Debating vs. Arguing

@Rozie37 (15499)
Turkmenistan
March 12, 2007 3:51am CST
I love to debate, but it takes a certain amount of maturity to be able to effectively debate without becoming enemies. It is usually very hard for me to get a good debate going without someone getting offended, even if they are not part of the debate. If I take the time to debate, it is something that I am very passionate about and I cna get pretty loud, I have even been known to recklessly pound on a few tables. But, when it is all said and done, my opponent and I should still be friendly and not swinging at each other. We should be able to listen to each others points and pause so that the other person can respond to what we have said. Debating, if done right can really be a lot of fun. As long as no one starts the personal attacks.
5 responses
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
I agree that it demands a certain amount of maturity. Unfortunately, not everyone possesses that trait. Sometimes it's also hard to avoid having your opponent take your arguments personally. Also, sometimes when the debate is about something we feel strongly about we feel pressured to make the other understand us and defend our end.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
13 Mar 07
I've never been a member of any debating team but I love a good argument and there's only one person I actually enjoy arguing with. Thanks for marking mine as the best response! :D
• Romania
12 Mar 07
i love to debate to .
1 person likes this
• Slovak Republic
12 Mar 07
yeah it is really hard to debate without offending someone.. sometimes it is a strategy when you try to ruin the defense of your opposing party. it really sometimes gets too personal.. but i have seen debates that didn't resulted in such and i am really amazed by it.
1 person likes this
@prestocaro (1252)
• United States
13 Mar 07
You've hit upon a good point: half of debating is who you do it with!! some people just don't understand that it's a kind of sport, meaning, it should be fun! I love to verbally spar with people, and when someone gets offended, I try to make them understand, but you can't win them all! If someone tried to get personal, it just means that they think you're winning. Same thing about standing up. When someone stands up during a debate, it is because they feel that they've lost power during the course of the discussion. I am a passionate and loud speaker, especially since I want to debate after i've had a few drinks, but i always try to be respectful of individuals prsent.
@aissar (414)
• Malaysia
12 Mar 07
Hear hear! Lol words of a true professional debator. I enjoy debating too, and like the challenge of getting my point across without offending the opponent. During competitions, I'm well-known to be able to give out points that seem flawless (Lol self-flattering) but debating takes a certain skill to make it work and not spiral into a full-blown argument. Arguing is simply trying to hammer your points into the opponent without giving room for him/her to manipulate. It's simply yelling and not taking in any new points to ponder upon. That, is exactly the opposite of debating. No wonder the Greeks are well-known philosophers, because they take time to ponder and debate in a logical manner. =)
1 person likes this