With the amount of flaming and opinionated condemnation that goes on in forums, it seems a logical step to assume that forum members would have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to arguing, and this next contest is all about logical steps. That's right, the Winter contest is centered around debate argument. Each entrant will pick any issue, no matter how big or small, ridiculous or grave. They will then write a debate "speech" on this issue, proving their point of view logically. They will not be arguing with each other, but with the public, either alongside the status quo or against it. The length of these speeches will not be limited, just like the short stories. Write as much as you believe is necessary for success. Remember: mindless supporting of your stance with no evidence or reasoning to back it up will not get you anywhere here. Know your topic, and prove through the speech that you know it. Again, this contest is not decided by your topic or position, but on how well you can argue for it.

Now for some deadlines:

The contest will begin today, December 9th, 2007.

The contest will end on January 8th, 2008.

I look forward to reading your submissions, and I'm sure Ingrid can come up with more prizes for the winners... right, Ingrid?

Submissions should be posted in this thread. Any questions can also be posted here or private messaged to me. Good luck, and happy arguing.

TREIZE, YOU WILEY--!

Fandangling me into the shackles of indentured servitude--I mean, ushering me into the service of goodwill and community service...!

But. Anyway. Yes. I could possibly come up with something.

I can't say the prizes will be any different. Just the same old bragging rights and sorry-excuse-for-art from me (speaking of which, I'll start on the ones from the last contest in a week, as in after finals, as in after I've slept for two days straight, as in after I've recovered from the depression of academic failure and Red Bull/Ramen/caffeine withdrawal).

But to stick to the contest's subject matter, I'll enforce a theme in the tradition of Phoenix Wright parodies featuring the winner's original character. I'll work on a sample... eventually.

Also, I hear tell of RolePlay Gateway Merchandise. Maybe Kasurin (or whoever the eponymous "we" refers to) could donate a T-shirt. plz y/n? : D

As for the title, consistency is nice. It also seems to be contagious, COUGHROLEPLAYACADEMY'SSOYOUTHINKYOUCANBEATUTORCOUGH. I joke, of course.

And to add to the pile of conspiratorially-titled topics: So You Think You Can Donate Contest Prizes? Three chances to guess what THAT'S about.

Promiscuity, the Handshake of Tomorrow, Today

Acknowledgment comes in many forms from the causal head nod to the proverbial “sup ma”. Is it not backward and constricting in our social development denying one the very sociality that makes our humanity distinct? In times past, decent society made things taboo that we now enjoy as norms, women voters, inter racial marriages and Mormonism. As a people, we look to yesteryear with their demagogues spouting rhetoric and propaganda with altruistic disdain. “Look how far we’ve come.” We say, smug that no longer do teenagers need chaperones and jazz music comes from the devil.

How can society grow in technologies, geo-political standings and human equality yet some of us remain locked in a moral purgatory circa 1958. If one were to approach a young person who wanted to wait until marriage for carnal release and ask them why they have chosen such, one would get a buffet of answers. These answers to the question of waiting can range from the out-dated to the idiotic to the horribly vague. “It’s a choice.” Indeed madam, and that is a tree and that a street sign, however you did not answer the question.

Faith-based abstinence is a quaint byproduct of moral development on a deistic base. Religious progression being what it is allows men to shave, doing away with curing leprosy by drowning and women being sent to the woods when their monthlies call. Should not this forward thinking religion make room for some sheet time to those unwed? A ridged spiritually forces those wishing to experience physical love to rush into marriage, a supposed emotional foundation. Sadly, the young who are quick to marry to only consummate a fledgling relationship end up in a rapid divorce. Some souls who abstained from dating and social interaction in lieu of finding an ordained love end up broken and disillusioned, turning away from the very institute that lied to them.

Some negatives regarding sex are true. Sexually transmitted dieses are one of these evils that the morally upstanding like to spout. It is true if one wantonly rolls around with all manner of people you could end up with something, however discretion is the answer to that dilemma. Next lets speak about the worst STD, pregnancy. Pregnancy can result in lack of fun and eighteen years of responsibility and no one wants that, this destroyer of freedom can be stopped by prophylactics employed by both partners. We as humans necessitate to love and to be loved, only the most horrible of misanthropes would reject biological needs.

Moving past the negative stigma premarital sexual interaction had was not difficult to do and only a few stragglers are left clinging to a status quo decades out of date. If these people are content to live as if it was 1930 then perhaps they should retire their modern conveniences playing nothing but ragtime music on thirty-three-and-a-thirds praying for a Polio cure. There is a term for those living in the past, Amish.

Just a reminder, though it seems there will be no further applicants in this contest: the deadline for all entries is January 8th, 2008, next Tuesday.

I was going to post here, but lost motivation. Also, isn't debate about presenting one strong argument instead of myriad weak ones?

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