Instigator / Pro
0
1485
rating
18
debates
41.67%
won
Topic
#5800
It is better to be Pro something than Anti Something
Status
Finished
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
Winner & statistics
After not so many votes...
It's a tie!
Parameters
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Standard
- Number of rounds
- 3
- Time for argument
- One week
- Max argument characters
- 20,000
- Voting period
- Two weeks
- Point system
- Winner selection
- Voting system
- Open
Contender / Con
0
1439
rating
9
debates
27.78%
won
Description
Con must argue that being against something is better than being for something, whether it be concerning sports, politics, news, fashion, or any other topic.
Round 1
Thank you for accepting this debate.
For example, I am pro-America; now, if someone were to tell me that they are anti-America, I’d be more offended than if told me how they were, say, pro-Canada. I have nothing against Canada, and if you happen to support that country more than America, then good for you. But there’s no need to dump on another country just because you support the other.
If you’re always against everything, then you have no actual beliefs of your own.
(A 1)
While one 'could argue that I could describe myself as Pro Freedom, and Pro Civil Rights for Citizens.
I think describing oneself as Anti Nazi Germany, would be more useful in 'Opposing Nazi Germany.
I 'could say I am Pro Free Germany, but sometimes you need to Oppose something. Like when you spill a glass of liquid on the table. You may consider yourself Pro Dry Table, Pro Dry Floor.
But such a phrasing doesn't 'Move People.
What 'Moves them is being Anti Spilling liquid. Quick grab a towel an 'stop that liquid! Oppose it! Dry it up!
(B 2)
Thesis and Anti Thesis,
Being 'Against certain ideas, is as valuable as being 'For certain ideas,
How can you know the 'value of an idea without testing it?
The idea must be tossed in fire, beaten with hammers, and forged into steel.
Just being 'for ideas, results in ideas of many flaws, that break in use.
(C 1)
Being Contrary and against ideas, can be both pleasurable and useful.
One may enjoy standing out from a crowd of lemmings, by their different path taken.
One may 'avoid cliffs by their different paths.
Though one 'can argue that one can be for something else, rather than against the cliff,
and therefore avoid the cliff in being for something else.
But often a people need to realize that something is not worthwhile first, before they can replace it with something else.
A slight attraction to Pro Something Else, doesn't veer one off course of a cliff, so much as a strong Negative reaction to falling to one's death.
Living in Canada may be great,
But a person might first need to be 'Against America,
For instance, experiencing dissatisfaction with American Health Care.
One might argue a person can 'just be Pro Canadian Healthcare,
But I don't think they are going to 'look for better Health Care, unless they experience Dissatisfaction, Opposition,
It's 'good to be against something.
Round 2
Overall, I don't find this to be very compelling and it’s a pretty trash argument. The only two points I can respect are:
1. How can you know the 'value of an idea without testing it?
It is true that you can not know the value of an idea if you have not tested it; however, this does not mean that you can not determine the value of an idea unless you are against it. So while I verily like this point that you raise, it really doesn’t help your argument.
2. But I don't think they are going to 'look for better Health Care, unless they experience Dissatisfaction, Opposition,
Once again, you raise a good point. But once again, the point does not help you.
I agree that someone won’t look for an alternative unless they are against the first option; however, this does not mean that it is better to be against the first option than it is to be in favor of the second.
You end with this:
It's 'good to be against something.
Of course, there are times where you should be against something. This does not mean though that it isn’t better to be in favor of something.
In the case that you raise of the Nazis, it would obviously be better to be anti-Nazi than pro-Nazi, but it’s even better to be pro-liberty than it is to be anti-Nazi.
(B2)
Of course you cannot determine the value of an idea if you are not against it.
If you just assume every part of the idea will work,
Then you are never aware of how it can fail, which such plans often do.
Take Mao and the Sparrows,
Says Mao: Let's kill all the sparrows, and we'll have more food.
Anyone against this idea?
Says Scientist 1: Well. . .
Says Mao: Off to the re-education camp for you.
Anyone else against this idea?
Says Scientist 2: No, but killing all the birds might mean there's more locusts.
Says Mao: Sounds as if you are talking against my idea.
Says Scientist 2: No no, I'm just 'for a different idea.
Says Mao: But you're saying we 'shouldn't do 'my great idea.
Says Scientist 2: No no, I'm just saying we should try another idea.
Says Mao: Off to re-education for you.
Anyone else against this idea?
Says Scientist 3: Oh no sir, let me tell you how we can kill the sparrows even more.
Result: Famine from locusts no longer preyed upon by Sparrows.
(C 2)
Of course it is better to be against something, than 'for something, sometimes.
If it isn't broke, don't fix it.
Sometimes doing and being 'for something, is worse than being against that option.
Sure you can 'say I'm for leaving the situation as it is, or I favor a different solution. But sometimes the most important focus, is just to be 'against a bad idea. Other solutions are still available, but one needs to stop the dumb idea first.
(A 2)
What does Pro Liberty 'Mean?
It's vague, distracts one from the important issue, of being Anti Nazi,
For 'reasons that one is Pro for, such as being Pro Peace.
But Pro Peace, Pro Liberty, people's minds become distracted for the Nazi issue, and how great a danger it is to their liberty or peace.
Well, maybe our peace won't be effected if we give the Czechs up?
Won't our liberty be effected if we are drafted into war again?
They lose sight of the Nazis, because of bad branding of the Issue.
Much like drink spilled on the table, if one starts thinking thoughts such as I am Pro drinks being within glasses,
Or I am Pro dry tables, what's 'important in that moment to keep in mind, is the Drink. And being Anti Nazi or Anti Drink spill, keeps the issue in the forefront.
(D 1) Something
It is better to be Pro "something" than Anti "Something"
What is "something"?
Is better to be Pro Nazi, or Anti Nazi?
Is it better to be Pro wearing the color green, or Anti Nazi?
I see cases in which it is better to be against some things, than 'for some things.
Round 3
I have made my points. I cede the rest.
I have made my points. I cede the rest.