What Can You Learn From A Debate?
We all debate most days in some form. This is especially true for teens, who spend much of their time contesting topics with either peers or parents!
It may also be true to say that the state of public discourse is in tatters. There’s endless amounts of vitriol flooding into cyberspace, as well as inflammatory statements made by those who are supposed to have the coolest heads and most sensible outlooks. Where do you fit into this picture? Well, it’s important to watch how people settle their differences. There’s much you can discover about them, yourself, and the art of agreeing to disagree maturely. Let’s explore this in more detail. Here’s what you can learn from watching a debate.
Showcasing A Performance
Many people look for authenticity in a debate. Particularly during political debates, many voters look for the human being behind the politician. They won’t find them. Not everybody understands that where there’s an audience, there’s a performance. Nobody is in their natural element on a debate stage, with a microphone, speaking to swathes of people across an array of backgrounds. Debaters will be periodically reading from scripts prepared by committee, and even wearing makeup!
One could argue nobody is their authentic self when debating online, either. You’ve probably heard of ‘keyboard warriors’, and it’s because it’s easier to appear smart by text, anonymously, than it is in-person with the spoken word. All of this to say – there’s a performance element involved in debating. Debaters must speak persuasively, project loudly, and stand confidently. Enunciation must be clear, and sentences should have punch. Even a mumbled word can spark doubt in a debate. They must be comfortable being judged. Ultimately, it’s vital to key in on language in a debate, both spoken and in body. Debates are not just about what is said, but the way things are said.
Preparing Well
You’ve likely heard the old mantra ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. That saying rarely rings more truly than on the debate stage.
There is a place for opinion in debates. However, subjective viewpoints are supposed to be backed up by objective data. Debaters must present their take on a topic, but reinforce each with statistics, credible research, and even historical record where relevant. That way, it’s easier to see how their remarks are a missing piece of a puzzle.
Are the debaters you’re watching able to recite key data? Moreover, do they do this to credibly reinforce their point, or to overwhelm and confuse their opponents? Which resources did they choose to recite, and what does that say about them? Is their source up to date on current issues? How debaters wield data can be extremely telling about them. There’s such a thing as over-preparing too. Debaters who can’t go off-script and improvise to counter their opponent will stumble and fail. The key is to know your stuff, but not over-rely on it.
Debating In Good Faith
It’s fair to say that the quality of debates in modern times is steadily decreasing. Even past, present, and potential world leaders struggle to argue their points with class and cohesion. By watching others debate, you can try to identify whether they’re engaging in mindless bickering or approaching each other in good faith. The latter avenue is essential for a productive and meaningful discussion. Debates are not about ‘looking clever’ or making the other person ‘look dumb’. They’re supposed to be about an exchange of ideas. Being open-minded enough to engage with another’s point of view, before presenting one’s own. It’s for others to decide who the winner is, not the participants. By being able to identify who’s more interested in name calling, point scoring, and lying, you can start to understand who the real losers in a debate are. Successful debaters don’t bully.
Losing Gracefully
It’s okay to lose a debate. If you debate people long enough, it will happen. Regularly. How one deals with that defeat is crucial. It can tell you whether that person debated to satisfy their ego and settle personal vendettas, or whether they truly care about the larger issues discussed on the debate stage. It’s okay to have flawed opinions, or to be proven wrong on issues raised. What matters is clarity and enlightenment and using a debate to try and reach some kind of consensus. A good debate is an education, and everyone benefits from that. Debates are always a learning opportunity, even for the loser.
Of course, the world is complicated and messy too. Sometimes, common ground can’t always be reached by the end of a debate. That’s okay. But, even then, what debaters can do is shake hands and agree to continue the discourse until resolutions are found. Hopefully, there’s much you can glean from that, in terms of remaining cordial and preventing escalation.
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I'm a freelance copywriter with an undergraduate degree in English Literature. I've written for many different outlets, including but not limited to marketing agencies, graduate recruitment websites, and online training companies. I've even interviewed a few famous actors for student and arts blogs too! Covering a wide span of material has been incredibly rewarding, as I get to turn my experiences in the arts, education and careers into helpful advice. I sincerely hope you'll find something to your liking here!