Sign up here: First Debate Tournament of 2008

As long as you are serious, you are in. I think I can safely guarantee the spots of all 8 new debaters who have signed up so far.

No promises for anyone who hasn't signed up yet though.

You're all about to get your fighter status in preparation for the tournament. Please do not go crazy with it- the debate forum is much more structured than other forums. Also, fighter status does require that you actually participate in debates. If you don't complete a debate, you don't keep the title.

reply to post by The Vagabond


Are ALL the spots filled Vaga?

I finally got up the nerve to participate. I'm not backing out of this decision!

Someone want to take me on? Help me cut my teeth with a friendly debate?

I'll do my utmost to make it worth your while!

~Ducky~

Duckster and Jitombe make 19 spots out of 24. Duckster, I you're not to late, but unfortunately I cannot guarantee that you are in. You are PROBABLY in. But if 5 fighters who are more experienced than you all decide to join the tournament, then you would be bumped.

In order to prevent a large number of "bumps" to people who thought they were on this list, 1 day after this list fills up, everyone on the list will be guaranteed a place. Rankings can still change after that, but nobody will be bumped off the list after that.

semperfortis 12
Loki 11
MemoryShock 9
kenshiro2012 8
GAOTU789 5
Skyfloating 5
TruthWithin 4
budski 2

(everyone still above this line- the top 8 ranked participants- when the tournament starts gets a first round bye, assuming we have 24 fighters).

(This is where a new debater goes if he wins 2 debates before the tourney)


NYK537 2
FreeThinkerIdealist 2

(This is where a new debater goes if he wins a debate before the tourney)

Northern
LDragonFire
dominusluciferi
GUNSINWAR
TLomon
bodrul
Sublime620
jitombe
TheDuckster
(This is where new debaters with no experience go if they haven't already signed up)

reply to post by The Vagabond


Yes I am serious and aware that you need to back up your claims based upon information available for arguments sake on the world wide web which draws upon yet another debate as to what information is truly believable on the www. This as any other debate comes down to who thinks they know it all and who can better sell their side of the story. Everyone believes what they believe in because of something they were told by or learned from a source they trusted at the time. Question is, who can sell it better and who is the fool.

Well, we have a question before us my friends.

4 Debaters: GAOTU789, MemoryShock, Skyfloating, and The Borg, have all become mods.

3 of those individuals are already signed up for the tournament.

I'm putting the question to you debaters: do you feel comfortable competing against staff members?

Traditionally, the staff do not compete in debate tournaments. If any of you think that it should stay that way, then maybe it should, at least for a while.

So you may U2U me if you want, and I will keep that confidential, or you may post that you feel staff members might have an unfair advantage.

I do not believe that there will be anything unfair about mods competing. The mods who competed would not know who the judges are and would not have access to anything the judges have said about the debates (I handle everything by U2U).

I think that because we now have so many great debaters on staff, that it might be good for the forum if mods could compete.

However, at the end of the day, we staff members have made a commitment to the community, and we will do what the fighters think is in the best interest of the debate forum in this matter.

If there are ZERO objections, then we can proceed with staff members in the debate.

If there are objections, this tournament will take place mod-free, and later on we can find ways for mods to get their fix.

It's up to you guys, so let me know.

And remember, there are places left still. We need more debaters still. So speak up if you're interested.

There isn't money on the table. There isn't a big trophy to win at the end. I am more then comfortable about earning my spurs against staff.

I think I am more anxious to find out what the topics are going to be.

Good point. Everyone feel free to make topic suggestions. You almost certainly will not get a topic that you suggested, but at least you can provide for some interesting debates. It would take me some time to come up with 23 really great debate topics for this tournament.

I for one think it would be MORE unfair to exclude them at this point...

I say let them debate and have fun with the rest of us...

Semper

Suggested Topics:

Science:
1. Stem Cell Research should be federally funded
2. NASA is a waste of tax money
3. Alien Abduction is a government project to cover up human research

Political:
1. The current party system is outmoded and needs an overhaul
2. Democrats are nothing more than socialists
3. Republicans are dummies for corporate America

Other:
1. I really care about what Britney is doing now
2. Exercise and good health is just the slowest way to die
3. Religion is enslaving mankind

Maybe we can chew on some of these...

Semper

Not sure if this should be posted here, but can't seem to find an answer. How are the topics assigned, and what stance each individual takes?

For example: Widgets will destroy earth is topic. Let's say I want to be pro. Is it first come first serve, or entirely random?

TLomon,

It is random and assigned, HOWEVER...

I have seen instances where if both debaters agree, the "Pro and Con" have been switched...

For the sake of fairness, in a tournament you can not pick your topic, that just makes sense. If you could I would argue Criminal Justice each time..

It's really all up to TheVagabond as the tournament master he is very fair and open as you can see...

I rather prefer random in my case and I don't think I have ever chosen a side either. Makes it a lot more exciting and WAY more challenging. I have argued a number of times on something I absolutely DO NOT believe... It's fun...

Semper

All should be able to participate Mods or not, we are all members.

possible topics:

American Politics:

1 Should political parties be banned?
2 Should there be more than two political parties represented in every election?
3 Should we outlaw special interest lobby groups?
4 Should we do away with the electoral college, and return to the popular vote to determine presidential elections?
5 Electronic voting or paper ballots?
6 Should congress do away with there retirement plan and use Social Security like the rest of America?
7 Should we do away with the separation between religion and state?
8 Should the Supreme Justices have lifelong terms/appointments?

Religion and Aliens

1 Where we created by God or Aliens?
2 Which Aliens races are good or bad?
a. Are reptilians good or bad?
b. Are Greys good or bad?
c. Are Nordic aliens good or bad?
3 Does our Governments know about and support alien abduction?
4 Did our Governments make a deal to allow alien abductions in exchange for technology?
5 Is our technological advancements related to captured alien technology?
6 Is religion a creation by aliens?

NWO
1 Is the NWO controlled by aliens?
2 Is the NWO good or bad?
3 Is the Department of Homeland Security necessary?
4 Real ID/National ID good or bad?

Environment

1 Is global warming occurring?
2 Are we facing a new ice age?
3 Is it possible to keep geneticly altered crops separated from organic crops?
4 Pole shift, fact or myth?
5 Will Yellowstone blow its top in our lifetimes?
6 Will the New Madrid fault give us the big one in our lifetime?

Space

1 Will the government dominate space technology or will the private sector?

ok this is just off the top of my head.

Any one want to do a practice debate just u2u me.

Apparently someone who I have promoted to fighter had a problem posting in the debate forum still.

Everyone please post something, preferably something funny just for the hell of it, in the following thread, as a test. This will prevent any delays when the tournament starts

www.abovetopsecret.com...

I would still really like to participate in the tournament if the other members don't mind. If anyone does object, that's fine too. I just really enjoy this forum and the learning that comes from researching new topics. Also if we lose, you get to say you beat a staff member. That hasn't happened in a while, well semper did just beat memoryshock but he wasn't a mod then and could possibly beat Vagabond but thats only an exhibition.

Anyway, this is my request to be allowed to continue in the tourney. On the off chance we get interest from more members than we have places in this, I'll give up my spot so someone else can have a go at semperfortis, otherwise I would really like to participate.

I'll give up my spot so someone else can have a go at semperfortis, otherwise I would really like to participate.

HEY No fair ganging up op me....

I am beginning to feel like I have wolves at my door, all hungry for the title...

Semper

Id like to take part if any spaces left. About time i used my grey matter on this place.

If all spaces are filled then fair enough


[edit on 27-1-2008 by thesaint]

Count me in Vagabond im game, will be my first champ tournament looking forward to it

If there's enough room for me of course

21 spots out of 24 are filled. Rankings have been updated again to reflect recent matches. Several fighters still have matches pending that may change the rankings further.

semperfortis 13
Loki 11
MemoryShock 9
kenshiro2012 8
GAOTU789 5
Skyfloating 5
TruthWithin 4
Argos 4

(everyone still above this line- the top 8 ranked participants- when the tournament starts gets a first round bye, assuming we have 24 fighters).

(This is where a new debater goes if he wins 2 debates before the tourney)

budski 2
NYK537 2
FreeThinkerIdealist 2

(This is where a new debater goes if he wins a debate before the tourney)

Northern
LDragonFire
dominusluciferi
GUNSINWAR
TLomon
bodrul
Sublime620
jitombe
TheDuckster
thesaint

(This is where new debaters with no experience go if they haven't already signed up)

reply to post by semperfortis


Now semper, ya know that debate pennant is like a bullseye for the rest of us fighters.

You are still champ though and for good reason. One only has to look at your last two debates to see why. That doesn't mean the rest of us aren't aiming high.

I want to be in on this, I had a great time debating last time (even though I think I lost every single debate I was in) I am a sucker for punishment I suppose but I love the debates here on ATS. COUNT ME IN

Now semper, ya know that debate pennant is like a bullseye for the rest of us fighters.

I know

It's quite an honor to carry it as well my friend....

Trust me, when someone rips it from me, I will again be aiming for it again....

This is going to be one heck of a debate here my friends...

Semper