Logic must be snuck in like a thief in the night under the cover of fireworks, that is emotion.įorget this at your own peril. The truth is, humans are not swayed by logic alone. That is the problem with theory vs reality, with school vs life, with our current media vs media of old. I knew who my audience really was, and I played for them. She wanted me to appeal to her, but she was one vote amidst an audience of 50. Teacher dear teacher, when you let the masses decide you have to appeal to the masses. To which I replied, “You told me the parameters and the goal… to win, and I did.” “Oh Codie, why oh why, would you turn my debate into a charade? Why would you not use logic alone in debate?” But then the teacher sat me down to have “a talk.” I found the interventionism more comical than upsetting. She said the class had been swayed by my lubricated goodies and the victory alas, it went to another.
Handing out pasteurization is a tad harder. I used images of AIDs ravaging (emotional appeal), I wove stories of women freed from endless death in childbirth (aspirational appeal) and… I handed out samples (bribing). All those other arguments were expected, they were boring, right? I knew at a young age… Panum et circuses, give them bread and circus as the Romans said.ĮNTERTAIN THEM and they will lift you high, bore them and they will kill you. But the truth is, the entire class voted on who won each debate. Why? Well, let me tell you I had quite the logical arguments laid out. Yes, those delicate rubber appendage covers covered in Trojans.
Which innovation had taken me to the finals of class? It was me and a student who took pasteurization with its ability to cure disease and protect food as the cornerstone. One student took the wheel, another fire, another religion, another agriculture.Īfter days of debate, we were finally down to the final two. Our class of 50 had each taken a subject that we thought was the MOST impactful invention for all of humankind. I was in a debate class at the lauded Arizona State University (wink). I remember when I realized that joyous feeling every human needs… that I was actually good at a thing. I remember debates in class that pushed my mind, questions left open to contemplate. Brilliant little diamonds to be captured and treasured. I don’t remember which classes I got A’s in. I find it comical when resumes include them. RANT: The world is the classroom, the school is the prison…
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