How to Debate with my Computer: Transitioning to Online Debating
I remember my first ever experience in an online debate competition and the way my speech was half drowned out by the loud bickering of my relatives in the background. Or the time I finally mustered up the courage I needed to turn on my camera, only to have my cat jump up on the laptop and stare straight down at a meeting full of debaters. Or even the time my wi-fi refused to cooperate with me in an outround and my teammate had no choice but to ironperson that round. That’s just the tip of the “embarrassment iceberg” that I have had to go through while new to the world of online debating. And even though these stories may seem funny now, at the moment they were anything but. Being embarrassed isn’t a big deal by itself, but when it happens in a competitive space like debating, it can kill your confidence and undermine your performance. Thankfully, such instances can be avoided altogether if you just plan in advance and take necessary precautions. The following few steps are here to guide you in braving the online world of debating and to save you from any pitfalls that might stop you from giving your best at this sport we all love.
“WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED”
1. DEVICES: A smoothly functional laptop/PC with clear microphone and speakers is a must. Alternatively, if a laptop/PC is unavailable, you can use a smartphone to debate from. A webcam is optional, though recommended. Ideally, you should have two devices at your disposal throughout the course of the debate, so that you can be in touch with your teammates on one device and debate from the other. Debating online can get awfully isolating, so it always helps to stay in constant touch with your teammates on call. (or in person, if you’re lucky)
2. APPLICATIONS: Download applications such as Zoom and Discord on all of your devices, and make sure to familiarize yourself with how they function beforehand. Take special care with the mic and camera buttons. Trust me, you do not want your debate room to accidentally hear or see something you don’t want them to. Zoom and Discord are used by nearly all debate tournaments, so they are more or less mandatory.
3. OPTIMAL LOCATION: Find a quiet corner of your house that can be your designated space to debate from. Make sure there’s plenty of light available in that area, along with proximity to electric charging points for convenience. Additionally, make sure that space is not frequented by your family members or pets because you really don’t want them interrupting.
“HOW DO I GIVE MY BEST DURING THE DEBATE”
1. PERSONAL CARE: Sitting in front of a laptop all day can be surprisingly exhausting. So make sure you are well rested, well fed and hydrated all throughout. Take special care to let your eyes get rest between rounds (blinking exercises help a lot), since prolonged exposure to digital screens is likely to result in eye fatigue and therefore, an overall sense of irritation which you should definitely avoid when you need all your mental faculties to help you do your best in the debate rounds.
2. COMMUNICATION WITH TEAM: I’ve had too many instances of confusion during prep time or instances of teammates just not checking a particular medium for points I want them to emphasize- all because of lack of proper communication. It’s crucial to establish strong communication channels with your teammates so that you can communicate even during the rounds. E.g. have shared prep documents where you can collaborate on prep online and share arguments effectively; stay on call with teammates so you can strategize between speeches; text them on a mutually decided messaging app with points you want them to cover and/or emphasize well.
3. NOTE-TAKING: Feel free to take your notes on platforms such as google docs or notion if that helps you be more efficient than taking notes on paper. It’s really important to be fully comfortable with your mode of note-taking, so try out different ways in advance and see what best suits you. You can have your prepared notes nearby during debates, in case you need to refer to specific facts or statistics.
4. OPTIMIZING YOUR VOICE: If your voice isn’t clear, you are likely to be penalized for it since the adjudicator won’t be able to fully credit some of your points. So take precautions to make sure your voice is at its clearest. Do not move about while giving your speech as that makes the volume of your voice fluctuate a lot, thereby making it harder for the other debaters and judges to understand you clearly. Try to stay as close to the microphone as possible throughout your speech, so as to maximize the clarity of your voice.
ADDITIONAL PRO TIPS
1. CAMERA: A) If you do not feel comfortable turning on our camera, it’s okay not to do that. But it’s highly recommended you do turn on your camera, as it helps humanize yourself to the adjudicators rather than just being a voice coming out of their device. Additionally, turning the camera on during prep time, helps you connect better with your teammates and therefore, communicate better. B) For optimal use of the camera, make sure to position the camera in a way that is the most flattering to you. Any hand gestures you make need to be minimal while creating the most impact so that they are not flailing outside the screen but visible all throughout.
2. DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!: Online debating can get incredibly isolating, and yes, boring at times. So make sure you communicate with your teammates and other debaters even outside the debate space and have some fun while you’re at it.