Debating Topics
Podcast | Beginner Resource
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Background and Tips
— Social context. In the real world bans are only used in an attempt to stop things considered very harmful (illegal drugs).
— Bans are one of the most common mechanisms used in debating topics for implementing a policy. Bans are hardline mechanisms for affirmative. Because bans are coercive, beware exaggeration in justifying them.
— Different types of bans: homework (outdated practices), smacking (contested harms), tobacco/sports involving animals (clear harms). Black markets.
— Compare solutions—ban (final step) verses status quo (regulation/organic change).
Common Mistakes— Affirmative expanding on harms that will simply be agreed with by neg— reasonable basis.
— Claiming benefits or harms that aren’t really there or are so tangential as to be of minimal relevance.
— Nanny state—government overreach (not a real thing).