[Debatewise RRT] Re: Holiday debates
- From: "Alex Helling" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <debatewiserrt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 11:31:20 -0000
First of all yes I do count commenting on debates that others have started
when counting for debater of the month. I count each individual point made
no matter what debate it is on. The only difference is that you do not get a
point for starting the debate if it is not an RRT debate (N.B. I would give
a point if the topic had been suggested by someone else on the RRT over the
mailing list as it would be taking part in the RRT to take them up on the
idea to create the debate).
Breakdown of points
1 for each RRT debate you create
1 for each point made
1 for each counter argument
I may also give you a point for editing a debate point that is there already
but I do not look through the history of points so often will not notice
this. If you wish your addition to be noticed add it as a comment on the
'join the debate' as well as editing the main point.
However I only look through debates added in the past month (sometimes I
look through the debates from the week before for any late additions in
points - depending on the amount of time) as it would obviously take too
long for me to go through everything.
I suspect some of the problem with empty debates is that they are in areas
where none of us has much expertise. Most of our areas of interest are along
the lines of history/politics/current affairs so more science type debates
don't get filled.
I would certainly be happy enough with the idea of me putting the topics on
Debatewise so allowing anyone to edit them, it would make little difference
to the work load. The only disadvantage I can see is that as yet we have no
place for attaching links to the topic itself rather than individual points.
For the moment though that could be solved by me just sending out any links
I have in mind over the mailing list as usual under the topic titles.
What might also be useful would be to begin working out a list of reliable
sources that can be added to by the members of the RRT, categorised by
different topic areas. I am sure we each have several websites we
particularly like to visit to get our news from. Compiling these together by
topic area/geographic region might be useful.
Alex
From: debatewiserrt-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:debatewiserrt-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of nadia siddiqi
Sent: 01 January 2010 15:29
To: debatewiserrt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Debatewise RRT] Re: Holiday debates
I keep seeing empty/unfilled debates on the website all the time, anyway. I
think we do get points for commenting on non-Alex-defined-debates as well.
I guess Alex should just only share links for articles he deems
interesting(to make this exercise less pedagogical(we make the
topics/definitions he motivates us. BTW if you get a BBC add-on it gives you
a list of links to all the articles on the website so you can choose what to
read) and we should all create our 'own' debates sharing our topics on the
mailing list(so other people can also add points.).
Nadia
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 8:17 PM, Harriet Lowe <tehexile@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
is agree this is a pretty good idea, but i'm not sure what the risk is of
there being periods of time with lots of empty debates because nobody has
taken them/they haven't been noticed yet. it might look bad on the site.
also, don't you get points for actually creating the debate on the Debater
of the Month system?
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 AM, nadia siddiqi <nadshi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think Alex should put up debates directly on debate-wise(seeing that
people hardly alter his debate-motion/topic definitions), share links to
them on the RRT mailing list and tell/ask the R.R.T to comment/vote on them.
So that no one can annex a debate topic all for her/himself.
R.R.T and debatewise members should also retain/reserve/exercise the
discretion to create and comment on their/our own debates and share them
with the R.R.T.
So if there are more than enough points on a topic added by Alex, people can
always add more points to topics created by other R.R.T members or
themselves.
Nadia
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 1:22 AM, Daniel Strong <danielstrong52@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I'll take "We should focus more on the thousands who are executed in China
rather than an individual British citizen." to start off 2010 ;). Happy new
year everyone!
2009/12/31 nadia siddiqi <nadshi@xxxxxxxxx>
sorry took that you can add to it. I didn't use one of the links.
On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 1:20 PM, Viraj Modha <virajmodha@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Alex,
I'll take: Avatar will kill off big earning movie stars?
Avatar will kill off big earning movie stars?
There have been numerous films this year that have made large amounts of
money but have not had big stars attached. Avatar in particular shows that
there are other ways of engaging audiences rather than paying immense pay
checks to a few faces that everyone recognises. Avatar does it with its 3D
graphics.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/08/film-celebrity-wilting>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/08/film-celebrity-wilting
<http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/11/16/is-the-hollywood-movie-star-dead/>
http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/11/16/is-the-hollywood-movie-star-dead/
<http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/arti
cle6969880.ece>
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/artic
le6969880.ece
_____
From: alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: debatewiserrt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Debatewise RRT] Holiday debates
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:59:12 +0000
Hi all,
I hope you enjoyed Christmas, and have a happy new year. I am sure you are
all relaxing, possibly thinking of how to burn off some of those calories
and the new year's resolutions you will never keep. I hope that the RRT is
as successful next year as it has been this year. In the mean time some
debates for you to be doing while you are indoors on hogmanay... or not!
Alex
Debates:
Cut generals not soldiers.
The British Army has one general for every 400 soldiers. Considering that
generals are only the top few ranks and we are not including the many more
majors, captains etc does Britain have too many generals? It would seem that
the obvious place to start making cuts into the military is to reduce the
size of the officer corps.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6969921.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6544223.ece
Yemen: America's next war?
While very few people are talking about Yemen being America's next war it is
obvious that something needs to be done to prevent Yemen becoming a failed
state and to reduce any Al Qaeda presence there. Afghanistan has shown how
difficult it would be to fight a war in Yemen, there is similar terrain,
though not the ethnic divisions. However the reason behind the war in
Afghanistan is essentially what is happening in Yemen, a country that is
becoming a base for al Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalism. Is this sufficient
cause to take action?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8429843.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6898945/Detroit-t
error-attack-Yemen-is-the-true-home-of-Al-Qaeda.html
Literacy targets for toddlers are a waste of time.
There is a gender gap between boys and girls even before they enter school.
To the government this must mean more targets. To the rest of us a more
sensible approach might be to let children below school age learn at their
own pace. Does a gender gap at this stage matter or should we have targets
and try to teach boys better?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article4387301.ece
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/boys-aged-three-m
ust-work-more-1852087.html
Is Iran nearing a tipping point?
Once demonstrations get to a certain size, or the government is unwilling to
cause too much bloodshed protests can topple a government. The overthrow of
the Shah demonstrated this, as did the rolling back of communism in 1989.
Unfortunately it is very difficult to measure when or if the protesters will
gain the upper hand or the willingness of the authorities to be brutal in
putting down protests. It may depend partially on how big the change would
be; in this case the tipping point may be quite low as the likely change in
regime is simply from the more radical elements to more moderate elements
within the current elite rather than a full scale revolution.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6969863.ece
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703278604574624302036557422.ht
ml
Avatar will kill off big earning movie stars?
There have been numerous films this year that have made large amounts of
money but have not had big stars attached. Avatar in particular shows that
there are other ways of engaging audiences rather than paying immense pay
checks to a few faces that everyone recognises. Avatar does it with its 3D
graphics.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/08/film-celebrity-wilting
http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/11/16/is-the-hollywood-movie-star-dead/
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/artic
le6969880.ece
Return/resell unwanted gifts.
Many charities are encouraging us to give our unwanted gifts to them so that
they can be put to good use. Alternatively we might want to go and demand a
refund, or get a replacement. We may even take to selling them online.
However should we really be disposing of gifts that others have bought for
us, should the solution not simply be that we buy less presents that are
better chosen rather than get a load of presents that are then not wanted.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/6873912/How-
to-recycle-your-unwanted-Christmas-presents.html
http://www.itnewsonline.com/showrwstory.php?storyid=1718
Throw the kids out.
The scope of Peter Mandelson in government has been steadily advancing as
his department swallows others. He is now publishing advice for parents on
how to persuade their children to move out and stop being dependents. In
some cases persuading children to move out may be a good idea but in the
middle of a recession it seems like a waste of effort. Those who have
returned home would not have the resources to make their own home while
burdened with student debt and without a job. So kick the kids out of the
house to sink or swim?
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6969
872.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/29/tough-love-parents-gradua
te-unemployment
Government theft or sensible use of funds.
The government wants to effectively nationalise charitable funds for
hospitals. New accounting rules will bring these funds raised onto the
hospitals balance sheet. This has advantages, transparency, and areas that
can support themselves with charitable donations can take less from the
overall pot for the NHS so these government resources can go to areas that
do not have successful charitable funds. In a recession bringing these funds
onto the books makes sense as they can help plug gaps as funding is falling.
There are however problems. Who is going to donate to a charity that is
effectively the Department of Health? This would break down the barrier
between the charities and the NHS harming both. The opposition also argues
it will allow stealth cuts with charity making up the shortfall.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6969955.ece
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118821/
We should focus more on the thousands who are executed in China rather than
an individual British citizen.
There may well be good reasons for why the Chinese government has chosen to
ignore the representations of the British government for Akmal Shaikh. In
the case of the British Government it has to act in this case because Akmal
was a British citizen. However China would probably be more cooperative, or
at least more inclined to listen if we did not rave about one person and
attempt to show the holes in their legal system. Instead we should be
working with China to improve its legal system and at the same time reduce
the number of executions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/dec/29/china-akmal-shaikh-execu
tion
http://www.cfr.org/publication/10063/chinas_legal_reform_at_the_crossroads.h
tml
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JF18Ad01.html
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1446976
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--
Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without
such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of
Brahman. They who work selfishly for results are miserable. --"Bhagavad
Gita."
--
Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without
such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of
Brahman. They who work selfishly for results are miserable. --"Bhagavad
Gita."
--
Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without
such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of
Brahman. They who work selfishly for results are miserable. --"Bhagavad
Gita."
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