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Hi all,
We would like to suggest a new event to run during defcon -- a debate tournament!
What is British Parliamentary Debate?
British Parliamentary Debate is a style of debating based on the how the British conduct business at their Parliament. Two teams consisting of two members each, face off against each other trying to defend or attack a certain proposition. Then another two teams pick up where they left. This is done in an organized fashion as detailed below.
Purpose:
Lead a constructive debate and most importantly, have fun.
Example propositions:
This house will ban the use of firewalls
This house will make hacking illegal
This house will legalize mandatory full disclosure
This house believes the source of evil in this world is Windows
This house will support giving guns to hackers
This house believes script kiddies should be shot
Hacking saves lives
Ninjas are better than Pirates
Family guy is better than The Simpsons
Kids who play video games kill people
Star Trek is better than Star Wars
Pluto is a planet
Beer should be free
Coke is better than Pepsi
RFID will put the economy in recession
Parliamentary debate has become increasingly popular in recent years. It differs from the regular college Policy Debate in that the participants have only 15 minutes prep time after learning of what motion (resolution) they are going to work with. It requires thinking on your feet and agile minds.
How it works:
The government team proposes and supports the motion, while the opposition team tries to tear it down and/or offer alternatives.
There are two government teams, and two opposition teams.
Each participant will have the stage for 7 minutes, in which time they need to either support or tear down the proposition, then switch with a participant from the other team.
Each speech is constructed of short rebuttal time (for the previous speaker) and introduction of new positive arguments to help their own case.
Opposing team can make Points of Information in which they have 15 seconds to speak during a speech not their own. The speaker can choose whether or not to accept them.
Who can participate:
Anyone who comes up with a team (2 people) and is familiar with the basics of parliamentary debate. We may cap the number of teams at 8.
You can read about it online and _special_training_material_ will become available in the coming months.
Rules:
1. Be professional.
2. Follow parliamentary procedure.
3. No swearing.
4. Have fun!
5. [Optional] Defcon rule addition: drink alcohol.
(judging team my enforce drinking when buzzwords, empty slogans and logical fallacies are used).
Example schedule:
Day 1 - 5:00PM Round 1
Day 1 - 6:00PM Round 2
Day 2 - 5:00PM Semi-finals
Day 3 - 12:00PM Finals
Organizers:
Gadi Evron
Dan Kaminsky
And... (roll drums)... Steve Llano
Steve Llano researches the relationships between rhetoric, poetry and argument. He studies argumentation theory, debate, rhetorical criticism, contemporary rhetorical theory, pedagogy of debate and argumentation, classical rhetorical theory, and argumentation and eastern thought.
Steve also directs the St. John's Debate Society, which competes nationally and internationally in British Parliamentary debating.
... Well, that's it.
We hope you like our proposal, and let the debating commence! :)
Gadi Evron, Dan Kaminsky, Steve Llano.
ge@linuxbox.org
We would like to suggest a new event to run during defcon -- a debate tournament!
What is British Parliamentary Debate?
British Parliamentary Debate is a style of debating based on the how the British conduct business at their Parliament. Two teams consisting of two members each, face off against each other trying to defend or attack a certain proposition. Then another two teams pick up where they left. This is done in an organized fashion as detailed below.
Purpose:
Lead a constructive debate and most importantly, have fun.
Example propositions:
This house will ban the use of firewalls
This house will make hacking illegal
This house will legalize mandatory full disclosure
This house believes the source of evil in this world is Windows
This house will support giving guns to hackers
This house believes script kiddies should be shot
Hacking saves lives
Ninjas are better than Pirates
Family guy is better than The Simpsons
Kids who play video games kill people
Star Trek is better than Star Wars
Pluto is a planet
Beer should be free
Coke is better than Pepsi
RFID will put the economy in recession
Parliamentary debate has become increasingly popular in recent years. It differs from the regular college Policy Debate in that the participants have only 15 minutes prep time after learning of what motion (resolution) they are going to work with. It requires thinking on your feet and agile minds.
How it works:
The government team proposes and supports the motion, while the opposition team tries to tear it down and/or offer alternatives.
There are two government teams, and two opposition teams.
Each participant will have the stage for 7 minutes, in which time they need to either support or tear down the proposition, then switch with a participant from the other team.
Each speech is constructed of short rebuttal time (for the previous speaker) and introduction of new positive arguments to help their own case.
Opposing team can make Points of Information in which they have 15 seconds to speak during a speech not their own. The speaker can choose whether or not to accept them.
Who can participate:
Anyone who comes up with a team (2 people) and is familiar with the basics of parliamentary debate. We may cap the number of teams at 8.
You can read about it online and _special_training_material_ will become available in the coming months.
Rules:
1. Be professional.
2. Follow parliamentary procedure.
3. No swearing.
4. Have fun!
5. [Optional] Defcon rule addition: drink alcohol.
(judging team my enforce drinking when buzzwords, empty slogans and logical fallacies are used).
Example schedule:
Day 1 - 5:00PM Round 1
Day 1 - 6:00PM Round 2
Day 2 - 5:00PM Semi-finals
Day 3 - 12:00PM Finals
Organizers:
Gadi Evron
Dan Kaminsky
And... (roll drums)... Steve Llano
Steve Llano researches the relationships between rhetoric, poetry and argument. He studies argumentation theory, debate, rhetorical criticism, contemporary rhetorical theory, pedagogy of debate and argumentation, classical rhetorical theory, and argumentation and eastern thought.
Steve also directs the St. John's Debate Society, which competes nationally and internationally in British Parliamentary debating.
... Well, that's it.
We hope you like our proposal, and let the debating commence! :)
Gadi Evron, Dan Kaminsky, Steve Llano.
ge@linuxbox.org
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