Because of some unfortunate miss communication, I find myself without a Public Forum partner for the next two tournaments, the second of which is state-qualifiers. This means that either
A. I find a new partner to teach the event to or
B. I do Lincoln Douglas, a single event.
I chose B, but who knows how it will turn out.
LD is different from PF in a couple ways:
1. It’s a single event, meaning no partner
2. The format is different timing-wise
3. It’s more about “values” and philosophy than evidence
4. The topics last for two months instead of just one
Difference #3 bothered me the most at first. I like my evidence, and I like feeling superior because my facts are stronger than my opponent’s. But now, I have to argue that my “core value” is better. That means that, depending on the topic, I have to pick something that I feel is absolutely necessary to preserve, like justice and equality, and argue the topic on that basis.
For example, this month’s topic deals with economic sanctions. On the affirmative, I have to argue that they “ought not” be used, so my value is humanity, in that sanctions use people “as a means to an end” and that violates their humanity.
Weird, huh?
But I actually am starting to like it. I learn about cool things like deontology and threshold deontology and consequentialism. (Fun fact: my spell check HATES those words.)
My first tournament doing this event is this weekend. Wish me luck!
Best of luck Bri!