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small progs and MPJ


Jeannie says I underestimate the ability of smaller, regional programs.  I
don't think so, I just think raw ability can only go so far.  When you don't
know the arguments that are being run successfully off of your circuit, 
your chances of being successful  are seriously diminished.  It's hard
to prepare for arguments you don't anticipate.  This doesn't mean that
you will always lose, but when two teams that are equal in ability meet, 
usually the most prepared, best evidenced team wins.  That's life, and 
that's how it should be. Please note: when I say "you", I don't mean you
or your team directly or specifically, but all teams.

Additionally, there are just different styles of debate.  The southern
circuit is different from the northeast, the north central is different from
the midwest.  Some circuits place greater emphasis on line-by-line, some
are more likely to accept "lumping and dumping", etc.  Unless teams are
exposed to different styles of debate, they are at a disadvantage.  The 
important thing is that teams get out of their region, at least a little.
Just exposure to other regions is enough to get teams out of a 
narrowmindedness that comes from debating the same teams over and over
in front of the same critics.

I also don't think that we are the exception to the rule.  We are in a
region with many other teams who are just like us.  We don't have a huge
budget and what we do have is split between debate and I.E..  It doesn't require a huge budget to leave the region now and then.

Now, before what I said in my previous posting gets misconstrued.  I didn't
say small programs shouldn't go to nats. Hell, if that were the case we
wouldn't be there.  I didn't say small programs can't be successful at nats.
I DID say that these small programs are at a disadvantage if they don't get
out of their region.  I think that only makes sense.

I think that most teams do.  Which is why I don't think that MPJ uniquely
hurts small, regional programs.  The vast majority of small school at
least  experience of few different regions during the fall and spring 
semesters, even if they are regions that are nearby.  At that point, these
schools have a knowledge of judges to strike or prefer that are not in 
their regions, and therefore wouldn't be eliminated by regional constraints.
MPJ keeps the debaters happy and also should make judges happy, as they
are less likely to hear rounds that they don't want to hear.  If this
upsets someone, or someone objects to MPJ-it shouldn't be because of some
appeal that this props up the elites.  it neither props anybody up, or
brings anybody down.  Please note: I also object to the term "elites" that
is frequently used on this listserv.  I don't think you classify a team as
"elite" because they frquently win-it just means they are doing something
right.


Mike Ross
Marshall U
Archive created by Jonathan Stanton (jonathan@cs.jhu.edu)
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