For most people, love-hate relationships usually involve alcohol. I've never been content to be most people, so my current love-hate relationship has more to do with debate than a bottle.
Debate and I broke up in Grade 12, after I realised debaters talked a whole lot about nothing -- Seinfeld was still popular then, so I guess no one else saw it as a problem. During third year, I gave debate a second chance, admittedly as a career move; I needed to know if this kind of verbal and procedural posturing was something I could do for a living.
The verdict? Yes, but only if I do it my way. The stereotypical debater, the one everyone has in their mind and cringes at any time I mention debate tournmanets, must be that of the loud, amoral, pre-law go-getter that delights in constructing a case less on its own merits than the flaws of the opposition. I suppose that's partially true; I feel Conrad Black's spirit hovering over most of the debate tournaments I've ever been to.
On the other hand, I don't believe it has to be that way. You can win an argument without slandering the opposition. There's still room in an adversarial legal system for Atticus Finches, even though it's a lot harder to come up with good points instead of simply saying the opposition members are myopic, poorly-educated, incoherent, illogical, and socially irresponsible cretins.
I'm obviously insecure about my chosen profession. I don't know where I want to go, what I want to do, or (perhaps most importantly) how much I'm willing to spend. I had a short chat with Tej (2L at UBC) and Bryan (corporate litigator-to-be whose only conversations I've ever had with involve law school applications) yesterday night, which only made me more confused; the more I think about it, the fewer reasons I can think of for dropping almost $200,000 for an American legal education, especially if I want to work in public interest or any less-lucrative area. Anybody want to weigh in with an opinion on this one?
So, after all this -- does anybody out there feel like judging a high school debate this tournament this weekend? We're still desperately seeking judges! Free food! Zitty high school debaters! Rum and eggnog! Unchecked abuses of power! I promise it'll be a good time.
Debate and I broke up in Grade 12, after I realised debaters talked a whole lot about nothing -- Seinfeld was still popular then, so I guess no one else saw it as a problem. During third year, I gave debate a second chance, admittedly as a career move; I needed to know if this kind of verbal and procedural posturing was something I could do for a living.
The verdict? Yes, but only if I do it my way. The stereotypical debater, the one everyone has in their mind and cringes at any time I mention debate tournmanets, must be that of the loud, amoral, pre-law go-getter that delights in constructing a case less on its own merits than the flaws of the opposition. I suppose that's partially true; I feel Conrad Black's spirit hovering over most of the debate tournaments I've ever been to.
On the other hand, I don't believe it has to be that way. You can win an argument without slandering the opposition. There's still room in an adversarial legal system for Atticus Finches, even though it's a lot harder to come up with good points instead of simply saying the opposition members are myopic, poorly-educated, incoherent, illogical, and socially irresponsible cretins.
I'm obviously insecure about my chosen profession. I don't know where I want to go, what I want to do, or (perhaps most importantly) how much I'm willing to spend. I had a short chat with Tej (2L at UBC) and Bryan (corporate litigator-to-be whose only conversations I've ever had with involve law school applications) yesterday night, which only made me more confused; the more I think about it, the fewer reasons I can think of for dropping almost $200,000 for an American legal education, especially if I want to work in public interest or any less-lucrative area. Anybody want to weigh in with an opinion on this one?
So, after all this -- does anybody out there feel like judging a high school debate this tournament this weekend? We're still desperately seeking judges! Free food! Zitty high school debaters! Rum and eggnog! Unchecked abuses of power! I promise it'll be a good time.
