Instigator / Pro
4
1500
rating
1
debates
0.0%
won
Topic
#4084

Criminality in African-American communities can entirely be attributed to socio-economic factors.

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
12
Better sources
2
6
Better legibility
1
4
Better conduct
1
4

After 4 votes and with 22 points ahead, the winner is...

AustinL0926
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
5
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
One month
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
26
1636
rating
33
debates
93.94%
won
Description

Definitions:

Criminality: the quality or state of being criminal
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminality

African American: an American of African and especially of Black African descent
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/African%20American

Socioeconomic: of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and economic factors
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socioeconomic

I believe that disproportionate criminality in African-American communities is entirely a consequence of socioeconomic factors.

Round 1
Pro
#1
Forfeited
Con
#2
Clearly, the affirmative side needs to present some argument, since they're making a claim dealing in absolutes.  I'll pass this round, since my case as the negative is based on refutation.
Round 2
Pro
#3
Forfeited
Con
#4
Still waiting...
Round 3
Pro
#5
Forfeited
Con
#6
Well then. BoP still on PRO.
Round 4
Pro
#7
Forfeited
Con
#8
The resolution, due to the use of "entirely," in effect means:

All crime in African-American communities is caused entirely by, and only by, socioeconomic factors.

This is obviously a false statement, as can be proven by the following syllogism:

P1: Some crime in African-American communities is caused partially by mental illness. (valid by truism - mental illness must be a contributing factor to at least some crimes)

P2: Mental illness is not always a socioeconomic factor. (valid by truism - although socioeconomic factors can contribute to mental illness, a large part is genetic)

C1: Some crime in African-American communities is partially caused by non-socioeconomic factors. (logically follows)

C2: Not all crime in African-American communities is solely caused by socioeconomic factors. (follows from the previous statement)

Therefore, the resolution is negated. Vote CON!
Round 5
Pro
#9
Forfeited
Con
#10
Extend