Instigator / Pro
25
1470
rating
50
debates
40.0%
won
Topic
#1991

Should we be allowed to instigate as Con?

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
9
6
Better sources
8
8
Better legibility
4
4
Better conduct
4
0

After 4 votes and with 7 points ahead, the winner is...

User_2006
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
2
Time for argument
Two days
Max argument characters
7,500
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
18
1432
rating
11
debates
22.73%
won
Description

My opponent has posted a comment that we should, not ever, instigate as CON. I am here to oppose her idea.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Over all, I find this a useless debate. Arguing a format of a site that allows flexibility is restricting in a very real sense that I find unnecessary and ill-advised. So, one does not like a broader spectrum of what is and is not allowed, either deal with it, or make your own debate site, and good luck.

Argument: Con had a good first round, and Pro had a good, and unopposed second round, and both suffered the reverse in the relative rounds. On the basis of argument, alone, on merit, and not considering the forfeit factor, which must be considered, this feature of the debate is a tie.

Sources: Pro offered the only source of the debate, but I call foul relative to the circular reference; a new debate form. That is not a supporting feature of Pro's argument, it is merely evidence everyone who opens a debate can see, and it does not favor either Pro or Con. If I could withdraw, rather than merely assign points, I would. Unfortunately, I can only call a tie. Not to mention the forfeit factor, except I just did.

S&G: tie

Conduct. Con had the bad form to forfeit half the debate. Therefore, a foregone conclusion: point to Pro

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Technically under this site's rules, this is a full forfeit.

"Full Forfeit - a debate in which a debater (or both debaters) have forfeited all or all but one of their rounds"

Singularity only argued one round.
----------------------------------

PRO: Rules allow it, and the site expressly gives this a viable option. Effectively pushes the burden to Con to prove the rules are wrong. I will say this is a very weak opening for a two-round debate. It does not survive on its own.

CON: Starts by stating the fact that you are able to do something does not make it right. This is not even logic. This is disturbing. Pro stated that the site gave the choice as an option. Society goes not give people an express option to rape 13 year olds.

CON then tries to argue that debate can only be initiated from a Pro position because the common vernacular is pro vs con, not con vs pro. This argument is very weak. Con then says that people who instigate as a Con are cowards. I will remind the house that Con in this debate has instigated debate as Con. Con then tries to justify their position by stating that the issue is with the judges and their level of sophistication. However, Con never supports that position.

PRO then does a good job addressing the points made by Con. However PRO really nailed it at the end. Linguistically it is all semantics, and forcing the instigation to be only Pro does nothing more than modifying the way the resolution is drafted and has no other value. A fantastic final piece of logic and statement.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

The argument made by Con is pretty simple. That X is allowed does not make it follow that X should be allowed. The justification in the second round is flimsy. Even if you presume that everything is allowed for a well thought out reason doesn't mean that the reason is good. Hitler had thought-out reasons for every law passed that persecuted Jews, gays, etc. This doesn't make it right. This is essentially the point that Con made in R1, and it preempted the R2 rebuttal by Pro. Arguments to Con.
Although I think 2 rounds is ridiculous, Con did forfeit half the rounds. Conduct to Pro.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

I really worry about con's obsession with pedophilia, as his mind apparently jumps to comparing a weak weak case to "rape 13 year olds."

Pro came around in R2 with a strong argument that resolutions can equally employ negative statements anyway (if those should not be allowed from a con instigator, could be an interesting debate); to which con could come up with no reply.

Anyway with con choosing to drop all arguments after the first round, the outcome is a foregone conclusion.