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Re: The Judges Will Have a Lot of Explaining to Do! (fwd)

> Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 08:15:08 -0600 (MDT)
> From: tjewell@unm.edu
> To: Issues concerning CEDA Debate <CEDA-L@cornell.edu>
> Subject: Re: The Judges Will Have a Lot of Explaining to Do! (fwd)
> 
> About 15 years ago, John Shosky, who was debating for Colorado College, 
> was trying hard to explain the weak link story of a disad being run by 
> the negative (this was in NDT).  In John's 2AR he told the three judge 
> panel, "If you vote on this disad, I want to see the source citation of 
> the link card on your ballot."  As strong as that was, I found it to be 
> very effective.  Two of the judges looked at the link cards, and found 
> they just didn't do the job.  I thought the approach was appropriate and 
> effective, even if a little intimidating.
> 
> Tom Jewell
i hope that this story does not serve as a lesson for other debaters for 
one reason only.  it further serves to advance the position that without 
out a card, you don't have an argument.  this line of thinking is 
especially prevalent in ndt debate.  logical solvency arguments, 
uniqueness takeouts to da's, unevidenced presses of any kind are often 
discarded.  if an arguments is bad, or the evidence doesn't provide a 
warrant for the claim presented, then explain why.  "you'll have a lot of 
explaining to do" is a warrantless claim.  if as a debater you can't 
explain why an argument is not worthy of being voted on, then you have 
failed to persuade your critic and deserve to lose; attempts to 
intimidate judges do nothing to further the activity.  finally, don't 
forget that most of the "bad judges" won't stick around to justify their 
decision anyway.  they will give you the old "come find me later" or 
"i'll put it on the ballot" and we all know how well that works.


John Niedfeldt-Thomas
Mary Washington College/George Mason University


now i lay me down to sleep
i pray the lord my soul to keep
and if i die before i wake
i pray the lord my toys to break
so none of the other kids can use them

"prayer of the selfish child" by Shel Silverstein

Essential Information			|   Internet:	jthomas@essential.org
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