Kent Debating Society

Updates from March, 2010

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  Introducing KDS Comment

  Tom Barker 4:07 pm on March 25, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: Comment, debate (36), debating (8), free (2), kds (7), speech (2)

  I’d like to get the ball rolling on an idea we’ve had about using our webspace here more effectively by engaging more with our visitors.

  We want people, regardless of whether they are a member or not, to use this space to write pieces about anything that matters. Essentially we are swapping our voices for our pens (well, more appropriately, keyboards) and, just like we do on a Wednesday, we want others to respond and, then, we want the authors to defend their arguments.

  Maintaining the similarities with our debating, we would also encourage authors to have a go at writing for and against things they do not necessarily believe in.

  Unsurprisingly, I then need to state that the comments which follow this do not reflect the personal views of anyone and KDS do not take any responsibility for this.

  I’ll pressure the committee to get writing for contributions to be delivered on our digital soapbox but visitors must feel free to try and beat us to it. Email us at comment@kentdebating.co.uk with pieces.

  Happy ranting!

   

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  Durham Schools 2010

  Tom Barker 1:30 pm on March 22, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: 2010 (5), debating (8), durham, school (2), schools (2)

  

  I write this on the busy train back from the competition. As you are probably aware 4 society members made the journey up to Durham on Saturday to judge and mentor teams at their schools competition. Involvement in these events are great for members to volunteer, develop their own debating skills and get involved with helping young people develop themselves.

  With, most of the competition and accommodation situated on a UNESCO heritage site the surroundings aren’t too bad either.

  While neither of the teams being mentored successfully made the semi-finals one of our judges Oliver Blackley was specially selected to join-ajudicate on the novice debate final. A testament to Oliver’s enthusiasm and the success KDS has had in training our members.

   
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  TH does not support nuclear disarmament

  Tom Barker 10:34 pm on March 18, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  DLT 1 Wednesday (18/03/10) 6pm

  Next week’s debate is an incredibly popular topic of argument. We look forward to welcoming speakers/audience from societies on campus directly involved in this notion.

  I took the executive decision to change the wording of the motion slightly so its not quite as theoretical/abstract and provides a more engaging debate. The proposition will want to highlight the obvious implications the use of nuclear weapons would pose. They will want to argue that they are an outdated method of warfare that should have disappeared along with the Cold War.

  The opposition will want to identify the reasons why a nuclear arsenal is still important for national security and perhaps rely on the principle of the beautiful acronym MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) which, arguably, prevented the Cold War escalating. Furthermore, how realistically achievable is nuclear disarmament?