Make one clear claim
State exactly what you want the room to accept. A focused claim is easier to defend than five ideas packed together.
Stronger: Cities should make public transport free at the point of use.THE CONTROVIO FIELD GUIDEArgue the idea.
Argue the idea.
Move the room.
A good debate is not a louder disagreement.
It is a sequence of clear claims, testable reasons, direct answers, and fair comparisons.
Choose a format →Give a reason and support it
Explain why the claim follows. Add a fact, example, comparison, or causal chain that the other side can examine.
Claim + reason + evidence is more persuasive than confidence alone.Answer their strongest point
A rebuttal should identify the opponent's actual reasoning, show what fails, and explain why your position survives.
Avoid changing the subject or attacking the person making the argument.Close with the decision
Tell spectators what the debate comes down to and why your evidence should carry more weight in the final vote.
Make the comparison explicit: impact, likelihood, fairness, or practicality.BEFORE YOU POST
The 20-second check
Could a stranger summarize your exact claim in one sentence?
Does this answer the topic or the opponent's latest point directly?
Did you explain why your conclusion follows instead of only asserting it?
Would the same argument work without mentioning the other player personally?
WEAK
“That is obviously wrong. Everyone knows remote work is better.”
No standard, evidence, or answer to the opposing case.
STRONGER
“Remote work improves access to jobs because location stops excluding qualified candidates. The strongest objection is collaboration, but scheduled team sessions preserve it without requiring a daily commute.”
Claim, mechanism, objection, and response.
PLAY THE CLOCK
Adjust to the format
Build a complete case, then leave time to challenge the opponent before the community vote.
Submit claims you can defend from either side. Ban strategically, not only by personal preference.
Use each speaking window for one job: opening, rebuttal, comparison, then a clean final reason to vote.
THE HONOR SYSTEMSkill wins ELO.
Skill wins ELO.
Character earns trust.
After a completed 1v1 round, eligible players can give one optional honor or skip. Higher honor adds a small bonus only to ELO gained on wins.
Conduct matters: a first confirmed report creates a formal warning. Later confirmed violations reduce honor by one level, and the player receives a private notice with the reviewed excerpt when they return.