St James Academy Novice JV
2022 — Lenexa, KS/US
JV and Novice Judges Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideMy Background:
My name is Mr. Barton and I am the head coach of the Blue Valley Northwest Debate Squad. I graduated from Park Hill High School, where I participated in three years of debate & forensics. The events I competed in were primarily: Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public-Forum Debate, Congressional Debate, Policy Debate, Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, and International Extemporaneous Speaking. I competed in a few other events, but those were the main events I competed in. In my time competing in high school, I earned the rank of "outstanding distinction" in the National Speech & Debate Association and received numerous accolades. In addition to being a head debate coach, I am also a passionate social studies educator. Debate is a very valuable activity because of the skills it teaches students. Critical thinking, learning to cite sources properly, learning to build arguments, and learning to appeal to specific audiences are just a few of the amazing skills that debate imparts to students.
My Paradigm:
In order for the affirmative team to win, the plan must defend and retain all of the stock issues, which are Inherency, Harms, Solvency, and Topicality. For the negative to win, they need to prove that the affirmative fails to meet one of the stock issues. At the end of the round, I will compare the affirmative plan with either the negative counter-plan or the negative's status-quo position. Whichever side of the debate better explains their position and their arguments will be the winner of the round. Quality of evidence is very important in terms of making credible arguments. I consider rebuttals to be the most significant opportunity to show off your refutation prowess. In the rebuttals, focus on the big picture, that is, the most significant, hard-hitting arguments you/your opponents have made in the round. I don't place an enormous amount of importance on the quantity of your arguments, rather, the quality of them and the degree to which you were clear or unclear when making your arguments. Remember, debate is ultimately an exercise in communication. Please enunciate. I want to hear well reasoned, logical arguments backed up with solid evidence, presented in an aesthetically appealing fashion. In addition to this, please be a polite. It's certainly fine to be disagreeable in a debate round, but don't cross the line and become mean or degrading to your opponents in any way. If you do cross that line, that will certainly translate into a deduction from your speaker points and more than likely a loss of the round.
Important Notes:
Your quality of argumentation will determine whether you win or lose the round. Your arguments need to be comprised of a compelling claim, relevant data, a logical warrant, and a believable impact. Additionally, you need to weigh impacts. Speed is not preferred, and you need to be understandable. If you are not understandable, you will risk losing the round. Kritiks are not preferred. I find that Kritiks are often designed to stifle debate, not encourage it. I see the stifling of debate as an incredibly destructive force in our society and in the world at large. No clipping: follow proper evidence ethics please. Please be in control of your emotions at all times during the debate. No racism, sexism, or otherwise abusive behavior will be tolerated.
Hello! My name is Allie Ellsworth (she/her), and if you are reading this, I am probably going to be judging you in a debate round. I am currently a third year debater at Olathe Northwest and I have judged for several tournaments in the past years. Here are a few of my judging preferences:
Talking speed: Do. Not. Talk. Monotone. Give me some inflection. Use the tone of your voice to show me what parts of your speech I should care about. For novices, I don't think spreading is going to be a problem. But generally, talk at a medium/fast speed.
CX: Be nice during CX!! Do not get aggressive, do not be rude to your opponent. Please let each other finish, or be polite about moving on to the next questions. You don't have to be mean to prove your point!
I'm going to be judging you on your speaking as well as the arguments being made. I will most likely join your speechdrop/email chain to look at your speech structure as well.
Hello! My name is Derek Foster, I am a fourth-year debater at Olathe West high school.
I am quite qualified in the KDC-Varsity division, meaning, I absolutely love conversational debate.
I'm more than fine with DA/CP debates ...with this being said, I am not afraid to vote on Kritik's/ theory-level arguments.
having courage and spirit is key to me, remember, you are there to impress me. Not the other team.
Aggression is not bad, but being mean is not; no matter how good you are if you start to get mean, you will not win (any form of discrimination will mean the round is stopped and the team who commits the act will get a 7 and a loss.)
As long as there is any sort of evidence to back it, Your words will be much more important to me than your quantity of evidence.
Whatever you do, don't forfeit the round.
I will give a Reason for decisions (RFD) as long as the tournament is running on time.
If you read this you instantly have a better shot of winning the round. Good luck!!!
Please do not spread/speed read under any circumstance. I will not be able to understand what you are saying and I will more than likely score you lower.
Adiel Garcia
Add me to the Email chain: 124070@usd230.org
SHHS'24
I have debated cjr, water resources, and now emerging technologies.
Judging Preferences
I default to a mix of policy maker/game theorist judge. I view debate as a game and will vote on absurd plans/arguments. Also please disclose and don't spread. I view disclosing as something that everyone should do. Spreading is an ableist practice that makes baby Jesus cry. Don't be horrible people in debate, the world already has enough hatred and I refuse to participate in it, anything sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist, etc. will be voted against with low speaks. Ad hominem arguments are also cringe.
T-I've ran T more times than I can count so I'll understand how to properly run it. In order for me to evaluate it please have interpretation, violation, standards, and voters.
CP-I like them, make sure that they have solvency and a net benefit for me to vote on it. Topical CPs are fine.
DA-My personal favorite argument, there is nothing wrong with a generic disad, but a specific link will make it more persuasive.
K-I have dabbled in the world of kritiks and their different types, and like them. I am most familiar with imperialism,cap,security, and some Foucault. Anything else you would need to explain to me. The K needs to have an alt or else I'm left with no other action.
Theory-I prefer not to see it unless there is a genuine violation, Aspec and vagueness are acceptable
On Case-Always run it if you can!!!!
K-Affs/Performance-I've ran some K-Affs so have an understanding of how they work but I'm not an expert on them. If you are going to run one please explain it to me in great detail and why your advocacy is good/works.
Other-Closed CX> Open CX, Email chain>Speechdrop>flash drive> paper> not disclosing. Signposting and off times road maps are good, provide trigger warnings if needed, follow speech times, and keep track of your own time. Impact calc is always great.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
I am a 4th-year Advanced Debater from Olathe West and participate mostly in the KDC division.
I love DAs, CPs, T, Ks so run any arguments you would like to.
I will be very close to a lay judge but I can and will flow, just make sure to explain your arguments and you will be fine.
Most importantly have fun and be nice to each other
If you have any questions feel free to let me know before the round!
Brandon Haynes, he/him
Debated at STA for ‘20-’22, 3x national qualifier (Congress and LD).
The role of the AFF is present and defend an advocacy in response to the resolution. I’m fine if that advocacy is critical or policy-oriented, just tell me how the status quo is not good, the harms that causes, and your method (or plan) to resolve that. The role of the NEG is to tell me why the AFF advocacy is bad or undesirable for one or more reasons. I’m fine with whatever strategy you use, so long as it isn’t offensive or advocates for violence (that goes for both teams).
Some procedural specifics:
1 — For both online and in person debate, you need to slow down. A good rule of thumb is to read tags, authors, and analytics at a near conversational speed, and go as fast as you are comfortable on the text of cards. Please pause for a second when switching flows. Basically, debates where you all are going more like 260-280 WPM will be far better than 325-350 WPM.
2 — My policy experience is somewhat limited. I know more than my background would suggest, but you will get by far better with ample explanation/telling me how to evaluate things. I’m unlikely to understand the nuances of competition theory or complicated perms at first glance, but just explain these arguments more than you would in front of a college debater and I should be on the same page.
3 — I’m probably best for theory debates, Policy v. K, K v. FW, and to an extent K v. K. I’m able to evaluate any debate you all end up having, but I thought it might be good for you all to know where my knowledge base lies.
Any questions please ask or email!
I am fairly new to debate so I am still learning some of the fundamentals of debate. I prefer debates that are reasonably slower pace with a bent towards flow policymaking.
Alix Kunkle — Head Coach at Spring Hill High School
kunklea@usd230.org — Add me to your chain, please.
When judging rounds, I primarily vote on stock issues — have you convinced me that the AFF plan meets all of the stock issues beyond a reasonable doubt? I value clarity in arguments over words-per-minute. If I cannot understand what you are saying, I am very unlikely to follow your argument.
Please be respectful — and most of all, have fun!
Christy L'Esperance
Overland Park, KS
Judge Paradigm
I debated neither in high school nor college.
I've judged 1 preliminary round on this topic (Los Angeles Urban Debate League Summer Camp).
I prioritize communication skills and resolution of substantive issues equally. Substance and style are each critical in effective debate.
I emphasize debate skills when judging and prefer a moderate contest pace. While the pace should move briskly with an efficient use of time, an effective debater will appear more confident and in control of the information if the pace isn't rushed to an anxious level (stumbling over words, voice raises in pitch).
Counterplans are acceptable if justified and if consistent with other elements of the negative approach.
Topicality is fairly important, roughly on par with other major issues in the round.
I find generic disadvantages and kritiks acceptable if specific links are clearly analyzed.
I started debate in 2019 and am in my fourth year competing. I keep a good flow and like to be included on speechdrop. I'm pretty standard when it comes to arguments. Any speed works for me. I can handle spreading, although it's not my preferred pace. If you do spread just make sure I either have access to you evidence or you give a really good roadmap. For oncase, solvency and harms mit are always welcome. I think inherency args are pretty weak so if you make them they better be good. I love a DA that actually links to the Aff, but if you have a generic link, that works too. CPs are fine, but they aren't make or break for me. I don't necessarily mind Ks, but theory isn't my strong suit so you'll need to give some really good explanations as to why it matters. I like a good topicality argument, especially with a topic like this where it feels like every other case isn't topical. Lastly, just try to be civil during the round. I know debate can get pretty heated (especially during CX), but at the end of the day it's just a fun activity. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask at the start of the round.
Former high school and university policy debate.
Currently assistant debate coach.Tend to be a stock issues voter with some policymaker overtones.
You can speak as fast as you wish, but remember, this is an exerise in communication. If I cannot or do not understand what you're saying, then your arguments are lost on me.
Counterplans are OK (although for novices, I discourage them), but they need to be non-topical.
In general, not a fan of kritiks. I find them gimmicky, and designed to stifle, not encourage, debate. If done expertly, i will listen to them but as I said I'm not particularly fond of them.
Abusive language will not be tolerated. A sense of humor and witty self-deprecation are always welcome.
Lauren Carter, Assistant Coach at Olathe East High School
I debated for three years in high school (two years as a policy debater and one year in public forum debate) at Liberty High School in Missouri. I didn't debate in college, but have been coaching and judging since 2017.
Judging debate in general:
While your arguments and debate skills may win you the arguments in the round, how you hold yourself will reflect on my ballot as well. A well-spoken, professional debater with under-developed arguments who keeps their composer will get more speaker points, and maybe even my ballot, over a rude and/or unprepared speaker with solid arguments.
I do my best to flow all arguments made in the round. That being said, if you argument isn't clear and/or I don't know where to flow it because you're jumping between points and aren't clearly sign-posting, it may not make it on my flow. Please stick to your roadmap as much as possible if you give one.
I'm not a huge fan of scripted/pre-typed speeches, aside from the first speech of the round. Going off-script and giving me sound analysis and explanation shows me that you have a good handle of your arguments and will reflect well on the ballot. Being a good read and a good debater are not one and the same.
I'm not comfortable giving oral critiques or round disclosure after the debate. I will put comments on my ballots.
Policy: I'm okay with speed but would prefer that you slow it down a bit during analytics and explanations of arguments/cards.
I learned a more traditional, stock issue oriented style of policy when I debated, so that is what I have the most experience with. However, you are the debaters and know which arguments work best for you.
I especially love to hear good disads, but I also think that CPs and T are effective when argued well.
I don't mind kritiks and theory, but I don't have the background to follow them well without very clear explanations.
While you should respond to all arguments, I do believe that quality over quantity often comes into play when it comes to reading a bunch of evidence. If you're going to read a bunch of cards in a row, make sure they actually do something to support or build arguments, and make sure that argument is clearly stated. A good debate need clashing, and you can't leave that up to the cards and assume I'll get the point you're making.
I generally don't spend a lot of time looking at your speech docs. I'll mostly look at your doc as a quick reference to help me keep track of my flow. If I have to continuously look at your doc to follow you, you aren't being clear or sign-posting enough. If a card is called into question I will look at it, but I don't take evidence credibility or inconsistencies with cards into consideration unless you as the debaters bring it up, no matter how obvious a problem is when I look at your doc.
LD: I prefer a more traditional style of debate for LD and like to see rounds that bring out the distinct style of debate that represents LD. I would prefer to see debates centered on your case values, philosophy and logic.
Public Forum: I've judged PFD at local tournaments and prelim rounds at nationals.
You don't have to speak super slow for me but I don't enjoy hearing spreading during PF rounds. In this style of debate, I appreciate debaters who use their time well and know when to develop and expand on arguments and when to narrow the focus. You have longer speeches at the beginning so use this time wisely early on, especially for you second speakers. I generally don't flow last minute arguments late in the round, so be sure you and your partner are on the same page on building and responding to arguments when the second speaker on your side gives their first speech and during summaries.
Hello! My name is Ryan Seiter, I am a fourth-year debater at Olathe West highschool.
I am very qualified in the KDC-Varsity division, meaning, I absolutely love conversational debate.
I prefer DA/CP debates ...with this being said, I am not afraid to vote on Kritik's/ theory-level arguments.
having courage and spirit is key with me, remember, you are there to impress me. Not the other team.
Aggression is good, being mean is not; no matter how good you are if you start to get mean, you will not win/ any form of discrimination will mean the round is stopped and the team who commits the act will get a 7 and a loss.
As long as there is any sort of evidence to back it, Your words will be much more important to me than your quantity of evidence.
What ever you do, dont forfeit the round.
I will give Reason for decisions (RFD) as long as the tournament is running on time.
IF you read this you instantly have a better shot of winning the round. Good luck!!!
Well, tabroom literally deleted my paradigm and I hate repeating myself so here's the condensed version. #FREELUKE
200 rounds judged (yes I update this every round) (going for a record or something) and I'm a 3rd year coach.
I literally don't care what you run. As long as you know what you're reading. If you're rude to other people in the round, I'll think it's cringe and vote you down. Impact calc is always nice. I actually read your evidence so don't self-sabotage. Mean what you say, because a captain goes down with their ship.
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.*
If you read nothing else in this paradigm statement, read this: I reserve the right to vote down rude debaters and performers, based on principle alone. The world has enough anger; I won't participate in meanness. Not everything has to be sunshine and butterflies (I can be prickly, myself), but unkindness is a deal-breaker.
POLICY DEBATE: I'm a current head coach, but honestly I'm behind on some technical play and I may get lost if you get into the weird stuff. Still, I’ll try!
Having learned the game of debate before the ubiquity of the internet, I’m a classic (vintage?) example of a stock issues judge who likes fundamentally strong debate and who tends to dislike Kritikal debate because of the way it pressures the judge into unfair positions between competing social ills. Run them if you want and I'll make my best judgment, but if you put me in an untenable position of destroying the earth or ruining the humanity that's left, I won't like it. But even though I can flow rounds, weigh impacts, and know the difference between my aff and a perm, I firmly believe that speech skills actually matter-- stand up straight and make eye contact. Speak to the judge in the back of the room, not the electrons zipping across your screen.
I pine for the halcyon days of outline-structured arguments, numbered responses, and roadmaps that sounded something like “Disad #1, Topicality, Disad #2, then Case-in-order”.
It is not abusive to run new arguments in either second constructive; constructives are for constructing arguments; that is why they are called "constructive" speeches.
Paperless debate should make debate rounds faster and more efficient, not slow them down because we forgot to do the upload or sprawl with "did you get it?" email chain lags. If you're going to drag this round out for electronic reasons, keep your prep time running. It's not a voting issue, of course. But we all have a duty to keep the tournament moving.
Counterplans must be non-topical, otherwise both teams are affirming the resolution and both teams want me to vote Aff.
I am impressed when people seem to actually know their pre-prepared blocks, and when it seems like they've thought about this argument at least once before they're standing up to read at me. It's great when people understand the links and how to tell its story. It's less impressive if you grab the Generic DA team block and read it without knowing what you're reading.
L-D: I'm not exactly a lay judge in LD, but I'm not far from it. I'm very interested in how your Value will inform the rest of your case. Is it a recurring value that informs your position, or is it some noble idea that really doesn't translate into the rest of your argumentation? Debaters that claim a value/criterion and then ignore it for the rest of the debate don't tend to do well with me.
PFD: I have very little experience in this event. Treat me like a lay judge; I won't be insulted. Tabula Rasa doesn't actually exist, but I'm pretty close to natural Tabula here.
Other hills on which I will die: Jokes don't really work in debate rounds; two slices of mediocre pizza and some water is not worth five dollars; signposting is the difference between an average debater and a good one. In Policy Debate, open Cross-Ex is for the weak. Judges don't really want to shake your hand. Tabula Rasa is a unicorn. Medals should have ribbons. Hospitality rooms should have soda. Every debater should also do forensics.
Be nice to each other. Speak louder. And trust me on the sunscreen.
*This is the sunscreen joke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
Pronouns: She/her
Lansing '22
KU '26
4 Years Lansing HS Debate & Forensics
Lansing HS Assistant Coach
i don't really care what you run as long as you are clear about it, if i don't know what you're saying then i probably won't vote for you. i have a pretty good understanding of debate and basic arguments, if you run something confusing then EXPLAIN IT, jargon should also be explained if it's not a fairly common term just in case i don't know what you're getting at. i would rather you focus on fewer good arguments than try to run 9 off and not know how to explain any of it. if you wanna run a k or anything like that i don't care but i would prefer for it to be something you can clearly convince me of, your k should basically be an alternate reality and if i'm not convinced it can exist then i won't vote for it. win me on basic stock issues before you try to win me on some off the wall argument that is only vaguely relevant to the current debate. if i am judging you then i definitely want to be a part of the document sharing however that may be done, if there's an email chain that's cool: alexa.ymker@gmail.com. i also believe that the 1AC should be able to send the speech out as soon as the round starts so please make sure you are able to do that
speak pretty, have fun, and be an overall decent human !!! respect in a round is super important to me so if you can't respect your partner or competitors i will immediately dock points:)