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info topic rocks
1) as the big "d" (who? "TOC Boy") says: those areas are WEAK. Latin
America? That's really stretching it to say that it is a really
interesting topic area. I remember the high school debates over Latin
America were only interesting because of Soviet/US ties to the region. Is
it a timely topic area, or just the only foreign policy topic of the bunch
so people therefore like it over the others? OK, I proposed Tenth
Amendment to the topic committee, but I also proposed info tech.
2) Simple to research. Negative land: "information technology" contains
the word "technology." "Technology" contains the root "tech." Get it,
tech=nano, nano-a-life, we all die. Simple disads. Easy to research (Levy
and Drexler) (I probably just cost the topic some votes, sorry.)
Affirmative land: Plan: give 3 Lexis accounts to all schools participating
in CEDA debate. Counterplan: give 2, use the other money for SDI (just
lost more votes...). Plan-plan: give 3 plus one (don't start THAT
discussion back up again). (Korcok, where are you? You don't have to wear
that silly costume to play magic!). Why not debate about what we do?
Those would be awesome debates, with one heavily Lex-ercized school
debating the value of Lexis for debate against the non-Lexis-advantaged
school arguing the demise of the activity. Talk about debating that which
you believe in...
3) we're obviously all interested in the subject since we're using these
silly boxes we call computers which hook into the plug where the phone is
supposed to go.
4) relevant. Seems as if diffusion of on-line systems and the problems it
may create are everpresent in the popular press. Debate over regulation of
this system will inevitably become an important issue in the coming years.
why not be on the cutting edge of this discussion. I think Cornell may
start to charge students for use of their system in a few years. I agree
with Will when he says that this topic presents issues which directly
affect the CEDA community.
5) I also agree with Will that the info tech topic area seems to open up
our community to new members. A topic area which most people can relate
to, have a minimal amount of knowledge about, and which will AFFECT THEM
sometime in the future will be very valuable for people in the activity as
well as people interested in debating. I would be much more likely to join
the debate team if the topic area was something which would have a bearing
on my life than something further removed. Oceans and Latin America
back-to-back doesn't seem too attractive to outsiders (unless it's beach
nudity.....in Brazil)
6) I specifically support Will Baker's topic about equal access to on-line
systems. I'm sorry that I don't remember the specific wording. It could
be modified to take on a policy or value spin, depending what preferences
are. I think it raises fundamental issues of equality, rich/poor gap, the
role of government in tech, etc.
7) Disad variety-- Ch-Ch-Ch-China. Let's all repeat Konable together....
It's back. As is power projection. Hardliners. Ooooooh, what
argumentative variety. And the UN counterplan. (or OAS, for some
variety). Such fun. It may be a good idea to pick a topic radically
different than the last one we debated. Info tech (as well as the other
three (although China links to sports, I guarantee it, and probably to
tech)) presents vastly different issues from oceans, while Latin America
raises many of the same (sea cucumbers, we'll be there to help soon. just
stay calm)
I don't have enough time or energy to evaluate info tech versus the three
other topic areas. It seems (at least from the people the choose to wade
in on the list) that Latin America is the preference of some. I think info
tech is much more pressing and interesting than Latin America.
Adam Chud
Cornell University
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