Like-luke-likes - Like-Luke-Likes

Hey, let’s talk about debate a little bit.

I was a high school and college debater.  Lincoln-Douglas, parli, humorous interpretation, extemp.  I was on one of the top teams in the country.  (I was not one of the top debaters personally, I was just okay, but just-okay at a high level.  If you get me.)  I’ve got trophies in being an “um, actually” dude.

And this is why I don’t believe in the power of debate for settling serious issues.  Because teams alternate positions over the course of a tournament, but teams with better preparation and training tend to win no matter which position they take.  The whole sport wouldn’t work if the morally right side of an issue was always the one with the strongest arguments.

(In fact, being personally invested in the rightness of your argument is sometimes a detriment, because you can get flustered and emotional while the other guy is projecting nothing but calm confidence.)

I learned to speak passionately about why the US needs to retain nuclear supremacy for world peace, and also to speak passionately about why the US needs to lead the world in nuclear disarmament.  I can’t say “I can convince you of both,” because your own preconceptions are such a huge factor, but if you agree to be an impartial judge, I can absolutely convince you of both.  The “but in the end the truth wins out” factor is so much smaller than you’d like to think.

 This isn’t to say you shouldn’t ever engage in debate.  If you think you can win, go in and kick some ass.  It’s a valid way to present and defend your beliefs.  But don’t trust debate as a truth-finding process.  Don’t leave human welfare up to “whoever wins the debate.”  Don’t get sucked into believing debate is somehow a morally superior tactic to deplatforming or protest.  There’s so much style and technique involved in debate, it’s little better than saying “we’ll agree the truth is on the side of whoever wins this arm-wrestling match.”

Impartially moderated debate is a great college sport for people who don’t work out.  But there’s absolutely nothing sacred about it as a political process.

My reaction every time I go shopping.

anakin skywalker does not use jedi mind tricks 

not once in the films 

do you think that’s a coincidence 

not on your life buddy 

anakin skywalker does not have it in him to overrule another being’s free will

Woah this is actually accurate to me.... wait never mind I relate to most of them.

the signs & their downfall

Aries- temperamental / impulsive Taurus- lovesick  Gemini- lack of stability Cancer- inability to let go Leo- either arrogance or insecurity Virgo- obsession with perfection Libra- intense desire to please  Scorpio- inability to be vulnerable Sagittarius- lack of empathy  Capricorn- stubborn / rigid  Aquarius- god complex Pisces- playing the martyr

God remember when u were 12 and you would just Make Art on like spare copy paper with crayola markers and an old pencil and even though you didn’t know anything about anatomy or perspective or anything you were jus happy to b Making Art and u didn’t constantly belittle your own efforts or feel like ur drawings weren’t good enough

me: I really!!!! want!!! people!!!! to help!!!! me with!!!! my problems!!!!!!!

brain: you have to tell people about your problems first.

me: disgusting. atrocious. completely repugnant. I have never heard anything so vile. get out of my sight immediately.

Got in the fuckin dream team last night

me, under a blanket: oh warm?