Coming to college, I never thought I would be part of the debate team. It seemed like such a stretch from what I normally did. In high school I played sports, I performed in theatre, and I even competed in oral interpretation competitions (the counterpart to Debate in Speech and Debate). This "world" people called debate was like a foreign country to me – or at least I thought it was. The more I thought the more I realized I have been debating my whole life.
Debating wasn't so much an activity I did growing up as a way of survival and life; growing up with two older brothers will do that to you. My brothers were good at it, too, which only made me better. So when I got the opportunity to finally actually do it, I was hooked from the start. Now I have been debating for three and a half years, and now it seems like part of my identity. So, naturally, when I talk to people for the first time I mention that I am a collegiate debater. This always gets a response, so I have decided to put a list together of exactly what debaters hear when they tell someone they debate. Prepare to be taken on a journey of annoyance, fake laughter, and questions that are not unique, but rather a daily routine in the life of a debater.
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1. "You debate!?! Will you debate me? Pick any topic!"
How about... no? For some reason announcing that you are a debater makes people think that opens you up to argumentation at all times. I could argue you, don't get me wrong, but the thing is that debaters have experience debating. We debate day in and day out and have learned not to take debates personally. A person who doesn't debate might and more than likely will take it seriously and personally. In the end, you will walk away upset and I will look like the jerk emotionless about the situation. In the end, don't ask to debate me because I won't, and if I wanted to, it wouldn't be fun for either of us.
2. "Do you ever have to argue against something you don't agree with? I could never do that!"
All the time. It is debate, if you cannot debate the other side of an issue you probably haven't done enough time researching everything there is to know about what you are so passionate about and shouldn't hold such a strong opinion without all the facts. That also is probably the reason I am a debater and you are not. If you cannot hold an open mind, debating will tear you apart. In the end of the day, just because I argued the opposite side of an issue, does not mean that I have to change my belief system, in fact, I might come out more informed and have even stronger beliefs because of it.
3. "So like, what kind of debate do you do?"
Be prepared for a long answer! This is actually a really exciting question for debaters if you are willing to listen. If not, you will regret ever asking it. There are many forms of debate and many different variations of the forms. It is hard to put it into a few sentences without it being completely vague and hard to understand. That being said, we are more than willing to go on and on and on about this!
4. "How do you feel about....."
Okay, I do care...a little. This, however, is mostly just a person trying to start an argument. This is only a question sugar coated as a conversation starter. Debaters are not the end-all be-all of information. We are more informed than most but overall we have personal biased opinions too. You might disagree, and then want to start a debate. If you are playing this game all you are going to do is anger us, and trust me, the last thing you want is a debater angry, then we might just disagree with you on purpose just to tear you apart in an argument. In the end, if your intentions are good, then are response will be too.
5. "So what do you debate?"
Well, depending on what you debate, not everything but some forms literally do. I once debated deporting Justin Beiber (which I supported not deporting him and won, doesn't mean I am proud of it). Debating is complex and it is less what we debate about and more how we debate about it, and if that made sense to you contact your nearest debate team and sign up.
6. "Oh, I bet you're good at arguing!"
First, I know this is not a question but is almost always said in order to follow up with a question. Also, arguing and debate are not exactly the same thing. What I practice doing every day, research for hours for, and formally compete in is much different than that time you told off your friend because he picked the Long John Silver's/KFC over the Pizza Hut/Taco Bell. Also, there is an obvious answer to the argument with your friend, and if you don't clearly know that, then you shouldn't be on a debate team!
7. "So how do you practice?"
How does basketball, volleyball, soccer, or any other sports have a practice? We just do it. There, of course, are drills to focus on getting better at certain aspects, but it really is that simple. Practice makes perfect! It is important to understand that like any extracurricular activity, you do the activity in order to improve on it.
8. "Oh, so like the Presidential Debates?"
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! First, those are not debates. At most, they are a question and answer session. Second, a real debate would be much more logical and coherent than whatever that last group of "Presidential debates" were. Debaters often watch those and laugh. Real debate is a clash of minds, knowledge, and an educational experience. So, pretty much everything the presidential debates are not.
9. "How do you win?"
This is the question for the ages. It is a judged activity so it is subjective. You can win some you thought you never would, and lose others you thought you destroyed. The judges decided on if they were persuaded by arguments, speaking ability, and whether the rules were followed. The way you win is up to you. If you work hard and put your all into a debate, you never "lose." That is why I say, I have never lost a debate (subject to interpretation).
10. "Are you a Master Debater?"
........................................Never heard that before.
