i think i spelled them both wrong... damn.

Im sure they cant spell either so it's ok.

arnold was factory farmed. I'm proud to be free range

I think a good debate would be hitler and ghandi
or, a blood and a klansman

i'd debate sicarius. depending on whether or not he was a good speaker it would be a pretty interesting debate.

I'm no orator. I get flustered when I debate and I forget stuff and leave stuff out.

Leave stuff out? Then you should definitely debate... ;)

For me, It depends on your definition of Great- funny, or really high standard debating?

A lot of fictional characters would be greta contenders, but I'll keep it simple.


Quality debating:

I assume we are using alive people. (excuse me if you don't recognise the names + assuming this is in the world schools format)

1st Prop, David Kalinowsky (canada)
2nd prop, Bryce Kam (HK)
3rd prop, Max O' Brasky (US)

1st Opp: Perry "G"
2nd Opp: Edward Hicks (UK)
3rd Opp: Micholas Gordon/ Jubi Li (HK)

If we go for comical, with real people, then

1st prop: Pandora
2nd Prop: Sicarius
3rd prop: Smartjason

1st Opp: Cristian Toma (Rum)
2nd Opp: Arthur Chan (HK)
3rd Opp: Guy "2 handsome" Pawson (UK)

I'd love to see the prop get slaughtered...

For all time,

1st Prop: Hitler
2nd Prop: Metternich
3rd Prop: Machievelli

1st Opp: Winston Churchill
2nd Opp: Crassus
3rd Opp: Sun Tzu

... If all else fails, just send in Mr, Stallone as Rambo....

This was actually done in the not-so-distant past.

The late Dr. Timothy Leary and G. Gordon Liddy debated individual freedom versus national security.

Their motives were less than pure, however. Liddy was (is) a glory hound and Leary needed the money.

Was he stoned at the time? LSD that is...

How bout an ethics debate:
Hunter S. Thompson vs. Robert A. Heinlein
I'd die to see that.

William F. Buckley and Cicero.

Is it ethical to offer your own life to see a debate?

Probably not, but it'd be the only way to see it, unless someone reanimates them.

Who's moderating these debates anyway?

oh god the world school format is awful. american policy debate is the only activity worthy of the name ;)

heilein vs. thompson would be kick-ass.

I think the funniest ones in modern british politics are those with people like Boris Johnson and Bob Marshal Andrews. Neither cares what the official or polite line is, and it does seem they'd rather a good laugh than a sensible debate. Not that I'm complaining - hilarious to watch!

Yeah fwancophile. They could turn it up to eleven and add Thompson's lawyer and Heinlein's wife.

i think i'd go with heinlein tho, i mean if we aren't supposed to be ants building space colony ships, what are we?

I'm merely an egg.

Kid Philly, where at in Philly are you from? Its good to see another Philly person around.

Live in Manayunk now. Grew up in Ardmore. Lived in Washington Sq. for a while.
'Bout yourself?

"where at in", perfect Philly wording. =)

Fwanco- why do you say th World schools style is awful? Just curious. I think its better than BP, and its more standardized. Of course, my fave is parliamentary.

perhaps not awful in itself, but comparatively - having debated in the policy style which is the standard in the US, the other formats lack the evidence-based analytical rigor. these styles are certainly better than nothing, and of course are enjoyable, but the judging is based so substantially less in the quality of the argumentation itself that strategic & tactical choices of argument become essentially uninmportant compared important than rhetorical and stylistic factors. the common criticism is that the policy style also lacks the rhetorical quality, but this isn't really true either - the rhetoric just comes at more of a clip.

I think Trotsky deserves an honorable mention. Great thinker and highly involved in the russian revolution. and was known to give grand speaches for hours at a time with little or no preparation.

If we can have dead folks, Richard Feynman vs Albert Einstein, on the topic of "quantum mechanics - ultimate truth of the universe, or what?" Einstein would be the greatest physicist of all time, arguing against his own theory, whereas Feynman would merely be right.

I always liked watching Tony Blair vs. the loyal opposition in Parliament, myself. "Respectfully, I would like to remind the honorable gentlemen from xxx that he doesn't know what he is talking about, and request that he get stuffed. Respectfully." I wish CSPAN were so lively.

Actually, I disagree there fwanco, a huge proportion of the marks are delivered for content and teamwork; refutation and clash- rhetoric is useful, but points and content are definitely more important.

If you want a rhetoric heavy style- go to the world public speaking and debating champs- there sounding good is way important