Instigator / Pro
18
1468
rating
6
debates
33.33%
won
Topic
#4363

Ought be a Legal Right to Dueling

Status
Finished

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

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
6
3
Better sources
6
6
Better legibility
3
3
Better conduct
3
0

After 3 votes and with 6 points ahead, the winner is...

Lemming
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
5
Time for argument
Two weeks
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
Six months
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
12
1500
rating
1
debates
0.0%
won
Description

By dueling I am talking about the right for at the minimum two people agree to meet in some formal way sanctioned by law and fight each other in mortal combat, even to the death, though this is not to say it could end with a first blood or no blood with both opponents honor satisfied.

Debate can be cut short, 'if agreed to by both parties in the debate comments.

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:

Both Pro and Con gave good arguments, with Con having a slight edge.

I gave conduct to Pro since Con forfeited 2 rounds.

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:

Pro argues that humanity is overpopulated, and that dueling can be a productive way to enforce population control. (No evidence is given for the planet being overpopulated or that dueling is effective, but this argument is droppped by Con so I’ll ignore it.)

Pro brings up that dueling is a good way to preserve one’s honor and that too many people get away with disrespect and consensual dueling can be used for accountability. If the offender refuses the duel, then they will be ostracized the rest of their life. Conversely, dueling can be used to defend your reputation or friends and family. Pro also states dueling and civilization can co-exist, as they clearly have in the past. What Pro needs to do is elaborate on what kind of dueling? Sword fight or bare-knuckled brawling to the death? Or gun fight?

Con counters by mentioning religion and saying a person doesn’t have a right to their own autonomy, citing God as the ultimate authority. Without proof, I consider that argument void. Con does bring up a valid point about how dueling can’t be consensual because people who try to commit suicide are overwhelmed by emotion and not in a place of stability to make such a permanent decision.

This retort is very poorly delivered, however. As Con uses legality as their defense. Pro cleverly dismantles this argument by pointing out the government is overstepping their boundaries by enforcing restrictions on a person’s choice of what they can’t do with their body. Con’s statement about lethal-based combat because of an offensive comment is disproportionately absurd.

Pro also implies that pleas to insanity as a basis to deny consent is an illusion. Because every human is emotional and all decisions are driven by emotion. They are still responsible for their own actions.

Con disrespect Pro by stating he is incapable of comprehending the law and wrongly attacks his grammar. So conduct to Pro.

Spelling & grammar was decent and consistent on both sides, so it’s a tie. Pro using an obsolete, formal style of writing is not poor grammar. Nor should it be considered such.

Both sides also provided enough sources, so it’s a tie.

Frankly, I’m disappointed by Con’s performance because this is such an easy debate to win against 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:

40% forfeit. But I'll give a brief RFD.

Con drops the entire affirmative case near the end. Pro's points on Honor, population, and freedom remain essentially uncontested once Con stops participating. This debate comes down to consent near the end, and while Con makes some decent points early on, Pro argues that this is outweighed by freedom and that emotional decisions can still be consensual. Maybe these points are flawed, but we never find out, because Con ditches the debate halfway through.