National Collegiate Debate Championship (2006)

[sjiidebate]

personally, i prefer the WUDC format of debating. but then again, i've never debated in this way, so there might be something hugely awesome about vomitting a million words a second...

[zoikles1]

This is debating for aspies.

[shabido1]

'Look just cause I like to talk real fast and debate and stuff and George Bush and freedom of speech and every actress in The Facts of Life!!!! Yes people, facts, of, life!' Ya, i have no idea what just happened.

[TheJeamesbond]

I think these people don't have mind .......just can talk fast ....is it debate ? don't give another part a chance to reply?

[jo90114]

5:42 ed lee is a bamf



[tagcheeta1992]

Why do they talk so fast???....you cant even understand what they are debating about!

[TheLostRelic]

Klinger should have won one NDT he's a BEAST!!

[iluvlulu1221]

No wonder why Klinger's #1 speaker. Hes an amazing debater. Won TOC in '01. AMAZING DEBATER.

[xStanley360]

blame the democrats

[bulgariastan]

I was trying to get a feel for what a school debate looked like and that seemed like probably one of the worst uses of the word debate. Just rambling a bunch of crap so fast that it's almost incoherent really isn't that great of a debating technique as far as winning over someone with an argument. It seems to have just degenerated into some trivial rules and seeing who can follow them best.

[failureforthemasses]

@bulgariastan Policy debate is considered a game. Like having a better pair of cleats, that allow you to perform better, spreading compresses the most points into the least amount of time. There are also Public Forum, and Lincoln-Douglas debate, both of which put more emphasis on traditional rhetoric and points. There are other activities designed (especially for high schoolers) to teach about persuasion and effective speaking, but Policy Debate is not designed to be one.

[lawyer4817]

why is this on cbs?

[thenfm]

what a bunch of fags. debate is about having a BRAIN. that's why females and manginas FAIL at it.

[tigersforlife6767]

:53 Mike kearney!!!!! They best T debater in the land

[Romeismine]

@tigersforlife6767 But only the Brits like T!!

[ffavenger12345]

This is a competition, a game of clear understanding, and brains. The debaters need not persuade an audience, why? Do you actually think that what they talk about is what their opinions really are? No. They defend what side is given to them. So they just need to provide that they are right, but not really need to persuade other people. Because if you're smart enough, you'd know that they are only doing it for the trophy, not for an audience because the adjudicator is the only man to be persuaded

[ffavenger12345]

You obviously don't know anything about what a debate is.

Debate is not about p[ersuading an audience, and the audience who can really understand this are in reality, usually only debater.

THIS IS A COMPETITION, not a public speech. You are persuading the adjudicator, which can actually understand the debater even at speed. They talk fast because there is a time limit.

The important thing in a debate is not completely the manner of speech, but what is inside the speech.

[kindboy1996]

rapper would be fit in that contest

[tbenn77]

RIDICULOUS.............this is a really stupid form of debate!

[bwip9000]

NDT style debate is a patently unethical, uneducated and irrelevant form of communication. It continues its precipitous decline as a college-sponsored activity.

Who eliminated formal wear for debate too? The finals have the look of some homeless people speed-reading some index cards in order to score a free beer. What a joke.

[saraboo1999]

If you do not like debate then dont take the time to look it up and watch it, and insult thoes of us who do like debate!

[Celamim]

I did this and coached, both HS and college for almost 20 years, but have little to do with it now. Research has pretty clearly indicated that the only people who understand this are people in the debate community. While the ability to persuade may come later, this is an academic competition which ignores anything other than a hybrid audience.

[TheCbricker]

this is the funniest thing ive ever seen. Just fast paced reading,kind of pathetic really. No use of rhetoric or persuasion.

[Intrafuseproductions]

@TheCbricker I agree completely, i am chief of my debate club and i have never ever witnessed on of us, or our concurrents speaking so fast without any sort of purpose

[hartenp]

There are time limits on the speeches. That is the purpose. These debaters are some of the most intelligent people in the nation.

[Y2jandMannyR4life]

@Intrafuseproductions I play football and my Mom wants me to do debate team so I can put it on my college apllication. How do I do it without having my friends make fun of me.

[Intrafuseproductions]

@Y2jandMannyR4life Well believe it or not, I play football as well :P It really isnt that hard, just try to make it fun for yourself, it's common that debaters use strong language, funny/sexual/discriminating analogies and comparisons of the other debaters' physical appearance to fruits and vegetables :D

Just do your best and make the most of it ;)

[DuelinginRS]

@TheCbricker debate is about debating, which itself is the rhetoric and persuasion

[MarshunMartin]

It's all about pushing the debaters' limits. The faster they can gather information, think, and speak in a debate round, the better they are at researching, thinking, and speaking at lower speeds. (Even though they generally need some training and exercises to undo the damage that debate speed does cause, once they go through that, they have an incredible mastery of persuasion. It's the difference between a crappy motivational speaker and Winston Churchill.)

[tedfopreident]

why does everyone yell

[narutopokemon3]

Emphasize

[tedfopreident]

fags

[bigboy1252]

and thats why it sucks to do policy

[HybridHalfie]

Damn that guy at 2:20 is intimidating.

I like that line "No evidence, no offense, no chance"

Haha he does not even ask for an affirmative or negative ballot from the judges.

[thesupersurfer]

If your trying to make fun of policy debate I'd like to see you get over 1, 000 pages of evidence and construct over 40 cases, then debate every weekend for eight months

[Bell0my]

to everyone saying they can't understand:

the debaters here are not trying to make you, your parents, or your dog understand. they are simply talking to the judges and the judges only, and the judges can comprehend that speed. it's not meant to be understood by the general public.

"debate" might mean well-enunciated white preppy boy giving a moving speech.

"policy debate" can be that too, but more often is specific to something else, like that in the vid.

[thefanster87]

Policy Debate isn't really an educational tool, just a verbal sport.

You can't look at it through the lens of academia - it's nothing more than a game, and a difficult game at that.

[Therealmensa]

Ridiculous agenda. Speed speaking followed by a Q&A that wouldn't be respected anywhere outside this arena. Like show dogs, the fluffiest tail wins. The academic community should be ashamed of allowing what they call debate to decay into this saliva sling.

[Frosty5794]

Read Bell0my's comment.

If you actually knew what they were saying and how the arguements interacted you would call it the pinnacle of academic activities.

[Therealmensa]

If you actually knew that academia is intended to prepare individuals for a professional career utilizing their education, perhaps furthering knowledge within a field if they are talented enough, you'll realize how this ranks right up there with shuffleboard toward this goal. A waste of time.

[icrapyounot]

Worlds-style debating is the best :]

it's really more like public speaking than arguing like a 5 year old.

[LeandroCenturion]

Sadly the speed at which they debate - makes it seem more like the retard championship, rather than the debate championship. :{

[biagiotti2006]

I don't a point in arguing like this, lol it's so stupid, if you were trying to speak to the audience to persuade them then why speak so fast to where they can't keep up and understand what you are saying? They don't debate like this in court, they don't debate like this in politics...

it's fucking retarded.

[arcelivez]

Yeah, i don't get it and totally agree with you. :S

[rezaulramram]

the reason for this speed is so that they can get all their points out they got a limited amount of itme to speak. However i do concure the guy at 2:20-ish sounded like a fucktard. And there are people who can understand the speak at which they talk. Besides this is more of a game-these are mock debates so if u dont understand everything u catch wat u can and vote on that.

[overthefoothills]

@biagiotti2006 They debate like this for themselves. We know we aren't real policymakers, but we are essentially playing a game. Its just an extensive, in depth mental sport.

Also, saying that this type of debate doesn't occur in courts/politics, therefore is "fucking retarded," would be like saying battleship isn't anything like real naval warfare, therefore is "fucking retarded" so no one should ever play battleship and waste their time doing so. Thanks for your insight, yo.

[myles984]

@biagiotti2006 sir i am a debater and the reason tht we spread is too fit the enormous amount of info we have to into 8 mins of one speech and we do actually make sense but u have to have a trained ear to understand wht we are actually saying but when u actully listen u will understand that we are making very proufound and world changing arguments just show us our respect by not being ignorant and calling our grand sport stupid thks!!!!!!!!

[kkkaybugg]

"most people dont want change for the world they just like to fight about it"

[CursedK]

These debaters are dressed trashy as fuck

[newgarda]

there is a transfer now between being persuasive to squeezing in as much args/facts as possible. I think its a good thing

[Mikomi]

Blake Johnson is sooo dreamy! <3

[ansel2784]

SO, this is why the world no longer cares what college students debate about. What happened to the "Great Debaters"?

[OWC1987]

Yeah, the world has managed to get even stupider.

[DarthPookey]

Could someone clarify for me why they speak like that?

[peterthewurst]

to present as many arguments in the time you have.

its called spreading

[DarthPookey]

Thanks, personally to me it defeats the purpose of speaking well. but you do what you have to i guess

[lawyer4817]

@peterthewurst spreading is stupid

[cmonutube]

@lawyer4817 I agree wtf? debating is about making logical points. in the real world, no one is going to talk that fast to try and persuade someone about something

[cadyarvo]

Where are the women? I competed a bajillion years ago -- mid-70s -- and there were WAY more women competing. I see none here. Is this the usual?

[CursedK]

the speed is intimidating

[masir]

Ahh...brings back memories of HS. I remember practice spreading with pens in my mouth before rounds.  hhahaa.

[DC10FlyBy]

can you just weaet whatever you want in college debate?

[ErikTheCamachoNacho]

I really want to do college debate this looks so fun

[SandwichPirate]

Spreading RUINED policy and is infecting LD!!

[tpmunyon]

I debated for one season and did okay. Our varsity team of Lawrence and Snell was pretty good. Had a fun time, but really intense and an amazing time commitment.

[muffirno]

well yeah im a beginner when it comes to debating..but oh well...from my experience this really fast speakin casts an impact on ure rival team...this way u are giving them an impression that u are really good at it and confident! chances of interjections are reduced if there is fluidity in ure adress.

[Woolstenholme]

"To be the man, you've got to beat the man

-Ric Flair

get it right bitch

[jenchen81]

im not surprised that they talk fast what suprise me the most is that the way they gasp for air.

[warmuffin123]

Personally, I think speed is what makes policy debate great. Sure, to an outsider or to a person who participates in some other form of debate it can seem confusing and counter-intuitive. What you have to remember is 1) The people in the room all are trained to understand it, and the judges are most likely college coaches who do that for a living, and 2) Imagine the intellectual span needed to think of answers to this number of args and still make them persuasive. That's what makes debate great.

[TranceLakersLife]

I really dislike Policy debate if only for the reason everyone is harping on, THEY TALK TOO FAST! I've been competing in Parliamentary Debate for two years and it so much better than Policy. If anybody spoke as fast as Branson did they would get low low speaker points and lose the round.

[tnt1026]

Yeah agreed. What is with this? Like the debater in the beginning siad, they don't really care about solving the problems of this world, they just like talking as fast as they can and feeling some sort of victory, for making a point.

Is it good training for making a case at the U.N? I am not sure, but it seems like exellent training for making people dislike you.

[policyguy224]

Don't take her words for the upfront complexities in the education policy debate gives someone.

Sure real world policy makers and arguers dont speak 300 words per minute, but most arguments (besides theory and precedurals) ARE real world in the sense of philosophy, politics, rhetoric, logic, etc. If you were in the activity (not at a tournment or preparing or whatever) you would see the maddive education you gain. Mabye not in your debate career, but ask gradutes who debated, they'll tell you

[MissHeartxx]

i don't get why everyone is so suprised that these people talk fast... most policy debates sound exactly like this.

the reason they talk quickly is get the most amount of arguments out there as possible, and if you were to compete in this competition, you would be able to understand every word said.

[RMarine0204]

Listening to the 1 AC at around 4:50, all I could think was if you are going to run a speed Aff. then you at least need to have the lung capacity to not need to gasp for air every four words. You sound like you are about to die

[munsterlad]

This is the most ridiculous type of debating that I have ever seen. The purpose of debating is to persuade people as t the validity of your argument. How can you persuade someone when only the judges can understand what you are saying? This type of debating misses the entire point behind the activity.

[snoflyer2000]

wtf, talking fast? that is so pointless and stupid. During a debate, both participants should listen to each other closely in order to resolve the situation.

[HoundPride04]

From what I've come across, the whole point of a debate is the opposite from what you figured. In a competitive debate the point isn't to resolve a solution. It's just to win. And it seems that the fast talking screws up your opponent, resulting in a win.

[x4812k]

don't talk about debate if you don't know anything about it.

"fast talking" does not "screw up your opponent." Debaters understand the "fast talking" even if you don't.

[HoundPride04]

Shut the hell up you fuck tard. I know that debaters understand the "fast talking." And I know I don't know much about debating. I know they talk fast solely on the fact that they are on a time limit. However don't be a douche about it over the web. If we were face to face you would've thought twice before opening your trap and smarting off. A simple clarification (minus the attitude) would be a little bit better next time. Thank you.

[x4812k]

It's funny how you say "shut the hell up fuck tard" and then chastise me for "smarting off."

[sistahpri325]

debaters don't "fast talk SOLELY on the fact that theres a time limit"...debaters SPEED READ for a number of reasons :

1. Making it possible for mre arguments (the more arguments=mre answers that are needed which intensifies the round)

2. Sometimes forcing their opponent 2 take the time 2 read their cards

3. Everything that needs to be said must be said before rebuttals or it is invalid

1 key factor of debate is TIME. Winning relies on time almost as much as evidence.

[CABOOSE5150]

i believe winning should be relied on how effective they are at winning their audience. if it solely relied on listing evidence without any explanation then the debate or their cause is dead to me. you can call me stupid for not understanding your point of view as well, but your opinion is too subjective. speeding like this isn't realistic when it comes to using it in real politics. lol :D

[dsytf1]

The amount of arguments when you are in actual politcs is crazy. SPREADING is a just a way of showing the amount and diversity of the arguments.

[CABOOSE5150]

you mean talking fast? whats your point? why are you even replying to me? be more specific! :D

[msolice]

i think you are being pretty ignorant in this situation, first because when you spread you arent just reading evidence, you are also giving an analysis of the car and you have to do that every time you want to pull across a card on the flow and secondly if they have gotn as far as they have, this means that they have had lay judges that couldnt understand spreading, in which case they would have to be pursuasive, especially in high school, and UIL and 3 most of them do extemp also look it up

[CABOOSE5150]

oh since this kind of debate requires 2 look down on a paper or card & read, tat means there's no real talent 2 this then. a real debate would go up in front of the audience & speak without da help of notes on his hand. instead of listening 2 these fools i might as well rather read their notes or a book. u know nothing. ur opinions r 1 dimensional & have no diversity. i'm sure u will grow up to lie in front an audience just 2 become a politician 1 day. go run in texas ppl r retarded over there.

[sistahpri325]

The difference between debate and "real politics" is that you only have a few minutes per round to state arguments, authors, evidence, etc. Winning a policy debate round isn't solely based on any one thing, there are many factors that come into play. I agree with you that debate should rely on effectively winning the audience but to do so you must present all arguments & evidence within the time limit. In addition, the audience in a policy debate round is usually an experience judge who...

[sistahpri325]

understands speed reading.

[xEnemyLasagna]

"If we were face to face you would've thought twice before opening your trap and smarting off."

Laptop Gangster, fig. 1.

[CABOOSE5150]

that's the problem that you can't admit. the fact that only debaters can only understand the fast paced style of policy debate. it's also another reason why not many ppl go to attend and watch you guys except those that are somewhat involved with debate. if the masses agree with me already & can't keep up with their quick style then the debate is ineffective & pointless. if you guys are the only ones that can understand it, then u guys have already failed in convincing ur audience. lol :D

[Itriphus]

The thing is that a debater can adapt. A good debater can spread with time skews, but are intelligent enough to have a debate at a normal speaking speed. I witness this in LDers more than CXers because the LDers I know have learned their philosophy inside and out. CXers can still have a conversational debate, I tend to do this out of rounds with my friends about various current events and about the resolution at hand.

[CABOOSE5150]

you should explain what LDers & CXers are after mentioning them. i'm in no debate club and im just trying to send out my opinion on the style of debate this is. maybe if he read Waldon & read a little more on simplicity, people would listen more to what you have to say. some debates contain too much clutter in their arguments :D

[CABOOSE5150]

i meant if you read Waldon

[sistahpri325]

LDers are Lincoln-Douglas Debaters and CXers are Policy Debaters. Policy and Lincoln-Douglas Debate differ in style how rounds are structured.

[sistahpri325]

Yes it is true that MOSTLY only an experienced debater can understand accurate speed reading. But you're wrong about the part where you say debaters fail in convincing their audience because a debater's audience are experience debaters. Debaters are usually judged by former high school/college debaters who are trained and can undoubtedly understand speed reading...

[CABOOSE5150]

in my earlier comments about this video i was arguing that this kind of debate is unrealistic and does not appeal to the average audience. the audience i was referring to was a realistic audience in a real political debate and not some competition. i still believe this style of debate is ridiculously stupid & funny. they all sound robotic and dumb. & don't tell me that it takes a genius to understand fast words. i would understand it too if not every word sounded like a slur. :D

[sistahpri325]

its really not as difficult as every1 makes it out to be. It is unrealistic in some ways and in others it is exactly what goes on in real life policy making. Policy debate is a competition and a form of something similar to the real thing. Those who want to practice & compete in something thats exactly how it is in real life should do Mock Trial. Policy debate is fun, educational, diverse, annoying, and all of the above. Theres more good about it than bad, point blank period.

[xEternalx]

Why are the people talking so fast? How the fck is people suppose to know what they are saying? Is the point of a debate is to get your point accross? if your talking that fast, how is that suppose to happen? im confused man. Some please tell me what is going on lol.

[kangheadsayshi]

You don't have to talk fast, but the faster you talk, the more screwed your opponent is probably screwed.

You can get more information that the opponent has to argue back if you talk fast, and since debate is probably the only type of argument that is timed, so you're pressured to talk even faster.

[xEternalx]

eh?

[kangheadsayshi]

Most judges are previous debaters, so they can understand just about everything the debaters say.

And you have to talk fast beacuse just getting your point across isn't enough. You have to support it with evidence from reliable sources and prove why your evidence is better than your opponents evidence.

Debates have timed speeches, so you only have so much time to say everything. this pressures you to talk even faster.

[xEternalx]

i guess.. thanks for the insight.

[nidotre]

if this is the kind of debate which will be implemented, i'd rather not join any debates at all.

[Ragnar42]

Northwestern was pretty sick when I was debating back in 03/04/05.

[Trinkletty]

I have no lack of understanding of debating practices, having competed four times at the National Championships in Australia and being a member of the Australian National Team. The style of debate used in the tournaments discussed in this video is not the debate-style used at World Schools or Intervarsity tournaments, as it is generally accepted that this style results in a disproportionate manner over matter emphasis, as opposed to the benefits of the more widely used Australasian or BP styles.

[greenyspot55]

I'm in middle school, 7th grade, and I joined the debate club today, and the teacher for this club, showed us a video if what we are going to be doing and it is NOTHING like this!

[HawjPawj]

That's because middle school debate is hugely different from high school debate, and nowhere even close to college debate. Plus, your coach probably wants to start you off thinking critically/analytically before you start moving into the technical aspect.

[thecr3ativeone]

i joined debate in 7th grade im now in eighth i have met 4 of these people in the video and compete on a regional level this is exactly what i do lol

[ywabham]

I personally know Izak Dunn and spent 3 weeks in a debate workshop with him. Debate is more than just talking fast: it's analyzing how and why our world works. the people that deny debate as legitimate are just too scared to try it or just dont understand it. for you people, the game wasn't designed for you.

[Balonkey]

The sad thing is, none of you have worked as hard as any of them, yet you insist what they're doing is bullshit. There are reasonable reasons to disagree with some debate practices (there are certainly debaters who dislike the use of speed) but your own lack of understanding is not amongst them.

[andtheniwas]

hey, spartans. for those of you outside the world of academia, michigan state has been the team to beat for many, many years now. our football team might really suck but at least we know it.