Re: response to wojtysiak

[Alan Dove <ad52@columbia.edu>]

> >Try to remember too the possible backlash students face when they do
> >speak out. Debaters risk alienating potential judges with their expressed
> >viewpoints.  Is this a little paranoid?  Perhaps, but it does also exist. 
> 
> Argumentum ad vericundium.  Reliance on the unidentified source is
> hardly compelling.  Give me some examples of where coaches have
> backlashed against a student expressing a opinion about a year long
> topic, one toppic vs. two, etc.

What I find troubling is the fact that there are students who feel this 
way at all.  Empirical examples of backlash occurring would be 
irrelevant, I think - the important point we should note here is that 
this belief exists among students, and it appears to be preventing some 
of them from posting.  That's a serious problem all by itself.  It would 
be useful to know how many students (or what proportion) feel this way, 
but the very existence of the fear is enough to justify action on the 
part of judges, I think.  Talk to your own debaters and see if any of 
them fear reprisal for stating their opinions.  I think the inhibition of 
free speech within the debate community should be a serious concern, 
whether the mechanism of that inhibition is based on real occurrences or 
a mindset.

          --Alan


__________________
Alan Dove
N3IMU
ad52@columbia.edu

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References:

• response to wojtysiak
• From: Rodger Biles <BILESROD@esumail.emporia.edu>

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