Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 16:02:19
From: Dheeraj Chand <minorsecond@hotmail.com>
To: submit@hsdebate.com
Subject: Judging Philosophy
Hey,
For what it may be worth, here's the way that I consider the dynamics of
a debate round when rendering a decision as to whom I think was a better
communicator. Of course, these are all purely my personal opinions, b/c
I do my bloody best to be a tabula rasa oriented judge: therefore, they
have no implication on how I vote.
CX, Passing, Prompting, Prep, Etc.
I'm so laid back on this that it's not even funny. Actually, the only
reason that it would be remotely considered funny is b/c it's still an
issue in some places! Go for it: it's a two-person debate. So far as I'm
concerned about prep time...Ask questions back and forth during prep,
it's not a big deal. Also, I personally believe in giving out ten minutes
of prep. What's good enough for Greenhill's tournament is good enough for
me.[IMAGE] I personally believe that debate lends itself to competetive
assertiveness, but that's not necessarily the equivalent of rudeness.
Have no fear: I won't take off speaker points w/o warning you first,
though.
Counterplans
By all means, feel free to provide a counter-proposal...or several. Be
warned: I will follow the theory debate carefully...And I pretty much
know it all, baby.
Topicality
Guys, I hate to say it, but I'm a sucker for RVI's on this. Call it 1AR
sympathy. Saying those three letters isn't enough, though. Explain it.
Also, I have no problems with voting on T.
Criticisms
Saying the names of philosophers and the word "kritik" isn't enough to
grant you a victory. Explain your criticism, the implications, and the
alternatives in a logically compelling fashion and you've got my
attention. I have a personal fondness for Derridean criticisms,
criticisms based on Heidegger and Lyotard, and rhetorical criticisms.
I'm not so much a fan of Foucauldian criticisms, feminist criticisms from
the McKinnon/Dworkin (BIG UPS TO CAMILLE PAGLIA!) wing of the movement,
or criticisms rooted in theories of "deep ecology"...Also, be warned that
I am not a fan of the politics of identity...Also, if you want me to
consider things from an "often silenced perspective", e.g. the
Afrocentric narrative on history, be prepared to explain it damn well
besides saying "we need to listen to other voices". Tell me what those
voices are, and how their view differs from the socialised norm.
Utility/Deontology
Hey, I can see both sides of the picture. Win this debate on the flow,
and you've got me.
Case Impacts vs DA's and CP's
Weigh them, and explain it. Remember that presumption goes to the
negative. Affirmatives had better put out some offense in the 2AC...
"Moral Repugnance"
I really don't think that you want me to vote on what I think is moral.
Telling me that something is morally repugnant is not an argument, it's
the prelude to an argument. As such, I will not automatically vote down
racist, sexist, classist, (random group here) -ist rhetoric or
advocacies/ The other team must run some kind of "ethics" violation and
impact it. I will not do it for you. This is not to say that I won't
have strong words for the offender after the round, but my personal
opinions on metaphysics do not affect my assignation of the victory or
speaker points.
Speed
Go for it. There are currently only two debaters that I know whom I have
trouble keeping up with, and both of them are beautifully clear. It's my
own failure. I challenge anyone to try and spread me out of a round.
Post-Round Evidence Reading
You know, I really prefer not to do this. Once I'm reading a card, I'm
automatically analysing it and creating arguments out of it. THIS IS YOUR
JOB, NOT MINE. I'll do it, but I must agree with Doyle Srader here.
Specify exactly which card it is you want me to read, where in the round
it occurred, and what I'm supposed to get out of it.
Best of luck to all of you in debate. It's a lovely experience, and can
be rewarding for the rest of your life.
-dc
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