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Posted by: Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera May 30 2012, 04:19 PM

Venue: Newbury Football Club
Time: 1930
Date: Wednesday 30th May, 2012

For further information contact Shaughan Dolan via s.dolan.05@aberdeen.ac.uk

Posted by: Nothing Much May 30 2012, 05:13 PM

That sounds like a University link. Shame really. Compared to Government the Monarchy are just sparrows.
Who was Warsi?
ce

Posted by: Simon Kirby May 30 2012, 06:03 PM

This is Shaughan Dolan, the Liberal Democrat agent?

I can't get there tonight, but I'm quite interested. Debating on a forum is kind of easy because you have time to marshall your facts and phrase your argument, but making an argument live to a hostile crowd would be quite a challenge and I don't think I've ever been to a debate, it would certainly be an experience.

Anyone else likely to go to a future event?

Posted by: Andy Capp May 30 2012, 06:10 PM

I have the same view as you Simon. Winning a live debate, doesn't necessarily mean you are correct in your argument. It just means you have a better capacity for facts and figure compared to someone else. On-line debates would need a decent chair/mod though.

Posted by: Roger T May 30 2012, 06:44 PM

I suspect no-one from here will show up.
Would be most surprised.

Maybe hAndy Capp and GMR should show up. Would be very funny.

Posted by: Simon Kirby May 30 2012, 06:45 PM

I'm guessing that winning a live debate has a lot to do with persuasion and much less to do with facts and figures, I think they'd be good life skills to learn. It would just be so crushingly awful to try and learn by jumping in at the deep end.

I'm not sure what an on-line debate would look like. Would a moderated two-way debate be much of a spectator sport? It might be interesting to see - a two-way fixed-length debate with open voting at the end?

Posted by: Andy Capp May 30 2012, 07:03 PM

I'd say that the most persuasive people are the ones that can think on their feet, armed with facts and figures. Without
facts and figures, you can only appeal to an audience that has already made up its mind.


It could pretty much be like a regular form. Spread over a few days, but with the option to award points for posts, and a moderator to keep things relevant.

The problem with yes/no topics, is there is no such thing as a wrong or right and they can eventually disappear up their own waste dispenser. What would be interesting is if people were asked before hand what they felt on a scale of 1 to 10, and to see if the debate changed their view.

Posted by: NWNREADER May 30 2012, 09:18 PM

Using the forum for advertising?

Posted by: Andy Capp May 30 2012, 09:23 PM

Just repeating a news story?

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/newbury-debating-society-formed

Notwithstanding "the commitment to freedom of expression events are open to all, are of no cost and allow all members to participate".

Posted by: Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera May 30 2012, 09:45 PM

Dear Colleagues,

The debate this evening was lively and very interesting, with a cross section of opinions put forward in a well structured manner.

As to the outcome of the debate, well I will leave that for you to come along and find out in the future.

I have spoken with Shaughan Dolan who has organised this event, and it is anticipated that more debates will be held very soon, perhaps even as soon as two weeks.

It is hoped that people with a cross section of political and social opinions participate in these debates, which I have to say are rather enjoyable, as well as being informative.

Come along and have some fun!

Yours

Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera

Posted by: Andy Capp May 30 2012, 09:49 PM

Mr Uduwerage-Perera, would you please explain what the format of the debate is? How it works? Many thanks.

Posted by: Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera May 30 2012, 10:16 PM

Rather than give my interpretation of what the 'rules' and format are, I will seek 'silk' on this and post the resultant definitive response.

I can say though that opposing positions can be presented in non-personal manner that maintains that personal judgement about an individual is avoided. In fact some of the people speaking for, or against the proposition this evening had an opposing personal opinion to the stance that they had taken in the debate.

I will though come back with the format shortly.

Yours

Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera

Posted by: Simon Kirby May 30 2012, 10:28 PM

Yeah, you get that with local Lib-dem politics.

Posted by: Andy Capp May 30 2012, 11:56 PM

Sorry, but you'll have to re-word that!


We had a debate in a school lesson once. We were asked a 'for' or 'against' question and then asked to form two groups commensurate with out choice. We were then told that both groups had to form a debating committee to argue for the opposing point of view. It made for an interesting debate and in a little way, helped to illustrate how important it is to reason through ideas, even if they go against your instincts or principles.

Far too many people make their mind up, then look for arguments to support their judgement, and that is a gateway to bigotry.

Posted by: Roger T May 31 2012, 08:09 AM

I personally never understood the whole debating thing at school. I found it didn't really do much other than make a(the) student(s) feel like idiots. Being told to argue over a point you don't really care about or from a point of view you simply cannot relate to is not going to magically open your eyes to another side of the topic; it's just going to resent you more. It's very rare, rightly or wrongly that someone changes their viewpoint on something.

In an ideal world I agree with Andy Capp when he says people make up their minds without reading any sort of information about that topic but normally from a young age values are instilled from parents or friends.

See, I can do a serious post. I dislike being serious though. Makes you seem miserable.

This evening sounds perfectly acceptable if you're bored of the Salsa Dancing classes you take. Whoever goes to this event - don't invite me to your house for dinner. I feel I would fall asleep, face first in Spaghetti.
Although it would be interesting to see who, from this forum, turns up, and how weedy their arguments would be in real life. I'd like to see someone in particular, to see what they're like.
Here's a clue; I hope riddles are your forte. With the apostrophe above the e.
Rhymes with Pandy, Dandy, and has something to with pudding and pie.

Posted by: Andy Capp May 31 2012, 10:27 AM

I have the opposite view. Cannot, as you put it, is not true; maybe refuse to, is more likely. Beyond that, it wasn't about magically opening eyes to another point of view, or changing an opinion - one lesson at school is unlikely to do that, but to actually be able to put yourself in other's shoes does help to build a more rounded and tolerant person, I think.

Most problems we experience are largely of a lack of effective ecommunication; better jaw jaw, than war war.

Posted by: Simon Kirby May 31 2012, 11:26 AM

Practice debate isn't about the point at issue, it's about developing your rhetorical ability, because one day there might be something that you do care about.

Posted by: Andy Capp May 31 2012, 12:04 PM

Good point. Being able to persuade people who are reluctant, would be a useful skill.