There has been a slight change of plan with regards to the debates league, mainly due to the huge amount of time that would be involved in the league, and because already we've seen quite a few people step down before the league has even gotten started.

Instead we are going to host a 'debate tournament', a much smaller scale debate competition in which participants will only need to take part in two or three debates each.

We'll start with 8 participants, who will debate one another in four 1v1 debates. The winners will then continue on to the second round, and will play one another there. The two winners of this round will then debate against one another and the winner of that debate will have won the tournament.

The same rules apply to these tournament debates as to normal debates, and they will be judged in a similar manner also.

To organise this, to begin with we need all those who would like to take part in the tournament to post in this thread. Those who already signed up for the league can also post here to reaffirm their interest, and will take priority over newcomers for placements.

I want to apologise to the leaguers for this sudden change of plan, but I think the league's scope was far greater than was practical for the debates forum, and the tournament should provide a much smaller and more manageable contest for our participants.

Existing debates in this section will be able to continue through to completion before the tournament begins.

Great idea!

Kudos to the person who thought that up, genius they must be

Yeah, put me in for the tournament also. Truth be told, when I first heard about the league, I thought it would be a knock-out competition (or maybe a group of pool matches, followed by the top 2 or 4 playing off in a knock-out round.

Does that mean the first round of the league was largely irrelevant? A suggestion, depending on how many people are in the league - maybe the winners of the first round of the League can maybe get a first round bye, with automatic entry into the second round (though it's a little problematic as to how that would impact on the debator's who lost but still wish to participate).

I dunno, just a thought to consider.

Edit: another thought that just occured to me - the cut-throat nature of an elimination-based tournament might unfairly advantage or disadvantage certain debator's. If the topic chosen to debate is right in the comfort zone of one debator, but a topic the other one has never studied, it can be a massive mismatch. In a league format, chances are the topics you know well or not so well even out over the rounds and no one's disadvantaged, but with a one-loss-and-you're-out mentality, this might be a massive problem, with people getting through just by the luck of the debate they get assigned.

I don't know how to get around this without adding more debate's (which is what you're trying to avoid), but it's something that might need to be worked on.

Regards, PA

Awwww....Oh welll...

Put me in for the Debate Tournament.

Is it too late for more debaters?

Ok sounds good,
But what is going to happen to the debates that are already half way through?

As Saruman stated the debates will continue so that a winner can be determined. Those scores will then be added to the 2006 scoreboard.

Like this ?

I see where you're coming from but I'd argue that the sign of a good debater is one that can pick up any topic and be able to put over a convincing argument for whichever side, plus it might even encourage debaters to do that little bit more research.

Although already being familiar with the topic may be an advantage some research will still need to be done, I'm sure out of over 34,000 members we can find 8 who are willing to debate any topic, any side for the title.

so can i get in, or am i out cause i lost my 1st league debate ?

^ Your result in your one and only league debate will not in any way affect the application process. As we have stated before ALL leaguers will be given priority over other applicants.

am i too late ? i want to be a part of this new debate idea as you can see ive never backed out ,...i just now read this new post , as it was posted yesterday, my computer printer , ive been trouble shooting and still dont have my printer working ,but that will not stop me from debate . im interested and hopefully the board will favor me in due to my troubleshooting time and my efficiency from my prior debates here on the UM website. please consider my plee as i love this topic . DEBATES

Its what I live for

wwhaa ahhahh waa{evil laugh no joke}
Abecrombie

i must be a good debater, even if my oppentent failed to continue on with the topic at hand for whatever reason{ by the way it was a general debate between seaons ...} i was given one that challenged my beliefs and was able to find enough info and creative sources at hand. i looked high and low and was able to work around my personal feelings by studying and researching for hours if neccessary. enough to find much available or neutral directions to go forth with topic. ive never let the board down and do not plan on it unless health issues come up . actually my health depends on using my brain to the fullest. therefore i must use my brain the only way i know how. by using it the only way i know how .read,research,..read, research thats why ill leave the rest to all the best . and hope im considererd . Tom petty ,like or know like says it best " i wont back down "

^^Yah, I see what you mean. a good debator can find the info, but sometimes there's things just not available to the average person, even with extensive googling.

For example, if a debate was started: Stanislavsky vs Meyerhold, which is the better system, most people wouldn't know what the hell it was. The info on the net will give you SOME knowledge, but not anywhere near an extensive list. As opposed to myself who's studied these guys at uni for 3 years, have books full of them, articles with highlighted quotes just ready at my fingertips, a uni library full of rare books you can't get elsewhere on them.

Not only do I have a wealth of knowledge that other people would not, I know the strengths and weaknesses of each of their systems already, I don't need to do a heap of research.

If you know what I mean.

Regards, PA

^Well I`ll be sure to not give you that debate topic PA!

The above scenario you provided us with could easily happen to any debater, its simply the luck of the draw. Even though you may know more about the topic and have immediate access to more information on it it doesn`t necessarily mean that you will win the debate.

^D'oh, I wanted Stanislavsky
Fair enough. Chances are the debates won't be so specialised either. I guess it doesn't really matter anyway, since I didn't intend on losing any of my debates, LOL.

Regards, PA

whhooh .... Speechless,...scared,....impressed ,...excited,...but im still a little new but i think you speak my language paraniod android ......... your the man , HELP. lol

I'm up for it. woot. sorry everyone i may superimpose due to my status as a debate leaguer. that is if i get picked..

I don't know if it is to late but i would like to be in a debate competition. i have not been involved in any debates on your site but i am a talented debater as a member of my University Debating team

Just wanted to say congrats on the win to Glacies, it was close, but that only counts i horseshoes and handgrenades.
You better win now man

Just wanted to say sorry to you all for not being around as much, i have had a fair few troubles lately, assignments and im sick atm, so im really really sorry

And I also wanted to say to my darling Aztec I thank you so much for taking it all by yourself, you're an amazement hunny, you truly truly are, I adore you for everything you do, on UM and in real life.



p.s. Dad says the saints are losing *giggles*

Thought I should add to keep including me in this lol

i'm new here and i dont know much about these debates but sign me up please.

Okay everyone over the next few weeks the debate tournament is finally going to be set-up.
There are eight remaining leaguers so I will need to get you to reaffirm your interest and ability to compete through pm's which jen and I will send out. If any aren`t able to compete then one or more of the other members who signed up here will take his/her's place.

i am reaffirming ,....o.k? alright? let me know

I'm reaffirming as well.

The eight remaining leaguers have all been sent a pm in regards to joing the first debate tournamnet here on UM.

So far we have had Glacies, Abecrombie, Subtemperate, Paranoid Android and Frogfish all reaffirm their interest in this competition.

Kryso however will be unable to participate so one of our new applicants will take his place.

Once all eight have responded we will either get started immediately with the tournament or fill the vacancies with new applicants.

I'd like to debate

I am reaffirming..So is Subby...as stated earlier in the thread.

Well so far only 6 have responded to either this thread or the pm all leaguers were sent. If I do not recieve any word from the remaining two within 4 days then they will just have to be replaced as we cannot wait forever.

Did you get my PM, aztec? My message tracker still says you haven't read it yet, though you did reaffirm my interest in an earlier post in this thread, if I recall correct.

Yes I have recieved it and read it. I only read it though in the mini-window that appears and gives you the start of the message unless its short enough to fit, which yours was.

just checking in on the tournament .

AztecInca, Saruman, tiddlyjen and fellow board debate members

i still want in the debate tournament ,.i hope this all works out somehow,.
im interested still ,...put me in



thank you
Abecrombie


Edit: abecrombi when you have questions regarding a debate you are participating in please just ask them through a pm rather than posting them in an active topic. Also this tournament will be going ahead, do not worry about that.

There are only a matter of hours remaining before the former leaguers may reapply for this league. If they do not let me know wither via pm or this thread then they will have to be replaced. If this is the case then three new participants will be chosen from either the league or tournament sign-up threads.

Edit: OK the deadline has now passed and we have 5 former leaguers taking part as well as three new members who will be chosen as quickly as possible. These members will be notified via PM's and once three have confirmed they wish to take part the debates will be set-up.

Glacies, Abecrombie, Subtemperate, Paranoid Android, Frogfish and AtlantisRises are who we have competing in the debate tournament currently. PM's are being sent out to others who have expressed interest in debating and hopefully the final two positions will be filled quickly.

Your the bomb AztecInca

I would just like everyone to please remain patient as we are still trying to fill the remaining two positions. One in fact may be filled but we have not yet recieved full confirmation from this member.

If you do know anyone who is interested please let either myself or tiddlyjen know via a pm.

We sincerly apologise for the delay.

ME ME me

Bigfoot_Is_Real we are currently in communication with a number of members to fill the remaining two positions, if none of them can fill the positions then you will be in.

Ok

Have you confirmed my participation ?

I think they haved Pinowawa...PM AztecInca or tiddlyjen. Anyways, welcome to the Debate Tournament! The only bad thing about this is that you'll have to face me

yeah watch out for the frog man. frogfish sounds cute but hes a dirty lil tad pole
hee hee
i mean that only as a fair warning- froggie your good and of course you know it
Abecrombie

^You have indeed been confirmed as the seventh participant in the debate tournament and now we are just after that final participant. We are awaiting on either the confirmation or rejection from a number of members via pm's so hopefully it will not take too much longer.

I wouldnt mind participating. It would be nice to be able to have an argument without the normal swearing and bashing and name calling.

^Very well Pagan_2K after looking at your posts it does appear that you are an intelligent poster who actually does some research which is essential for a debater. Once I have your confirmation through a pm this tournament can finally be set up.

I have recieved confirmation from Pagan_k and we finally have the eight participants required for the tournament. They include:

Abecrombie
AtlantisRises
Frogfish
Glacies
Pagan_k
Pinowawa1
Subtemperate
Paranoid Android

Over the next couple of days the debate threads will be created and the draw released. The actual debates will not commence until a couple of days after that so you have time to research your topic and to allow for everyone to be contacted about the start of the tournament.

I must apologise as I have been unable to access the internet for the past 4 or five days but now that I am back the match-ups will be released within 24 hours and the topics released not much later.

Round 1!

Subtemperate vs Pagan_2K

AtlantisRises vs Pinowawa1

Frogfish vs Abecrombie

Glacies vs Paranoid Android

Another thread will be set up later on with the official tournament fixture designed by the lovely Tiddlyjen.