Competitor 2009-2013

Judge 2013-

Paradigms are silly. Rules and guidelines exist for a reason.

LD - I'm a traditional LD judge. It's philosophy debate. Listen to what your opponent is saying, and tell me why their points are silly. I don't want to hear that they dropped your subpoint 1.a.x, I'm flowing the round, I know they did or didn't. I want to know why them dropping the point matters to me. Why should I care about that one point?

On time - I keep official time, but if I'm listening to you speak, flowing, and keeping notes, I'm not going to be good at giving you time signals. Please keep your time too.

Also, don't spread. It's like when you go to a restaurant and they have 3000 things on the menu -- I'm going to assume that none of those things are amazing, and they're all mid, they just have a lot of them to distract me. I'd rather you have 2 solid arguments you know well. If I can't keep up on flowing, you're doing too much.

PF -There's four of you. Stop yelling at me. Stop yelling at each other.

Speech - Your movements, voice, face, mannerisms matter. You don't get props so you are the prop. Use it. Also, negative emotions are shown by more characteristics than "Sad yelling" -- please. Please stop sad yelling and please explore more of the emotional options.

In general, I like to think I'm not a regular judge, I'm a cool judge. That is to say -- just don't be rude, and we're probably chill.

Updated Last: May 4, 2023

Email: christian.d.jones[at]gmail.com (yes, I would like to be on the chain)

Experience: Head coach for 11 years.

My General Paradigm
Debates must be fair and winnable for both sides, but debaters may argue what is and is not fair. Debaters may try to convince me which particular instance of debate ought to occur in each round. I will try to have an open mind, but I do have likes and dislikes.

Speed
I prefer debaters to ensure clarity before trying to accelerate. I can handle speed, but if I can't understand it, it doesn't get flowed. If I am being honest, I would estimate that I can catch almost every argument at about 85% of top speed for the national circuit. But if you brake for taglines and present them in a unique vocal inflection, top speed is not a problem.

Decision Calculus
I will only intervene if I feel I absolutely have to. I prefer that debaters to help me decide the debate. Comparative arguments will usually accomplish this. Extrapolations in rebuttals are acceptable if they are grounded in arguments already on the flow. Arguments that are extremely offensive or outright false may be rejected on face.

Style
I enjoy and find value in a variety of argumentation styles as long as they do not preclude a debate from taking place. A debate must have clash.

Framework
The 1AC presents their argument to a blank slate. If you want to change this, you will need an interpretation and to be clear on the criteria for winning the round. This criteria should offer both sides the possibility of winning the debate.

Topicality (or any other procedural/theory argument)
If you want me to vote on a proposed rule violation, then you need to win the complete argument. You must win that you have the best interpretation, that the other team has violated your interpretation, that your interpretation is good for debate, and that the offense is a voting issue. If you want to argue that the other team is breaking the rules, then you have the burden of proof. Procedural arguments may also urge a lesser punishment, such as, excluding the consideration of an argument.

Kritik
I do not want to proscribe specifics when it comes to kritiks, but I do want to see clash and comparative argumentation in any debate. I prefer Ks that are germane to the topic or affirmative case in some way. I like kritiks that have a clearly defined alternative. Alternatives that propose something are preferable to 'reject' or 'do nothing' type alts. I am not a fan of ontological arguments, especially nihilistic ones. If you choose to enter the debate space, you have already ceded certain assumptions about reality.

Counterplans
I am open to any type of counterplan, but all arguments are subject to the standard of fairness determined in the debate round. That said, if you are going to read a counterplan, it should probably have a solvency card.