Debate format
The idea is that you understand someone's argument well enough to state it fairly before you disagree with it.
- 1-2 hours
- 1+ debates per meeting
- 5 rounds per debate
Before the debate
- Post a topic idea in #topic-suggestions on Discord.
- At a meeting, we go through the ideas. Tell us if you're interested, which side you'd take, and whether you want to speak.
- A few days before the debate, we post the topic on Discord so you have time to read up on it.
The debate
Motion
The moderator reads the motion out loud and explains any terms, so everyone is arguing about the same thing.
Openings
Each side explains its own position. Attacking the other side's position is not allowed.
Rounds (5 per debate)
- One side makes a point.
- The other side restates that point in its strongest form (this is called a steelman), then responds.
Sides take turns going first.
Audience questions
The moderator can pause between rounds to take questions from the room.
Closings
Each speaker says what they learned from the other side and whether it changed their mind at all.
The moderator
The moderator runs the debate and keeps it fair. They read the motion, keep the rounds in order, and decide when to pause for audience questions. They also step in when someone uses a logical fallacy, like strawmanning or attacking the person instead of the point, or when someone breaks the conduct rules, like talking over a speaker or making things personal. When that happens, the moderator says what the problem was so everyone can see it.
After each debate
- Write one line about the strongest point you heard from the side you don't agree with. The moderator may read a few out if there's time, but you don't have to say anything out loud.
- Answer a quick poll: do you understand both sides better than you did when the debate started?
FAQ
What's a steelman?
It's the opposite of a strawman. Instead of making the other side's argument sound weak, you restate it in the strongest, fairest version you can. A good test is whether the person you're restating would say "yes, that's what I meant."
When do I steelman?
After every point the other side makes, right before you respond. Openings are different, since there's nothing to restate yet.
What's a logical fallacy?
It's a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument look stronger than it really is. Common ones are strawmanning (arguing against a weaker version of what someone said), ad hominem (attacking the person instead of their point), and false dilemmas (acting like there are only two options). The moderator will point them out when they come up.
Can I argue a side I don't hold?
Not in a standard debate. Speakers argue positions they genuinely hold.
What if I get my steelman wrong?
It happens, and it's fine. You'll get corrected, you fix it, and then you carry on with your response.
Who wins?
Nobody. We're not scoring points. After each debate we ask the room whether they understand both sides better than they did before.
This format isn't final. If something isn't working, tell us on Discord.