Three Lessons from a Teenage Debate Nerd
When I was in high school, I was involved in a whole bunch of activities, but my favorite was debate. Yes, I was a debate nerd. I got to be partners with my best friend, our coach was so kind she’d let us crazy teenagers show up at her house on random evenings, I got out of school for tournaments, and, I'll say it—I was good at it. What's not to love?
Looking back, I see some valuable lessons in those happy memories from my days as a debater, especially the necessity of understanding both sides of an issue. One of my specialities was Current Events, which required a lot of upfront research. Back then—before everyone had a supercomputer in their pocket—we’d fill countless file boxes with newspaper and magazine articles about the latest events, stats, and trends. We’d bring all this research with us to tournaments because you never knew what the topic would be or which side of the argument you'd be on. If you didn't bring something about the topic, you were out of luck.
You'd draw a prompt, whether you were for or against it, and then have 30 minutes to prepare your arguments and speech. For example, during my high school years, one of the many things that happened were the pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. A debate prompt from that time might have been: That the United States should substantially change its trade policy toward one or more of the following: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan. You'd be assigned to argue either for or against trade policy reform. To even begin, you needed to understand why this was a topic for discussion. Then, you had to organize your thoughts on whether this was a good or bad idea and why, and get ready to rebut your opponent.
This brings me to the first lesson: it's important to have a base of knowledge about a topic before forming an opinion. As you build that knowledge, it's essential to look at the facts, not just people's opinions. By learning more about a situation, hopefully you're able to see more than one side. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to agree with every side of an argument, but understanding why others hold a certain opinion goes a long way.
The Person Behind the Opinion
Speaking of conversations, this leads me to the second lesson. When you have the opportunity to speak with someone who may not agree with you, it's important to remember that their opinion does not define them as a person. There is more to people than their thoughts on any given issue. Recognizing their inherent dignity and that they may have a good reason to hold their opinion is crucial for a productive conversation.
The Power of Civility
The third debate lesson is one of the hardest to apply in real life, and sometimes it was even hard back then. In debate, you’d have points deducted if you were rude, insulting, or verbally attacked your opponent. You were expected to be respectful, no matter what your opponent said. This wasn't always easy, especially when deeply disagreeing with the other’s stance. The discipline of maintaining decorum taught me the immense value of civility, even in the most heated exchanges. It underscored that the strength of an argument lies in its logic and presentation, not in disparaging the person making a different point. This lesson is perhaps more vital than ever in today's often polarized discussions.
These lessons from my debate days—the importance of informed opinions, respecting the individual beyond their views, and maintaining civility—are not just relics of my time in high school. They are essential tools for navigating the complexities of our world today. Applying these principles can transform debates into productive discussions and disagreements into opportunities for a deeper understanding. We can cultivate stronger communities and contribute to a more understanding and collaborative world.