Spreading (debate)

Spreading is the act of speaking extremely fast during a competitive debating event, with the intent that one's opponent will be penalized for failing to respond to all arguments raised. It is a portmanteau of "speed" and "reading".[1] The tactic relies on the fact that "failing to answer all opposing arguments" is an easy criterion for judges to award a win on, and that speaking fast and fielding an overwhelming number of distinct arguments can be a viable strategy.[2]

Spreading dominated the US school debate circuit in the 1990s.[3] The public forum debate format was introduced in the early 2000s, with the intent of slowing speakers down by rewarding deeper arguments.[3] As of 2018, spreading was described as still being "de rigueur" at Lincoln–Douglas debate format events.[3]

Senator Ted Cruz, who was a national debating champion in his student days, described spreading as "a pernicious disease that has undermined the very essence of high school and college debate".[3]

See also
  • Gish gallop – Debating technique based on overwhelming the opponent with specious arguments to waste their time

References
  1. McCordick, Jack (26 September 2017). "The Corrosion of High School Debate—And How It Mirrors American Politics". American Magazine.
  2. "Debatable". Radiolab. 11 March 2016.
  3. Kruger, Daniel (7 February 2018). "How to Win a High-School Debate: Talk Like a Cattle Auctioneer". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.