Debate Club Application Thread

[V]

With the debate forum having some rather juicy topics (And we have some younger members on TR as well), Rage and I have decided that it should be an approved-only group.

If you would like to continue debating, we ask you to fill out the form below so we know that you're fully suited and ready for the forum section. Similar to the Art/Word Gallery Approval Sections, your post will be marked with an "Approved" or "Rejected" tag. If approved, you will be added to the Debate Club group which will enable you viewing of the forum.
Note: If you can still view the debate club, this is because you've either been auto-approved or a General Moderator.

Age/Introduction: (No specifics here needed, just tell us if your 13+ and any other information you'd like to supply.)

Country:

Education: (Middle School? Highschool? Collage? Retired?)

Topics of interest:

Essay/Paragraph:

Pick a current controversy. Examples include the Death Penalty, Drug Legalization, Nuclear Power and Censorship. Pick something that you care about, something that is relevant to you and your country. Describe the issue, state your position, and defend it. Give links to your sources. Showing that you have considered any major, well-known points that are against your position is desirable.

Source(s) used: (Put the direct links to any sources you used in your essay here, if you didn't use any, put 'none')

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To begin, please copy and paste this form into your post.

Code:

[b]Age/Introduction:[/b] (No specifics here needed, just tell us if your 13+ and any other information you'd like to supply.)

[b]Country:[/b]

[b]Education:[/b] (Middle School? Highschool? Collage? Retired?)

[b]Topics of interest:[/b]

[b]Essay/Paragraph:[/b]

[b]Source(s) used:[/b] (Put the direct links to any sources you used in your essay here, if you didn't use any, put 'none')

Happy debating!
-V

(Big thanks to the AE Forum's Debate Club Application Thread.)

[5secondchaos]

Age/Introduction: I am 15.

Country: I live in the United Kingdom. In the North West.

Education: I am studying Art and Design, History, Drama, Music and Sociology in my last years of High School.

Topics of interest: War, Drugs, legel association, and reasons of considerable punishment.

Essay/Paragraph: War and its consiquences; I don't agree with war as it is a violent malicious item used by people such as terrorist's and county emflame's such as Hitler. Anyone that supports war has to take responsibility for its consequences. I for one could not ever accept responsibility for the deaths and injuries of those caught up in it, in the misguided belief that this will someday increase safety of people not included in war. Shame on those who do, for war is a shame and misuse of power. There was never any credible threat from the start. How many lives must be destroyed before those responsible learn? Will they ever learn?

Approved.

Thankyou

[Javiersito2]

Age/Introduction: Hello I am Javier, and I am a 14 year old High School Honors student, I think about the everyday world everyday, and I have my own opinions, for I may be young, but I know I am old enough to give my opinions about things.
Country: United States of America, was born in Spain, Europe.

Education: (Middle School? Highschool? Collage? Retired?) Graduated Middle School, I am a 9th grader in High School, participating in Honors Math and Honors Science, I am also studying for my third language which is going to be Japanese

Topics of interest: Rights, and Everyday News.

Essay/Paragraph: Global Warming.

Many citizens say that tree cutters have all the responsibility in Global Warming and say that if trees where not cut, then Global Warming would stop. Whereas that is not all of it, cars for example, millions of gallons of gas used to ride vehicles are burned every day. Everyday, the earth gets polluted and more animals die everyday, and the earth gets warmer, and ecosystems are being altered. Soon, most of the animal species that the normal population sees every day, will start dying and soon go extinct. A tremendous amount of food chains that where followed for hundreds of years, are now being ruined in a matter of weeks. Animals are found dead from pollution every day. There will be a time in this earth where it will be so hot, that there will be no more snow. What will happen to the Penguins??? what will happen to the Polar Bears?? what will happen to the Seals??? most of those animals will all die. We have to find a way to not use as much gas because every day, humans are destroying this land that was once paradise.

Approved.
Additional Comments: Very nice, you seem to have a good handle on basic debate. However; I have seen some of your responses to Debate Topics, and honestly, I'm not impressed. They seem short and not thought out to their fullest extent. If you can keep your replies to the standards of the one in this post, then welcome to the Debate Club!

[Axzerus]

Age/Introduction: I'm 12, I know I may be one of the younger members, but I have always liked to get myself in debates and have a habit of doing so.
Country: Illinois, United States

Education: 6th grade middle school, high honor roll, A and B student, and was in gifted program.

Topics of interest: War, Religion, Life, School, and People.

Essay/Paragraph: War. What is there to say? Nobody I would think likes it. It just happens. No matter what happens it will be there. People are born with emotions and feelings. But, some extremist that think strong of those feelings will take it to death. They are willing to kill to make a point and get their way. It is easy to say that war is bad, because it obviously is. But, what can we do? You can try to stop it by not doing it, but isn't there always a rotten apple in the orchard? Just one person with lies and deceiving can pollute a whole country. What can we do about it? From the school bully to the terrorist killing millions, war will always be here. Because sadly, war is violence, and everyone has anger within them. We are all born human and anger is just another emotion we are born with. Metaphorically speaking, everyone has an angel and demon in them, and sometimes it just seems like they just have a demon...

Approved.

Additional Comments: My only complaint is that your sentences are a little choppy and therefor a little nitpicky to read. Take your time when writing, and make an effort to make your paragraphs a little smoother. Other then that, welcome!

[Winnie]

Age/Introduction: (No specifics here needed, just tell us if your 13+ and any other information you'd like to supply.)


I'm going to be 13 in 8 days, 7 hours, and 44 minutes.

I'm a nice person... and... I like... music.

Country:

U.S.A.
Education: (Middle School? Highschool? Collage? Retired?)

Middle School. I was in the Gifted program until 6th grade when my parents withdrew me becuase my teacher quit becuase it was too intense for her... and I wasn't doing well. Now I'm in all honors and got stright A's last quarter.

Topics of interest:

Gay Rights, War, Religion, labels, things most 12-13 year olds don't care about...

Essay/Paragraph:

Gay Rights is somthing I really care about. I have a few friends who are bi, and most people just seem to think their a different race. I think that their perfectly normal. "Eww, I think that their creepy.."I mean, it's like the African American people! We treated them badly. They were just born that way. I've always been against descrimination. I mean, I like certian types of people better, but just becuase they don't fit my description doesn't mean they can't be my best friend. We're all human!

People use the word Gay Freely, to describe things, to label people. They have just as much a rigth to life as we do. In reality, maybe they are different. But the bottom line is that everyone should be treated equally. Everyone.

Approved.

[A_S]

Age/Introduction: Hey, i'm 13 years young and i'd like to apply for the debating club.

Country: England

Education: Highschool, Good Grades. (OverAverage for a 13 year old in my age group)

Topics of interest:War, Religion, Drugs, Gays

Essay/Paragraph: War War is terrible... innocent lives are lost, but for what?

Against

Innocent lives are put at risk for the sake of war. War is a time of fear, death and anger. I'm no hippie, but war is not the right way around an argument. It drags too many people into it, and not many of them return, and if they do... most likely scarred.
Look at the saying, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth", If i punched someone, and they punched me back, that'd be, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but what good will come? When will it stop? When Can it stop?
I quote from Ghandi "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". Now that is a good example of what to do, and i found this quote on Call Of Duty MW2 which is odd.

For

The reasons i am for, War is, like English and American soldiers, going to fight for their country, and save innocent people who are having their rights neglected by their leaders. Sometimes War isn't always the best solution, but sometimes, we need to take risks, and get better rewards, like freedom for innocent people.
The Taliban are one of the reasons soldiers are out there fighting, they don't treat women fairly. They also deny people their rights of freedom such as, Flying a kite, Listening to music, Womens Nail paint (which ends up in their fingers being cut off), and watching movies.
If you were forced to live like this, wouldn't you bein support of War to save you?

Conclusion

My final conclusion has to be... Against War, there's always another solution instead of violence.

Thank you for Reading.

Approved
Additional Notes: My only complaint here is that your grammar seems to be a little rocky in places.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth", [s]If i[/s] if I punched someone

As quoted above, "if" shouldn't of been capitalized and "I" should. Your line breaks are also a little akward. Besides that, you seem to have a good handle on basic debate. Welcome to the Debate Club!

[Deathclaws]

Age/Introduction: I am a mere average 16 year old low life. I am to write an introduction? I am not a complex enough personna to actually fit such a thing, so I'll leave you with nothing but my age, and 3 worthless lines <----

Country: Austria, middle europe

Education: High school (I think thats the equivalent? Its right before you go to university?)

Topics of interest: Religion, Philosophy, Life and Death. Humanities stupidity

Essay/Paragraph: Euthanasia or "medically assisted suicide"

When a loved one is supported merely by machine. When every breath would be a death rattle without the aid of technology, it seems to me that life loses most of its taste. Only in the gravest of circumstances, Euthanasia is employed to end a life's misery. Now this can of course, if at all, only be done when permitted by closest and qualified doctor. But to quote ItsJoeEl (who really is just some student, but he summed it up best) from studentsforum . co . uk

now in this day and age family, friends and doctors can't be trusted... Doctors can be bribed... family might want to get their hands on life insurance/trust funds and friends may just want them dead because they are annoying.
We have a very screwed up society. Lol

This is a valid argument, especially since this is a most ethical topic. But considering that this is a very rare event, I'd say that Euthanasia should be legalized, stronly regulated because we are playing with human lifes, but still legalized.

You were pre-approved, so, Approved x2.

[1234567889_AE]

Age/Introduction: im 14 and a half

Country: U.S.A.

Education: high school

Topics of interest:Protesting,Gay rights

Essay/Paragraph:
Gay rights/

Well I dont really know how to start this but I do know that most countries have things around these topics. As some might know ocasinally the goverment doesnt "care" about these... So as some might even say, why do they care so much about gay rights? Nobody knows as to "why" they are hiding this from us. I myself think that they have better things to do apperaently and not notice what they are doing to people.

Protesting/

Now some people have seen the video of the man that jumps on the tank and was nver seen again... This is a strong example of protesting. Once again the government thinks otherwise to what most of the rest of the country thinks, I mean seriously why dont they EVER take the publics advice.

Conclusion: I think that the government doesnt listen to the pulics advice even thought its helping themselves. And gay rights? Nobody will ever know the real reason...

Approved.

[Hunter Reckoning]

Age/Introduction: 13 years old

Country: United states

Education: Middle school

Topics of interest: kidnapping

Essay/Paragraph: A lot of people think that people who have kidnapped someone a while ago, 80 years perse, shouldn't be prosecuted. I think that if you break the law and don't serve time, then it doesn't matter how long ago it happened, it just matters that its happened and you haven't been punished.

Approved.
Addition Comments: Even though you're approved, you have some areas of debate to improve on. When posting in the Debate Club section, I'd like to see longer paragraphs, a generally a smoother read, and no Run-On sentences. Also, the word "Perse" isn't defined. Did you mean parse?

[Atriax]

Age/Introduction: 14, and I'm serious when i want to be :P

Country: Switzerland

Education: I'm in Sekundar :P Like an english grammar school?

Topics of interest: Argumentz

Essay/Paragraph: Also on Euthanasia "Assisted suicide".

In my country, it's allowed. If people want to die, they can. They have to be over a certain age and be clinically sane though. I would never choose to do it, but I won't judge people who do. If they have some horrible painful disease, and can't bear it, I wouldn't consider them pathetic or cowardly. My opinion is that it should be allowed, but with limits.

Approved.

[Judge ZYellowFlash]

Age/Introduction:18+

Country:USA

Education:Private Tutor

Topics of interest:Logic, Death

Essay/Paragraph:
Death is a unavoidable part of life everything ends with it, and everything you do can lead to it. If you would go against it when you simply know you'll die it's medicore, for I pity a fools life. Death is gloomy, nor friendly as for what should we do in life is not fear, but hope into the future.

Approved.
Additional Notes: I'm applying my criticism of Hunter's paragraph to yours as well.

[Cial]

Age/Introduction: I'm 13, Middle school, average B - B+ student, amateur musician/writer/artist.

Country: United States

Education: Middle School, Elem. School

Topics of interest: War, Gay Rights, Politics, Religion

Essay/Paragraph:
Many people swear the world will end in 2012 due to the Mayan calendar. I certainly do not think so. The Mayans were very advanced for their time, yes but they were also careless in the design of their calendar.

The Mayan calendar is a circular shape, and worked inward. This must have ended someway or another. There is also no solid evidence that it was supposed to end there.

Recently, a movie depicting the "end of the world" was released, called 2012. I have seen this move and many things are wrong with the science of it. There is no special atom that can measure solar occurrences to come. And when the world ends I don't believe it will be washed over with water and cracked. I believe we will simply run out of resources and die off, one by one.

Approved.

[Mash]

Age/Introduction: 18+
Country: United States
Education: High School
Topics of Interest: All
Essay/Paragraph:

Abortion

I understand that abortion is to kill. There was a time when I was completely Pro-Choice-- Times have changed though. I find myself on the borderline of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice; abortion is absolutely necessary in some cases, but absolutely cruel in others. (It takes a very compassionate human to understand the importance of a life, and I think this trait has been dulled due to everyday violence seen on television, games, etc. This, however, is another discussion.) Abortion should be used in cases of rape, or if the mother has some kind of condition that puts her in harm's way by giving birth. I'd like these to be the only conditions that abortion could be used under, but I know that would be impossible; doctors, based on their morals, would break a law like this easily. Still, I stand here, with my beliefs, hoping for the best.

Approved.

[SecretSchenkel]

Age/Introduction: I'm 14 years old, I've always debated about something with the world and what not.

Country:
USA.
Education: (Middle School? Highschool? Collage? Retired?)
Highschool.
Topics of interest:
War,Religion,Logic, and more that aren't listed.
Essay/Paragraph:
War isn't the answer for everything. Once you win one war, another big one is coming. I find War pointless and just a waste of time and money. War must come to an end, if it doesn't come to an end soon, it will destroy us all (In a way it will).

Thanks for reading,
SecretSchenkel

Approved.
[b]Additional Comments: I would like to see longer paragraphs when you post in the Debate Forum. Short posts such as the one you posted usually don't contribute to the conversation.

[/b]

Alright, I'll do that then my good fellow. =)

[Zeo]

Age/Introduction: 14

Country: England

Education: High School

Topics of interest: Bullying, War, Global Warming.

Essay/Paragraph:

Bullying. This has had so much intrest in the past years that its even got its own week to appeal about stopping it. Everytime this week happen's, there are shows and famous figures saying the usual: "How would you like it?" and etc. They say the reasons why people bully, but when they do that, i get slightly angry. For one thing, Bullie's arn't allways being bullied themselves, and some don't do it for laughs either. Some do it to try and be "cool" with their friends and classmates. It annoys me how there seem to be groups, for example, there are girls always talking about footballers and etc, and if the people who actualy try to learn things in classes walk by, they point and scream as if some spider just passed. "BOFFIN!!!!". This, leads to no one listening in classes, all because they think learning is bad for their social life.

Global warming. Right, its considered fact. I don't think it should be. Back when the dinosaurs roamed, there were different stages in millions of years where types of dinos couldnt survive and new dino's came to be. Scientists, professionals have proved as fact that the earth has cold and hot stages, back and forth. They have also proved that every couple million years, the earth has a BIG cold or hot surge. A couple million years ago was the ice age. See? Makes sence. Most scientists who beleve then say its hotter than ever before. They can't prove that, its not like the dino's kept records. Even if it is the biggest surge of heat, it would make sence, with the fact that the earth is extremely slowly loseing speed in its rotation.

Finally, war. Quoted from people accross the globe after the end of world war 2: "We shall never forget". Oh, but we did. Don't beleve me? Iraq is just for starters. then theres 9/11, and the list goe's on. Thing is, we will never have a non-war world, because as long as there is human guilt, there will be at least 1 person so jealous of another that he/she shall attempt murder.

Overall, Most people see the world as something we can change to the smallest detail. I, feel as if I am one of few who realises, some things we may be able to change slightly, some things we can begin, some things we can stop. But their will allways be terrible things that happen, that no matter how we could "stop" it, there will allways be some form of it, somewhere.

On that note, i'll end with a quote from Donald Rumsfeld in 2003:

"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are allways interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns- the ones we don't know we don't know."

Approved.