Resolved: Debate.org should not enable graphical emoticons

Okeeeeyyyyy.... first I'll start with my opponents intro and then go down the arguments, one by one. Hobey ho! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intro First off, this is a cop-out. It was obvious that what my opponent meant from the beginning was that GEs should be used in debates. The fact that they attempted this argument showed that they were either afraid of my arguments, or they could not defeat them. Secondly, in cases of forums or messages, there is no limit to how many times you can reply. You can simply explain what you meant, so this is not an issue and should be thrown out of the debate in which it was not invited. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disadvantage I a) Alright, please allow me to explain what I meant about sarcasm's relation to disrespect. Even if a use of sarcasm wasn't meant to be derogatory, it still has the potential to. If you look at the article you provided from wikipedia, you can see in the second sentence, 'DESPITE IT'S WOUNDING POTENTIAL'. It still has the potential to hurt or embarrass the other person. b) I am, in fact, NOT promoting style over substance. It should be equal (e.g., easy to read and a good argument). If you look to later in my round, I said that you should attempt to make good attacks by presenting great arguments. c) Like I said, when a debater shows disrespect in a live round, they are counted off. And so they should. The same ought to be for debate.org. And we should definitely not encourage this action! d) I would indeed like examples. I could always use a good laugh. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disadvantage II (aka, my baby) a) Contradiction- Not at all. It's comparing a 7th grader and an all-state high school senior playing one-on-one. It's obvious the senior will destroy the 7th grader. This is what I present. My opponent presents the senior 'talking smack' while doing it. b) '...the goal of the debate is to persuade, not to boast one's own ego through showing how one's opponent lacks intellect because this one has posted twenty arguments' I believe having twenty arguments is extremely persuasive, don't you? c) I have explained using both disadvantages why you should not have emoticons in debate... disrespect and loss of needed intellect. Pure and simple. And no, I do not claim they have no effect, they cause my disadvantages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contention 1 a) No, books are not incapable of mis-communication (so I don't expect you to concede); but, if well written, they get their point across, without GEs, mind you. b) The idea of emoticons are to make the internet fun, not to decrease mis-communication. c) On their final paragraph: they keep wanting to settle all my arguments by saying we can do both. Debate is about gaining knowledge and discussing amongst peers. When we add GEs, we see the two disadvantages come into play. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contention 2 a) Not all arguments deserve respect, but the people who wrote them do. The sarcasm might not be directed at the debater, but it does indirectly disrespect them by saying their views don't matter or are sub-par. Even the person with the most ludicrous ideas should be given respect. b) My opponent has not, in fact, dismantled my disadvantages, so they pull through! (Yay them!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conclusion Since I have one more round, I won't burden my voters with the whole 'vote for me' mumbo jumbo. So, until then, vote for me!