Challenge to the King...Debate topics

All righty then. Let’s get this debate club up and running again.

I have selected three final topics on which to debate and I present them now to his Royal Majesty.
I give him the option of choosing which one he would like to tackle but I reserve the right of choosing which side of the argument to take to myself.
Or, If he prefers, he may ask all of the members of this site to vote on which topic they would like to see debated here.

I don’t know if this is a format we would like to adopt for future debates but I think the challenger issuing the challenge with three different topics for the King to choose from (or even reject) might work well.

That would give the king the right to accept or reject any of the presented challenges by any members but would give the challenger a chance to argue the side he or she chooses. The King picks from the three the topics, the challenger picks the side.

I would suggest the debate arguments be PM-ed to SunburnedPenguin for her to place in the same posting with a title something like “Debate Club---Lojozz -V- MSHL: (topic name here)“ and that the additional questions/arguments be in the comments section of that same post.
Also, of course, 48 hours after that (the question/additional arguments time) SP puts up a voting posting on the site for members to choose the winner of the debate.

I’m flexible on timeframes but how about first arguments be sent to SP no later than 12-noon GMT on Monday May 26, 2008---input is also needed from Lojozz for this as far his scheduling is concerned.

Additional arguments/questions until 12-noon GMT Wednesday May 2, 2008 and voting until until 12-noon GMT Thursday May 29, 2008. This timeframe would allow the voting to be all finished before the season finale.

Also, did we not decide on changing to 1500 words instead of 1000? I can't remember. It’s tough to distill any complicated argument down to only 1000 words. Even this posting is way over 400 words long.


Here are the topics I now present to His Royal Majesty Sir Lojozz for his consideration:

1. Is the pre-crash interconnectedness of the Lost characters random chance? I would argue that it is not random chance.

2. Losties- Intentionally brought to the island as part of a plan? I would argue that they were not.

3. Basket-case Jack from the flash forwards- Was this always his true destiny or was it caused by his experiences on the island. I would argue that this was always his destiny.

There you have it. Taking AC's suggestion I have thrown down the debate gauntlet. Let the war of words begin! (I'm so dramatic)

MSHL I would go with number 3 but I want to argue the same side as you, I really could nail that one.

Oh this is tough!!! Chews Index finger considers for a moment and jumps in for number 2. There I've done it, its called no turning back now.

I would suggest that the main thread with the 2 arguments be set up as a poll that way we can have everything on the one thread. I don't think we need the extra day for voting. Whilst people voting immediately can be frustrating it also adds to the fun and gives an idea of how you are doing.

So I would say post by 12 noon Monday and the winner is decided by whoever is leading the poll at 12 noon Wednesday....is that ok with you.

Sounds good to me, number 2 it is.

May the best man named MSHL win.

MSHL if you do win just remember 'with great power comes great responsibility'

1500 words. Deadline is set. Topic is logged.

I would also add, gentlemen, that there's nothing in the rules that stops you from using screencaps to augment or embroider your points. (A picture tells a thousand words. . . But they don't alter your word count!)

Great topic. I don't have a fixed opinion one way or the other so I'm open to persuasion. Really looking forward to this.

Monday 26th is my birthday, by the way. Send money.

shut up you! You've already had a birthday wish from just about everybody on the site, I knew you'd milk it. As i'm still waiting for my B'day present you're getting nothing, nothing I tell ya!!!

I think the word count should stay at 1000 it worked well last time (what can i say I'm lazy, that way I have to write 33.3% less)

You two knock off the fighting or I'll turn this website around and go home right now!

How about 1250 words? And I'm lazier...and if it weren't for my spell-check you'd all think I'm one of those "challenged" people, not that you already don't

I still like 1000 better. How can you claim to be lazier and then ask to up the word count?

That said I will go with 1250 if that makes you happy.

Your birthday present is still in the cellophane wrapper. It's on a shelf. I pass it every morning.

It's awesome. But it's not Mario Kart Wii.

Maybe you should limit yourselves to a thousand words. As before. It did work fine. And it concentrates the argument. Besides, there's always the comments to continue the battle into divergent territory.

Then give it to me man, its over a month late for crying out loud and the expectation has built so much that if its not awesome.........I leave as your enemy!

be nice, I have A.D.D. what was I saying? Oh yeah.

Fine, 1000 words. But I researve the right to cheat. Or at least whine like Seth_Norris if I don't win.

Actually, being a charitable kind of guy, I am going to give you the opening statement of my debate argument. Kind of a head start for you in the interest of Anglo-Amuricun relations. Her it is:

"I have returned to wreak havoc on this site...all of you will bow before me as I destroy this place. First I start with MyStarbuck, then Lojozz..."

I am not allowed to say who gave me that but golly gee wiz, it is just so gosh darned riveting...ain't it y'all?

And I'm so lazy I'm not going to even finish the rest of this post

And I'm skipping all punctuation 2

So there (insert your favorite sentence-ending punctuation here)

PS (note: no punctuation...and you thought I was bluffing)

AC got you a 100 meter roll of cellophane for your birthday..still in it's cellophane wrapper of course (also please note use of metric measurements to avoid whole "American versus the rest of the whole frakking planet's measurement system argument")

MSHL you just used 195 words to tell me your lazy. I reply with 15

ok (2 letters)
ps
And you just counted the 195 words in my previous post. I'll take your word on it...I'm too lazy to count them

?

haha you guys crack me up

Ok pm me your sides of the debate by 12 noon monday and I will put them in the same post, with a poll

Few questions:

Would you like just a one-or-the-other poll, or an "undecided" option too?

For those who may not have seen this on LT - when the debate is posted, how are readers expected to respond - with questions for you? With their own opinions for discussion? Are you expected to argue your side throughout or simply post your original argument and then wait for the result? Just a couple of sentences explaing this wpuld really help and can then be put into the main post so people know what to do.

Thanks

Jax

I think for the poll it should be one or the other. If people are undecided they can just abstain.

As for the debate itself, everybody can join in as much or as little as they wish. They can give supporting evidence if they want or they can just ask questions or simply just vote. I expect once both sides are posted myself and MSHL will then 'go at it' (for want of a better phrase) until the deadline or until somebody cries and runs away!

Cool that all sounds good, looking forward to this

When the arguments are posted, members have 48 hours to question, comment or otherwise grill the debaters in the comments section. Lojozz and I will answer/continue to debate in the comments section in response to the members.
I feel only JL or me for the votes...undecided is like Japanese baseball-who wants a tie!
Members can vote as soon as the debate post go up---as soon as they read the posts or even at the last second. They can vote for me at any time...er...I mean for the best argument



by me

MSHL JL? who the hell is JL? are you just trying to cause confusion to gain some extra votes?

sorry, I have lysdexia oot

see

(6 words)

Cool cant wait for the debate.

The only person who would start crying and run away would be Seth_Norris, right? So unless he is the alter-ego of one of you two, I think we trust that you are both big, brave men.

Good luck!

So_Lost

I'm not sure I could even pretend to be Seth the poor little soul.

I will do my very best to be brave.

I'm sure LJ is a big brave man. However I am only a medium, not-so-cowardly man.

Of course, the question is, why would anyone want Seth_Norris as his alter ego>

Debate Club today! woo!