, one should use simple terms (that's what Ma'am Ruth Tabuniar said!) or else you will be given the burden of defining your own words in front of the crowd. One objective of debating is allowing yourself to be understood by the "madlang-tao", especially by the adjudicating panel, and if you're loaded with hot stuff that's too hot to handle, then it's time to douse yourself with ice-cold water. (LOL!

Reason: Debating brings in a sense of fulfillment.

Rebuttal: Every debate has an upside and a downside. Translation: you can't win all the time. Why not?: because there's always a winning team AND a losing team in debate and you debate with different kinds of people under different kinds of motions. It is, indeed, fulfilling to see your opponents' faces change from bright red to purple when their arguments turn into a useless pile of bird droppings. However, it is equally humbling, disappointing, annoying, and frustrating to see YOUR arguments crumble into a useless pile of bird poo.

Reason: Debating eradicates misunderstandings.

Rebuttal: How could debating eradicate misunderstandings when it is, in fact, the mother of all misunderstandings? Debating has contributed very insignificantly to the present issues that are happening in our country, and it has never resolved nor eradicated the "bomb" issues that the Philippines just had. The country's senators questioned, argued, and bickered among themselves and along with the cast of characters of the NBN-ZTE deal but apparently, the result of their "debate" is na-da because the issue just died out. Just like that.

Reason: Debating helps you take a firm stand on issues.

Rebuttal: In reality, it's actually the COIN that chooses the side for you. Debating FORCES you to take a firm stand on issues that are actually against your principles. You always have to think of ways and means to defend your side even if you do not agree with it, because no one wants to be in the losing side. There will always be the instance where one has no choice but to create "bubbles" out of thin, nitrogen-filled air.

Reason: We debate because we love to!

Rebuttal: Most people debate not because they love to: it's because they HAVE to. Passion is not the "thing" that keeps people going - it's FORCE. People debate because they are compelled to - this is the real reason behind it. Goliath is such a strong reason, and beneath this gigantic figure lies several "reasons", too (i.e., it's their job to debate, it's a requirement in class, etc.).

Labels: debate, public speaking, why not debate

3:11 PM

Thursday, September 4, 2008

There are a hundred reasons why people should debate, and these range from the typical, oh-so-boring answers to the stunningly incredible ones, and since we were given the ultimate license to be creative, we squeezed the creative juice out of the right side of our brains, and we hardly think there's any left. Well, we did our best. Enjoy!

1. Debating is undeniably the best form of exercise.

You shake, you sweat, you catch your breath, and if you can't help it, you faint! This is the typical "thing" that happens to first-time debaters, who neither have the confidence nor the fully-developed skill to convince a crowd (or an adjudicating panel for that matter). But debating constantly can prove to be very beneficial, especially to a person's BODY.

Fact #1: DEBATING GETS PHYSICAL. Debating increases a person's pulse rate up to 130 beats per minute (all in the name of anxiety and nervousness), which creates a domino effect on the different systems of the body. Oxygen consumption increases, because the heart pumps faster to deliver oxygen to the body's cells. Since roughly 1 liter of oxygen consumed corresponds to around 5 calories of metabolic energy, energy output also increases. In other words, debating speeds up metabolism and burns a lot of calories, thus helping a person stay fit. (this just proves that we (except for one) are nurses-in-the-making...LOL!)

Fact #2: DEBATING SMARTENS THAT PIECE OF MEAT IN YOUR HEAD.
Well, it's a known fact that debating increases the critical thinking capacity of a person, as well as his awareness on the current issues. It also improves one's debating skills. So, debating is pretty much beneficial to a person's BRAIN.

2. Debating is the easiest way to stardom.

Well, allow us to reconsider. You really can't call it "stardom" when you're only famous among debaters from all over the world, right? But, fact is, debating increases a person's popularity.

Example #1: How could anyone forget how our very own Mr. Henry Segovia, who's currently teaching us English 211 (Public Speaking with Debate) and his debate buddy Mr. Alzhoheir Hajim, blasted off their opponents in the ANC debate and brought pride to the Ateneo de Zamboanga University? ADZU college students of the near future (say, 2025), who are by the way still infants, will live to hear the names of these legendary debaters.

Example #2: Ms. Sharmila Parmanand, former Ateneo de Zamboanga high school student, is today's Asian debate superstar. You've probably seen her on ANC last year as Ateneo de Manila University's pride in the same ANC Debate thingy.

So, if you really want to be a superstar, joining competitions on t.v. shows like America's Got Talent or the local Pinoy Big Brother won't do you any good because television stations fake up the voter turnouts. If you're seeking for popularity, then debate might just be the best way to grab it, because you just have to flaunt those exemplary debating skills that you have to be on the limelight!

3. Debating gives you bragging rights.

For a typical debate under the Asian Parliamentary debate format, a debater is entitled to seven minutes of bragging rights, plus an average of around 2 minutes for POIs (points of information), plus around three minutes for a reply speech (if you're not a whip). Sometimes, people just want to flaunt their perfect english vocabulary skills. It's ok, we learn from them. And we bleed to death just to learn from them the correct meaning and usage of those I've-never-heard-that-word-before terms. If listening to debates can increase our vocabulary skills, then debating increases our vocabulary skills thrice as much as merely listening.

4. Debating brings in a sense of fulfillment.

It is, indeed, fulfilling to see your opponent's face change its color from bright red to purple, right? Well, debating brings in this kind of fulfillment. In an informal debate where there are no defined rules, arguing with a person's point of view can really pump up your adrenaline and it's fulfilling to see his rguments crumble into a useless pile of bird droppings.

5. Debating eradicates misunderstandings.

Or worst, it could turn a simple misunderstanding into a tribal war! Nevertheless, misunderstandings are a part of our daily lives. They're inevitable, but debating can help clear up certain misunderstandings. Human beings, although they pretty much look the same, are diverse creatures, and debating helps iron out these differences, or it at least helps us realize that differences are hard to straighten out and what we really need to bank on is that we respecting one's opinions.

6. Debating helps you take a firm stand on issues.

Well, technically, it really does. Debating helps you take a firm stand on certain issues. It clarifies the previous doubts that you have. Debating is a bit like brainstorming, because you tend to discuss your ideas and your opinions with other people and you find out that your beliefs are a bit flawed. Debating actually polishes off the "facts" that you know.

7. We debate because we love to!

Having a real, hardcore passion for debate is enough to overpower the six mentioned reasons why people should debate, and there's absolutely no need to explain it. It's just plain and simple: People debate because they want to. This is the "thing" that really matters most, because it is absolutely pointless to keep on debating if you do not have the passion or the drive to do it (unless you're forced by Goliath to do it).

-------------------------------------------Fin------------------------------------------------

Here's an example of a totally ridiculous and grammatically incorrect debate about a certain superhero:

"Man I'm sick. I need to see Superman. I'ma jump from the top of a hunred-storey building and for sure he's gonn'a save me and I'ma see him, touch him, talk to him, smile at him, touch him some more..."
"Listen fool! Superman ain't true!..."
"Yes he is!"
"Ain't not!"
"Is so!"
"Say no man! Wanna see a real super hero on action? Rob a bank!"

"This is what happens if you ain't good at debating with your father. =)
Peace man!"

source of video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl7ZzYmiXR4

Labels: debate, public speaking, why debate

6:37 AM