The over indulgence in our entertainment negatively affects how we view & treat each other.

In the previous round I stated again that the word “over” in the resolution means “too much”, which is a senseless debate. Pro responds by ignoring my point for the second time and repeating the same thing I just said was not the agreed resolution. So once again “too much” of anything is by its very definition a bad thing, so Pros points that “too much” entertainment is bad is a senseless debate and not what I agreed to. My contention from the start is that Pro believes most people are overindulged in their entertainment when many times this is not the case. I have given examples of how other natural factors contributed to the results of the links Pro gave and he has yet to provide any valid rebuttal. I stated that I would provide a counter argument when Pro clarified what his full argument is, which I don’t feel he has yet succeeded in doing so. He has so far showed that the fan who was escorted out of the baseball game and the riots in Vancouver were examples of poor human behavior, and that both of these examples were started by indulgence in entertainment. But what have these two examples established? Is he suggesting he has proven that entertainment negatively affects us because of two isolated examples? The only assumption I can make at this point is yes, so I will continue based on that premise. 1. The powers that be Although Pro was not exactly clear on this, I do thank my opponent for answering the question of who these “powers” are. Now I would like to ask: What do these “powers that be” have to do with this debate? 2. Exhibit A: LeBron Fan being ejected In round 2 Pro gave an example of a fan who was escorted out of a baseball game. I explained that the level of respect he showed his fellow citizens by wearing a LeBron Jersey to an Indians baseball game, played a larger role in what happened then the vendetta people have against LeBron. I used an analogy showing how what you wear says something to the people around you by asking Pro if he would wear all white to a funeral, his response was: “No ones dead... yet”. Pro has completely failed to acknowledge my main point here that entertainment was not the major factor in what happened. It was mostly due to a lack of respect, and an excuse for followers to join in ridiculing someone else. Many people for some reason enjoy picking on someone else. It is a part of human nature that has nothing to do with indulgence in entertainment. Pro also tries to somehow throw the constitution into this argument. The constitution is a document that gives our Government the authority to enact certain laws into society, it has absolutely nothing to do with a fans right to not be ridiculed for wearing the wrong thing at a baseball game. Finally pro tries to claim that this individual seems “like a pretty cool and level headed human being”. First of all, he is being interviewed, of course he is going to give the best story he can to make himself seem that way. Yet despite what happened, this very same fan stated that he would do it again. That does not sound very level headed to me. 3. Exhibit B: The NHL Finals riots in Vancity Pro does acknowledge my London riots example but then insinuates that the emotional reaction from hockey is what started the riots in Vancouver. This is true, and a good relevant point. But the issue with this is that anything can be blamed on anything using this logic. Just because something starts a reaction does not mean it is fully responsible for the eventual results. If for example I tell a friend of mine about a party, and while on his way to it he gets a speeding ticket should I be blamed for his ticket? By Pros logic the answer would be yes. So while hockey did start the riot, from that point on it was just an excuse for people to cause the damage that eventually occurred. The people did not loose sight of reality or become “overindulged” in entertainment as Pro claims, they simply saw an opportunity to do what they wanted and took advantage of it. Sadly many people out there enjoy flipping over cars or breaking windows. Counter argument My arguments to this point may not seem very strong because I am arguing against the most negative examples of what happens after disappointments in entertainment. But the major problem with Pros argument is that as I mentioned before these are extreme and very rare events that do not affect our every day lives. Many other aspects of indulgence in entertainment however does. 1. Entertainment gives us a reason to re-connect We have all been to Super Bowl parties, World Cup gatherings, movies, etc… These are opportunities for people to take advantage of, and gather friends and family to come together and have a good time. If we did not indulge ourselves in our entertainment then these events would not be a big deal and many people would not show up to them. 2. Entertainment allows strangers to warm up to each other How many of us have ever found ourselves next to a complete stranger with nothing to say to each other yet found ourselves talking about sports or a movie or celebrity? It is a perfect way to get into a conversation because it is something we mostly all tend to understand and enjoy. And when people are indulged in their entertainment it creates a stronger bond between two people because they have something in common that they feel very strongly about. Many friendships have begun and grew stronger because of it. 3. Entertainment gives us something to celebrate There is no greater feeling among people when their wishes in entertainment come true. Like when their team wins a championship or when that long anticipated blockbuster movie comes out. It creates an aura of excitement that only gets greater and the level of indulgence increases. Conclusion Pros points which were refuted, still do not affirm his resolution. I was expecting him to provide some summary statements to further explain his full argument but he has not done so, leaving me to us the only reasonable interpretation I can to argue against. When looking at his resolution all he has done is given two examples of the worst that can result in entertainment, while my examples show the positive affects entertainment has on everyday life which are far more common then the examples Pro gave. Clearly, our overall indulgence in entertainment does not negatively affect how we view and treat each other.