One of three debate events currently in use by the National Forensic League (NFL). Also known by its initials, LD, Lincoln-Douglas was named for the famous debate that took place between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas before the Civil War. The event is differentiated from the other two debate styles in that, firstly, only one person competes per side (as opposed to the two-person teams of PF and CX), and secondly, it concentrates on issues of value and morality rather than plan, the fixation of policy debate and (theoretically) PF.
Lincoln-Douglas debate was formed in the 1970's by John Copeland as a response to the increasingly academic and technically obsessive style, also known as "progressive," that had manifested in policy debate, and is therefore seen to be more of a rhetorically inclined event than policy. On the other hand, the relative depth of focus and emphasis of logical analysis LD demands makes it more technical than PF. Contemporary coaches and LD critics disagree on which influence should (or rather, ought to) be more important.
The odd-ball of the debate family, LD attracts criticism from CXers who don't understand its conspicuous lack of cards, or evidence, and its prioritization of speaking style--though some have come to grudgingly appreciate it. PFers, who carry a significant aversion to the mention of philosophy, a critical part of the LD debater's repertoire, opine that the event is "too open-ended"--roughly translated, "too smart"--for their tastes, and only jokingly claim that they will enter it. Fortunately, nobody cares what PFers think about debate, if anything.
Lincoln-Douglas debate was formed in the 1970's by John Copeland as a response to the increasingly academic and technically obsessive style, also known as "progressive," that had manifested in policy debate, and is therefore seen to be more of a rhetorically inclined event than policy. On the other hand, the relative depth of focus and emphasis of logical analysis LD demands makes it more technical than PF. Contemporary coaches and LD critics disagree on which influence should (or rather, ought to) be more important.
The odd-ball of the debate family, LD attracts criticism from CXers who don't understand its conspicuous lack of cards, or evidence, and its prioritization of speaking style--though some have come to grudgingly appreciate it. PFers, who carry a significant aversion to the mention of philosophy, a critical part of the LD debater's repertoire, opine that the event is "too open-ended"--roughly translated, "too smart"--for their tastes, and only jokingly claim that they will enter it. Fortunately, nobody cares what PFers think about debate, if anything.
"You just got out of a round of Lincoln-Douglas Debate, right? How'd the round go?"
"Well, I dropped his second attack on my criterion, but he totally bungled his defense on my subsumption of his value--I managed to turn it so hard I used it as a voter. I refuted the warrants on both of his contentions, and he never really brought them up again...did you want to see my flow?"
"No, thanks. How'd the CX's go?"
"I still have blood on my penis."
"High five!"
"Well, I dropped his second attack on my criterion, but he totally bungled his defense on my subsumption of his value--I managed to turn it so hard I used it as a voter. I refuted the warrants on both of his contentions, and he never really brought them up again...did you want to see my flow?"
"No, thanks. How'd the CX's go?"
"I still have blood on my penis."
"High five!"
by Ragaxus September 20, 2009
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1. "What are you doin afterschool today?"
"Well, I'm obviously going to go home and massively debate."
2. Oh wow. That Matt Orton kid really needs to loosen up. He should go home and mass debate about something.
"Well, I'm obviously going to go home and massively debate."
2. Oh wow. That Matt Orton kid really needs to loosen up. He should go home and mass debate about something.
by Wanganat0r December 2, 2004
Get the mass debate mug.A debate where people are discussing which group of people is ruining society the most, special snowflakes because of their oversensitivity, and edgelords because of their overinsensitivity, without realizing that it's technically both of them who have done the most damage.
Is there any reason to have an edgelord vs. snowflake debate? They're both equally toxic and have been ruining our culture for years now.
by CelticEagle February 17, 2019
Get the Edgelord vs. Snowflake Debate mug.Two-person team debate in which one team (the affirmative) generally proposes a policy which they advocate throughout the brave. The negative then argues against the affirmative case and plan on several levels - procedural, kritikal, and policy. Constructive speeches (2 per team) last 8 minutes and are punctuated by an additional 3-minute cross-examination period in which the opposing team asks questions to clarify and discredit the speaker's positions. Rebuttals (again, 2 per team) last 5 minutes and have no cross-examination period.
On the national circuit, and many other "champ" or "varsity" tournaments, delivery rate is extremely rapid, resulting in an atmosphere that emphasizes strategy and good argumentation over delivery and persuasion.
On the national circuit, and many other "champ" or "varsity" tournaments, delivery rate is extremely rapid, resulting in an atmosphere that emphasizes strategy and good argumentation over delivery and persuasion.
My parents used to get upset over the time I spent on policy debate - cutting cards, travelling to tournaments, and such.
by W Swanson June 11, 2006
Get the policy debate mug.This term is generally used when two or perhaps a few more people debate something so obscure, or perhaps simply uninteresting to the general public, that they are the only people on the planet who know about the subject, and therefore know so much more about this specific subject than everyone else that they can only be deemed "scholars" on the subject.
Ex. 1
Scholarly debater 1:
"The other day my friend from Finland and I got in an argument over whether or not it was proper for Miklos Spanyi to use a piano forte rather than a period instrument such as the harpsichord in his recent recordings of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's keyboard concertos. We thought it would be on the news.. but it wasn't."
(sadly this is for the most part a true story)
Normal person: "The fuck are you talking about??"
Ex. 2
Scholarly debater 2
"More recent lab studies on Rhesus monkeys have suggested that old studies showing that cannabis damages the hippocampus were based on unsound and dishonest methods (not surprising since they were government sponsored) and that even at 100 times the amount that would get you high, there is actually a total lack of any long term effects on the hippscampus region of the brain."
Normal Person: "Hippo what?? fuck this, I'm going to go smoke a bowl."
Scholarly debater 1:
"The other day my friend from Finland and I got in an argument over whether or not it was proper for Miklos Spanyi to use a piano forte rather than a period instrument such as the harpsichord in his recent recordings of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's keyboard concertos. We thought it would be on the news.. but it wasn't."
(sadly this is for the most part a true story)
Normal person: "The fuck are you talking about??"
Ex. 2
Scholarly debater 2
"More recent lab studies on Rhesus monkeys have suggested that old studies showing that cannabis damages the hippocampus were based on unsound and dishonest methods (not surprising since they were government sponsored) and that even at 100 times the amount that would get you high, there is actually a total lack of any long term effects on the hippscampus region of the brain."
Normal Person: "Hippo what?? fuck this, I'm going to go smoke a bowl."
by Max Senalger August 25, 2011
Get the Scholarly debate mug.the long version of the abbreviated "Mass. Debate Team", members are often referred to as the "Mass Debaters".
John: Hey you wanna sign up for the Massachusetts Debate Team Jimmy?
Jimmy: Naw, that ain't mah thang
Jimmy: Naw, that ain't mah thang
by DickForFree January 5, 2010
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