Instigator / Pro
28
1417
rating
158
debates
32.59%
won
Topic
#2466

If two random people swapped bodies for a day, most times it would be a net benefit.

Status
Finished

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

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
21
Better sources
14
14
Better legibility
7
7
Better conduct
7
1

After 7 votes and with 15 points ahead, the winner is...

RationalMadman
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
4
Time for argument
Two days
Max argument characters
5,000
Voting period
Two weeks
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
43
1702
rating
574
debates
67.86%
won
Description

Specification: The two people share the same culture and speak the same language. Their minds are placed in the other person's body. The body swap occurs while both are sleeping.

The day is over when both fall asleep, or when 24 hours pass, whichever happens first.

Round 1
Pro
#1
The idea is simple. Many people lack sympathy and care for others, or even simply knowledge. But by forcing you to live someone else's life, you may learn more about culture, about how to act, so on and so forth. Because it is your mind in their body, you would still be reluctant to harm them and so it would be highly unlikely to cause long term impact. This little swap of body could be very helpful to open your mind, if you are sheltered, and learn more about the world and the variety of those that live in this world.
Con
#2
I am intentionally forfeiting this Round.
Round 2
Pro
#3
Perhaps RM intends to show a potential example where bastardly deed is done (ex. I swap bodies with RM and decide to say I will forfeit the round). However, most people would not know each other; the world is such a big place. To take advantage for petty means means very small amount of net loss. The fact that this is on the internet implies the idea of communication. If Person A and B both had laptops and B decided to do something...fishy, A could still browse B's information on his own laptop. Now it's true it seems eye for an eye, but any significant harm can be undone by the other person. Even if RM would argue one person does bad, that does not negate the other person's ability to do the same. As the rate of crime is lower than a majority percentage, I would argue that most cases it would be beneficial for two random people to swap bodies for a day. Combined with the knowledge and experience gained from R1, you potentially reduce further crime and allow for greater understanding. So Kimi no na wa's main plot should work with a happy end even with two random people. 
Con
#4
The benefits are assuming far too much and on top of that the fact it is capped at 24 hours is detrimental to Pro's notion (not helpful).

Pro is arguing that the experience would increase empathy for one another's scenario but it has never been proven by Pro who this empathy benefits, since conversely it means the other will feel less proud and amazing for being who they originally were since they are learning to appreciate the new body's role in the world and way of living.

Pro's case entirely relies on the notion that the severe trauma and panic that is induced during the entire 24 hours that follow (as no one is reasonably going to 'get over' the fact that they're trapped inside someone else's body within only 1 day) is somehow going to be worth it because they will have begun to know what the other's life is like. The truth is they won't know what the other's life is like in that little time, it would take weeks of adapting and discovering secrets and ways of behaving and acting that the other person had to even then know what relationships they had or not. Let's say they are swapped with someone who is cheating on their lover and whose best friend is a mafia enforcer, how on Earth are they going to unlock these secrets or react sufficiently to the shocking texts and/or in-person conversations that will ensue to then empathise with the other person for the secrets they keep? In fact, this experience could do the opposite of increasing empathy, it could lead to both or one of the two severely loathing the other for the secrets they hold and hypocritical way they lead their life.

The resentment both could hold towards the other and trauma of the experience making them have a permanent phobia of randomly swapping bodies with someone else at any given time will lead to them having symptoms of both PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia that will scar them for life and while they will both have newfound empathy for the other's trauma and paranoia, that is hardly a net-benefit.

This doesn't even begin to explore how severely bad this experience can be, linked to the secrets. If the other has a job interview, a big day at work, an arrangement with criminals that they owe money to or basically anything that requires pre-knowledge of who they used to be before it can brutally affect the person inhabiting their body who can get beaten up, killed or at the very least doom the person who returns to the body in 24 hours based on foolish decisions made due to a lack of necessary information and knowledge to imitate the other person's accent and mannerisms.

On top of huge potential to develop symptoms of PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia, they will have almost 100% sure developed Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Round 3
Pro
#5
I concede. Perhaps adding the time travel element was crucial to kimi no nawa, as it guarantees that they will live, and well enough to visit the other, even thanking them for their involvement.
Con
#6
         
Round 4
Pro
#7
ded
Con
#8
Pro conceded