Debate Club

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Joined: 24 Jul 2008
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25 Dec 2008, 6:35 am

Does anyone want to participate in a mind shift experiment?

I was inspired by the thread "Argue for a position that you don't believe in" to start this. I found myself not being able to censor my own beliefs. It is a great exercise of the mind to try to think in terms of a different mind set. So, I thought it might be better for others to give me an topic to debate.

Everyone who wants to participate will come up with a position that either they feel strongly about, or some random off the wall topic.
We can distribute these topics to members with an opposite view point. Let's start debating on the 1st of January at which time we will reveal the topic we select to hand out to another member.

We will also will need some impartial judges.
Any volunteers?

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Last edited by Magnus on 27 Dec 2008, 10:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

OrderAndChaos30
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25 Dec 2008, 3:55 pm

#1 - The first rule of Debate Club is, you do not talk about Debate Club.

#2 - The second rule of Debate Club is, you DO NOT talk about Debate Club.

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Magnus
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25 Dec 2008, 9:51 pm

I don't know what you are talking about. This is more of an exercise in shifting consciousness. If you have enough control over your mind you can set aside your own beliefs and if you are a good debater you can rationalize anything. I like a good challenge.
All I need is one other person for this.

OrderAndChaos30
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25 Dec 2008, 10:37 pm

I guess you didn't get the joke . . .
http://www.diggingforfire.net/FightClub/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight_Club_(film)

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Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.
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Magnus
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25 Dec 2008, 11:06 pm

Thanks OrderandChaos. Does this mean you are up for a duel of Radical Psychotherapy through debates. :lol:

Quote:

Fight Club is based on a protagonist who is struggling with a growing discomfort with consumerism as a way of life, and with changes in the state of masculinity in American culture. To overcome this, he establishes an underground fighting club as radical psychotherapy.

Phagocyte
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25 Dec 2008, 11:17 pm

I apologize for going off topic, but I'm thrilled that there's another Carl Sagan fan here.

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Magnus
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25 Dec 2008, 11:29 pm

I love Carl Sagan too but he I think he was wrong about the aliens and the supernatural.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDA136FKVgk&feature=channel_page[/youtube]

OrderAndChaos30
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26 Dec 2008, 1:06 am

Magnus wrote:

Thanks OrderandChaos. Does this mean you are up for a duel of Radical Psychotherapy through debates. :lol:

Quote:

Why yes

I really did not give it much thought when I came up with the joke, but what you propose does have strong parallel to the ideas of Fight Club. Fight Club for the mind!

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Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.
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techstepgenr8tion
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26 Dec 2008, 1:55 am

Not sure if I'd jump in but it would be an interesting read. I think the only hurdle would be the urge a lot of people may have to just make it a straw-brawl and not really characterize the opposite sides opinions correctly. With that much observed it might be rather refreshing.

Fraya
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26 Dec 2008, 6:23 am

Actually me and a friend used to do this all the time. Generally any time we had a disagreement we would swap sides of the argument and debate it that way.

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Magnus
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26 Dec 2008, 7:59 am

The point is to win the debate no matter what your position is. If we see that they are not putting forth real effort and instead just engage in mud slinging, then they both lose. It may still provide for a little entertainment but it won't add to their ranking here.

Fraya, do you want to participate?

Awesomelyglorious
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26 Dec 2008, 1:09 pm

This sounds fun to me.

Then again, I think I started the thread that you referred to.

Magnus
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26 Dec 2008, 2:53 pm

Yes you did AG. Orwell started it up again. Are you going to participate here?

Awesomelyglorious
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27 Dec 2008, 2:00 am

Magnus wrote:

Yes you did AG. Orwell started it up again. Are you going to participate here?

May as well participate.

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27 Dec 2008, 4:47 am

So far we have OrderandChaos, AG and myself. :twisted:

Fraya
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27 Dec 2008, 6:30 am

Magnus wrote:

Fraya, do you want to participate?

I wouldn't mind but since I'm currently on vacation my posting here is sporadic at best.

_________________
One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
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"White Rabbit" - Jefferson Airplane

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