Debate practice?

[Andiferous]

Basil - yes no why XX (ProBasil and InfernoBasil)
Anti and Pro Glen Beck (maybe specific points?)
Biblical revisionism/reversalism (Me and LRukun?)
One is the loneliest number
Reality TV "celebrities" are valuable members of society
Robert Mugabe is always right
Red Bull gives you wings
Old people deserve more respect
Old people should not have sex
Piercings are classier than tattoos
TV is Better than Chipmunks
Powerthirst gives you birds (???)
Dude, you just blew my mind
Why actually participating in a debate proves you do or do not have balls

Open to more of course. Of either.

I suppose a standard of debate practice is to pick a position relative to your opposition, and structure a discussion that is both informed and convincing to the best of your ability. Agreeing with the position is not necessarily relevant at all. I think the concept would be rather challenging and informative for those who choose to participate and appreciate the spirit of the exercise. Sometimes the same arguments get recycled over and over again on the forum, unfortunately, but doing this might offer some opportunity to spice things up a bit and go in new directions.

Is there much interest for these sorts of debates? I'll volunteer for a few beatings if necessary. I rather cherish the challenge of it all and find it useful and informative. Heck, maybe we could set up a few moderator types to be abused. I'd have oodles of fun with that. We could even do moderated debate type things.

This would also involve brainstorming topics for practice. Something a bit like (but hopefully better than): "Prove/disprove the existence of god in relation to science" and whatnot. I'm pretty sure most of us get a kick out of arguing and would have fun.

Please let me know, because indication of your interest will help decide where this goes. And do you have ideas for topics if so? If no one indicates interest, this might go into the great abyss of thread death.

 

[Prolescum]

Some topics:

One is the loneliest number

Basil is the best of all herbs

Reality TV "celebrities" are valuable members of society

Robert Mugabe is always right

Red Bull gives you wings

 

[Andiferous]

Some topics:

One is the loneliest number

Basil is the best of all herbs

Reality TV "celebrities" are valuable members of society

Robert Mugabe is always right

Red Bull gives you wings

Only if you take both sides...

 

[Noth]

This sounds like fun

At my study, when we're asked to take a standpoint in a debate and if I notice no one (or hardly anyone) has taken the opposite side, I tend to play devil's advocate and sometimes even manage to persuade (though often with humour) others to join the dark side (cookies and the like).

Are you looking for more or less serious debate subjects though? Lighthearted subjects might be good for a laugh also .

 

[Andiferous]

Of course! I mean given consensus of the two debaters. I just can't think of many ways to argue for or against basil myself. Unless a person doesn't like tomatoes.

Perhaps these could be hosted on the debate forum or something like?

 

[Noth]

Would make sense.

I think you would have to denote it concerns a *practice debate* though in the topic title.

 

[Prolescum]

I just can't think of many ways to argue for or against basil myself.

Because it is the greatest herb in existence, no matter the variety.

I think you would have to denote it concerns a *practice debate* though in the topic title.

I don't think that is necessary. For all intents and purposes, it would be an actual debate (it's an internet forum, not an assembly hall). If you giggle halfway through, it won't count against you...

 

[Andiferous]

I just can't think of many ways to argue for or against basil myself.

Because it is the greatest herb in existence, no matter the variety.

I think you would have to denote it concerns a *practice debate* though in the topic title.

I don't think that is necessary. For all intents and purposes, it would be an actual debate (it's an internet forum, not an assembly hall). If you giggle halfway through, it won't count against you...

There you are so wrong, because rosemary and sea salt are the spices of choice. But because I can't cook worth a darn, I won't take you up on the challenge. Because I don't think my ignorance can be rectified there.

 

[Noth]

I just can't think of many ways to argue for or against basil myself.

Because it is the greatest herb in existence, no matter the variety.

I think you would have to denote it concerns a *practice debate* though in the topic title.

I don't think that is necessary. For all intents and purposes, it would be an actual debate (it's an internet forum, not an assembly hall). If you giggle halfway through, it won't count against you...

Fair enough *giggle*

I would argue against your position on herbs though. I am overly confident that the banana plant is the greatest herb there is.
The evidence I have to back up my claim can be found here:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/page/198

 

[Your Funny Uncle]

I just can't think of many ways to argue for or against basil myself.

Because it is the greatest herb in existence, no matter the variety.

I second this motion. The combination of basil and tomato is one of the most convincing arguments for God's existence that I've come across, and I think that when the ancient Greeks referred to ambrosia they were surely talking about pesto.

 

[Aught3]

I'm interested, but only for serious topics

 

[Inferno]

I'll pick you up on the debate about "Basil". I love to cook and I don't use it all too often. I use Rosmary far more often and it's much more useful.

 

[Pulsar]

I just can't think of many ways to argue for or against basil myself.

Because it is the greatest herb in existence, no matter the variety.

I consider basil faulty.

 

[Jebez42]

I consider basil faulty.

That`s what Sybil would say.

 

[Squawk]

I consider basil faulty.

 

[Andiferous]

I'm okay with debating herbs myself, but be forwarned that I am not the best judge of cooking. But really, if anyone wants to set this up just message me and I'll try to put it together. Or if there are cool topical ideas that might span more than a page, feel free to message or post here. Or I might have to go out picking random and meaningless fights and clean my message box for nothing.

 

[Aught3]

So what are the topics Andie, have you come up with anything?

Maybe we should have a debate on the merits of falsificationism, or the lack thereof.

 

[Andiferous]

Oh wow! Well, sure, but I need your help first. :lol:

I'd argue against falsification, but I don't know enough about it and I'd be stringing pretty words together with punctuation in an effort to confuse you. I will argue for? But after a consult? Yikes.

 

[Prolescum]

I'll pick you up on the debate about "Basil". I love to cook and I don't use it all too often. I use Rosmary far more often and it's much more useful.

Okay. One week, four posts each (opening posts, two rebuttals, closing posts) as I'm not sure the topic can sustain lengthy tangents like prior 'serious' debates here. We'd need to set the topic formally, though. Ideas? I'll switch my PMs on.

Oh, and neither of us can use the word piquant... :lol:

 

[Andiferous]

I look forward to learning more and marvellously mastificating on your eloquence for herbs with whomever agrees to debate you. I might even provide commentary and recipes