http://www.debate.org/debates/?order=1&sort= Customize this RSS feed by going to http://www.debate.org/rss/ en-us 2009-11-07T10:28:53-08:00 2009-11-07T10:28:53-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Donald-Duck-is-Better-than-Mickey-Mouse/1/ (Debating Period) The resolution to this debate is that Donald Duck is better than Mickey Mouse. Pretty straight forward. Definitions: Mickey Mouse - a comic animal cartoon character who has become an icon for The Walt Disney Company. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks and voiced by Walt Disney. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse] Donald Duck - an American cartoon character from The Walt Disney Company. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Duck] better - something superior in quality or condition or effect [http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=define%3A+better&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=] ____________________________________________________________________ I move to affirm the resolution that Donald Duck is better than Mickey Mouse Arguments: Donald Duck is a sailor http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/eb/Donald_duck_debut.PNG Donald Duck is Magic http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/thumb/7 http://www.debate.org/debates/Donald-Duck-is-Better-than-Mickey-Mouse/1/comments/ 2009-11-05T03:23:50-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Following-Arguments-for-the-Existence-of-God-are-Valid-1K/1/ (Debating Period) Note: the "1J" notation in the Topic title is simply for searching purposes. [Definition - Existence] http://dictionary.reference.com...... 1. the state or fact of existing; being. *NOTE* I am not debating whether or not a God exists in one's MIND, but rather in REALITY. [Definition - Valid] http://dictionary.reference.com...... 1. sound; just; well-founded 2. Logic. (of an argument) so constructed that if the premises are jointly asserted, the conclusion cannot be denied without contradiction. *NOTE* Stemming from the second definition, I don't intend for my opponent to create a syllogism. Simply put, my opponent needs to construct an argument of which I can't successfully defeat (of course, this is to the opinion of the voters). So in other words, it needs to be logically valid and sound. Let's try to avoid semantics, and get a good hearty debate going. Additionally, I require that my opponent argue for whatever deity they are proving with http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Following-Arguments-for-the-Existence-of-God-are-Valid-1K/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T01:47:39-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/pc-is-better-than-mac/2/ (Debating Period) PC is better than mac because WINDOWS IS MORE COMPATIBLE. Let's face it people, all software out there support windows. Do you want less clicks??? Well windows have Better keyboard shortcuts Windows is more customizable, you can make your windows look like mac, linux, and much more. http://www.debate.org/debates/pc-is-better-than-mac/2/comments/ 2009-11-06T17:59:06-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/PRO-should-have-won-this-debate./1/ (Debating Period) The debate: http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Nintendo-Wii-is-the-best-video-game-console./1/ In this debate, my opponent will analyze the debate linked above. I will argue that PRO should have won. My opponent will argue that CON should have won. We will both discuss Conduct, Spelling and Grammar, Arguments, and Sources, properly weighted. Whoever wins Arguments for this debate is voted the Arguments and Sources points. Spelling/Grammar and Conduct are normal. For example, if it is concluded that PRO should have won Sources, Conduct, and Grammar (four points), but CON should have won Arguments (three points), then the Arguments and Sources votes for this debate would go to PRO. In the hypothetical situation in which, say, PRO definitely won three points, but Arguments is up for grabs by either PRO or CON, then PRO would be considered the proper victor, because any decent number of votes would give the advantage to PRO. Now, to analyze the key conte http://www.debate.org/debates/PRO-should-have-won-this-debate./1/comments/ 2009-11-06T17:09:59-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Legos-are-better-than-Megablox/1/ (Voting Period) Legos were made before Megablox, Megablox is simply copying Lego. http://www.debate.org/debates/Legos-are-better-than-Megablox/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T12:23:08-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Failed-Nations-are-a-greater-threat-to-the-US-than-stable-nations/1/ (Voting Period) I stand here in the firmest affirmation that failed nations are a greater threat to the U.S. than stable nations. First I'd like to define some key terms. According to the 2009 fund for peace a failing nation has charicteristics such as -loss of physical control of its own territory -inability to make collective decisions -inability to provide reasonable public services -extensive corruption -un even development -demographic pressures and many more A stable nation is not the exact opposite of a failed nation but quite close, therefore: -having control of its territory -a strong government that can make collective decisions -provides reasonable public services and so on I would also like to point out that it is nearly impossible to define every nation as either a failed nation or a stable nation. There are so many factors that go into describing failed vs stable. But of course there are the obvious nations that can be catagorized. Nations http://www.debate.org/debates/Failed-Nations-are-a-greater-threat-to-the-US-than-stable-nations/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T12:18:11-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Death-Penalty-Should-Be-Used-In-Certain-Cases/1/ (Voting Period) Resolved: The death penalty should be used in certain cases There are many cases in which the death penalty is just and should be used. For example, if a man is proven that, without a doubt, he killed another man, that murderer should be killed. While it would be profitable to use the people in prison to do labor, the prisoner should at least be given the option between death and working in prison for the rest of his life. Death Penalty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_penalty http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Death-Penalty-Should-Be-Used-In-Certain-Cases/1/comments/ 2009-11-04T19:03:22-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolve-Failled-nations-are-a-greater-threat-to-the-united-states-than-stable-nations/1/ (Debating Period) Definitions: Threat: A communicated intent to cause harm (black law) Failed nation: Utterly incapable of sustaining itself as a member of the internation economy. Stable nation: Able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent (dictionary.com) Resolve: Failed nations are a greater threat to the United States than Stable nations. Contention 1: Iran is a nuclear threat * "The Iranian nuclear program has been a matter of great concern to the international community for several years. Iran signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and has claimed consistently that its nuclear activities are directed to peaceful purposes. In 2003–2005, following revelations by an Iranian opposition group about secret nuclear sites, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted intensive inspections, which revealed that for almost twenty years Iran had engaged in a range of undeclared nuclear activities, including uran http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolve-Failled-nations-are-a-greater-threat-to-the-united-states-than-stable-nations/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T16:36:58-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Fascism-is-on-the-Rise-in-the-United-States/1/ (Voting Period) I do not mean the Democrats social welfare reforms by fascism. This is an example of projection from the right, which has at its most extreme core a proto-fascism which is rising and poses real danger to liberty in the United States, and from there quite possibly our entire world. Fascism is defined by one scholar as "palingenetic ultra-nationalist populism." Palingenesis is the concept of rebirth, a synonym for Christian baptism. This is revivalist, which fits with Christian fundamentalism in the United States. To a large extent much of the American Christian right fits this description. Specifically, the movement known as Dominionism or Christian Reconstructionism, with ideas that are channeled to many other people in the overall conservative, Christian, fundamentalist, evangelical movements, while for many are unaware of their full scope, only the underlying agreement they share. Historically fascist movements have been extremely militaristic, racist, viol http://www.debate.org/debates/Fascism-is-on-the-Rise-in-the-United-States/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T16:17:24-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Abortion/46/ (Debating Period) 1. Since life begins at conception, abortion is akin to murder as it is the act of taking human life. Abortion is in direct defiance of the commonly accepted idea of the sanctity of human life No civilized society permits one human to intentionally harm or take the life of another human without punishment, and abortion is no different. 2. Adoption is a viable alternative to abortion and accomplishes the same result. And with 1.5 million American families wanting to adopt a child, there is no such thing as an unwanted child. 3. An abortion can result in medical complications later in life; the risk of ectopic pregnancies doubles, and the chance of a miscarriage and pelvic inflammatory disease also increases. 4. In the instance of rape and incest, proper medical care can ensure that a woman will not get pregnant. Abortion punishes the unborn child who committed no crime; instead, it is the perpetrator who should be punished. 5. Abortion should n http://www.debate.org/debates/Abortion/46/comments/ 2009-11-06T11:57:36-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Denver-Broncos-will-win-the-Super-Bowl-this-year/1/ (Debating Period) I believe that Denver will win this years Super Bowl, even though it may be early in the season, I will provide you with some statistics. They currently allow 13.7 ppg on defense which puts them as the 2nd best defense in the NFL and if you take away the last game against baltimore they average 11 ppg which would put them number1 There turnover differential is +6 (5th in the NFL) On Defense they have only given up 1867 yards which makes them the number 1 ranked defense in the NFL. Looking at there remaining schedule I can guarantee at least 5 more wins which would put them at an 11 win season I will now hand it over to my opponent http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Denver-Broncos-will-win-the-Super-Bowl-this-year/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T09:49:48-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Cookie-Monster-is-the-bomb./1/ (Debating Period) Name a better Sesame Street character. RULES: These shall forever be known as 'The Radioactivepotatoman Rules" 1. No seriousness. 2. No Walls of text 3. This is NOT a serious debate. 4. You do not talk about Fight Club. 5. You do NOT talk about Fight Club. 6. There are no rules. 7. Rule number 6 is not a real rule. http://www.debate.org/debates/The-Cookie-Monster-is-the-bomb./1/comments/ 2009-11-05T18:29:37-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Palestine-Should-be-Free-the-Israeli-Foundation-and-Occupation-are-Unjust/1/ (Voting Period) To begin with, I would like to say the following. I am not anti-Semitic. Nor do I call for destruction of the Israeli people, nor a democratic government they may hold. I am not a Muslim, nor advocate Islamic fundamentalism or religion generally. I do not agree with many tactics used now or in the past by Palestinian groups and their allies. I have every sympathy with the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and their desire for a homeland to escape persecution. However, I believe that Israel as established was unjust, along with the continued occupation of Palestinian territory. Separate, democratic entities representing both peoples must exist, with the right to defend themselves. Settlement building must cease, along with targeting civilians by Palestinian groups, both of which inflame conflict, along with other actions on both sides. I base this upon several contentions: Although understanding and sympathizing with the plight of Jewish people, their persecut http://www.debate.org/debates/Palestine-Should-be-Free-the-Israeli-Foundation-and-Occupation-are-Unjust/1/comments/ 2009-11-05T09:58:49-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/There-is-sufficient-evidence-for-the-existence-of-super-ordinary-actors-on-Earth./1/ (Voting Period) There is sufficient evidence for the existence of super-ordinary actors on Earth. It seems to me that the arguments between believers and non-believers comes down to arguments about the evidence. Thus first I do not wish to argue about spiritual existence nor about any cause for the evidence, but just about whether the particular evidence indicates extra-normal cause and in general what constitutes evidence and sufficiency of evidence. Thus I will be pointing at evidence that could be explain by non-spiritual cause, the refutation of which will require a plausible natural cause and that weight of the argument must exceed the weight of the extra-ordinary argument. As far as the ‘people are liars' or the hidden agenda argument, I like to apply the 10% rule, which says that even if you discount 90% of applicable evidence, I will hold that at least one person is telling the truth and will wish to have that truth explained. Please forgive the leading dots being http://www.debate.org/debates/There-is-sufficient-evidence-for-the-existence-of-super-ordinary-actors-on-Earth./1/comments/ 2009-11-02T06:37:34-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolved-While-debating-my-opponent-cannot-lose-The-Game./1/ (Post Voting Period) We will be debating this topic free style which means any system of debate from conventional to unconventional are welcome so long as each case is refuted in the manner suiting the style they have chosen. Semantics arguments are not allowed and are subject to dismissal by the judging populous. Semantics arguments include any attacks or kritiks on the resolution or any of the rules to follow. Here is my framework, which is not subject to interpretation, should be taken literally, and are not up for negotiation: 1)My opponent must know what the Internet meme "The Game" is. If my opponent is arguing on any other game (ie Clue, Monopoly, strip poker) my opponent forfeits the debate and you must vote CON. 2) If my opponent wishes to win any votes on this debate, my opponent must not mention The Game in any manner or power of suggestion (ie "I don't know what we're playing here and I have never known" is not acceptable. It is a reference to The Game.) 3) My opp http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolved-While-debating-my-opponent-cannot-lose-The-Game./1/comments/ 2009-10-22T20:10:51-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/space-exploration-is-waste-of-money-and-time.../1/ (Voting Period) we need to explore the space because everyone probably understands that the world supplies are getting less and less every single day and population is growing as well... We need to explore the space and find more land, food, and more things that we need to survive. http://www.debate.org/debates/space-exploration-is-waste-of-money-and-time.../1/comments/ 2009-11-04T07:55:56-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Be-It-Resolved-That-The-Goverment-Should-Nationalize-the-Internet./1/ (Voting Period) Let's deal with some definitions; 'This Government' is herein defined as the United States of America, for the sake of simplicity. 'Nationalize' should be recognized as a buy-out of AT&T and Comcast, which accounts for 30% of the U.S market for internet service providers. Entrance to the market should not be restricted and no new regulations shall be put on the rest of the ISPs (internet service providers) in the market. I would suggest, though not require, that my opponent begin with a constructive argument for their case and leave the deconstruction for the next 3 rounds. ----- Friends, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The world's most vital technology is at risk. Our national dialog, our freedom of information and our children are at risk. On one side, the large internet service providers are rallying for a new system to government the internet, where an average person must pay for a subscription model to access the internet. Much in the sam http://www.debate.org/debates/Be-It-Resolved-That-The-Goverment-Should-Nationalize-the-Internet./1/comments/ 2009-10-29T08:44:32-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/WTC-7-was-a-controlled-demolition/1/ (Debating Period) I am here to scientifically prove the world trade center seven was a controlled demolition. Here are the forces that destroy buildings; Fires Controlled demolition earthquake or an explosion http://www.ae911truth.org/ppt_web/2hour/slideshow.php?i=25 A typical controlled demolition has several characteristics 1. A sudden onset of destruction at base of structure 2. strait down, symmetrical collapse into footprint 3. Demolition waves remove column support 4. Free-fall speed though path of greatest resistance 5. Total dismemberment of steel structure for shipping 6. Minimal damage to adjacent structures 7. sounds and flashes of explosives 8. Enormous clouds of pulverized concrete 9. Squibs: Explosive charges visible at upper floors 10. Chemical evidence of cutter charges I will now explain how WTC 7 demonstrates each of these characteristics, but first lets learn about World Trade Center 7. It was 47 stories tall, it would b http://www.debate.org/debates/WTC-7-was-a-controlled-demolition/1/comments/ 2009-11-05T23:01:56-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Resovled-Liberlism-should-not-be-allowed-in-the-U.S/1/ (Voting Period) Liberalism is a political party that is against all american idealogy and is destroying america as a whole 1) It is making our country look lazy and ignorant for simply GIVING our citizens money without representation 2) It is against every thing that the founding father based the country off of 3) Liberalism will eventually ruin our country, further worsening the economy because you are spending money on people that don't benefit society. (the only exception is for people that have mental/physical disabilities) Thank you! http://www.debate.org/debates/Resovled-Liberlism-should-not-be-allowed-in-the-U.S/1/comments/ 2009-11-05T18:36:31-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Ubercharge-Kritzkreig/1/ (Voting Period) Hello, you can all call me Pogosama, and this will be my first debate on Debate.org. I'm looking forward to matching wits with the lot of you in due time. For now, however, we shall delve into the world of the cult classic Team Fortress 2, to debate a little weapon vs weapon. First, some clarification. The topic, when fully fleshed out, is that the Ubercharge is a more useful tool both offensively and defensively then the Kritzkreig. Also, I would prefer if we did not discuss strategy within custom maps, but rather maps that Valve has accepted. Argument 1 The Ubercharge (or Uber) gives 8 seconds of invincibility to damage. Invincibility has proven time and time again to be a more useful tool then the 8 seconds of pure critical hits that the Kritzkreig (or Kritz) provides. If you need to move into a heavily fortified area on an offense/defense map (such as the payload and capture point game types), then the Uber gives you offensive flexibility. Tha http://www.debate.org/debates/Ubercharge-Kritzkreig/1/comments/ 2009-11-05T09:46:45-08:00