Let's face it. Some debates are unfair.
Most often in life in you get to choose your side in a debate. Everyday debates such as politics or sports allow you to pick your own position. In scholastic debate, that is rarely the case.
I was just in a situation a few weeks ago where I was in such a scenario. The team I was coaching was forced to debate on a side of the topic I didn't agree with not once, not twice, but all three rounds. When you hear your position announced in that kind of scenario, your heart just kind of sinks down. Immediately, you are faced with a subtle, but important, decision.
Some people choose to shy away from the challenge. With half-hearted effort, they gather a bit of info and scrounge for a few mediocre talking points. When they speak, it certainly doesn't come across as persuasive. If they lose, they chalk it up to getting the wrong side of a difficult topic. Besides, they don't want to argue for something they don't believe!
The temptation to give in strong and has pulled at me many times when I've been confronted with it. However, I have learned that such a conundrum is where great debaters truly thrive! Instead of being crestfallen at the luck of the draw, it pays to accept the challenge with renewed energy! In a competition that is so dependent on persuasion, a positive attitude is key to success.
This doesn't require compromising core beliefs either. There is always a way to come at a position from an angle that falls in line with your values. I remember a debate where my partner and I were faced with a case advocating the use of hydroelectric power. Most other teams attacked this plan from the idea that hydropower was a terrible idea. My partner and I actually liked the concept though. Instead of making a lackluster attack on the basic idea itself, we used select cards of evidence to take a different approach. We argued hydroelectric power was a fantastic idea but that the tech really needed more time than the affirmative team provided to reach success.
This strategy genuinely reflected our actual opinions and gave added credibility to our arguments. It also showed that we were paying close attention to the opposing team's plan and were not simply dismissing it categorically. In the end, we won the debate and had the added satisfaction of doing it in a creative way that we ourselves agreed with 100%.
So the next time you are faced with defending the "wrong" side of an issue, resist the urge to roll your eyes and shrug your shoulders. Instead, embrace the challenge and get those creative juices flowing. Your attitude goes a long way toward making an IMPACT of excellence!