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[J.W.Crazy]

Why are people wigging out over "articulate"?? That's a compliment.

It's a common way of condescending to Black people in America to say things like, "You're so well spoken!" Even if the Harvard team didn't intentionally try to condescend to them that's how it comes across to a lot of people and I'm kind of surprised they didn't see that as a possibility.

 

[B.O.O.M]

Today I learned that the world 'articulate' can be offensive/demeaning..or something along those lines.

 

[grandjedi6]

We Ace Attorney now

 

[Gnome]

Nah, that has nothing to do with it.

I guess you guys haven't been exposed much to the use of "articulate" in reference to blacks.

Some reading:
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/weekinreview/04clemetson.html
- http://mic.com/articles/92657/this-...e-hear-when-white-people-call-them-articulate
- https://thechicagolibrary.wordpress...ticulate-and-well-spoken-is-not-a-compliment/

Fascinating. I never knew this, I'm not the type of person who would ever compliment someone unless I truly meant it sincerely though.

 

[Ol No Bones]

Very cool. Debate scorecards have always been very pointless to me but this is an interesting story nonetheless.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

Chalk me up to being interested in knowing what points they made during the debate. That'd be a tough position to defend.

Here you go:

In the end, the inmates presented an elaborate argument with which they personally disagreed, essentially telling judges that if the children were denied admission, then nonprofits and wealthier schools would pick up the slack, according to the Journal.

WashingtonPost

 

[Dicktatorship]

She must be really pissed that her parent's money couldn't buy her the win too.

Spoiler

Just kidding, she's probably 10x smarter than me anyway.

 

[SixMachine]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

 

[Aselith]

Sounds like they had that victory locked up before they even got on stage. A criminal amount of skill really, practically highway robbery.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

Do you think they would have put out a statement about how "proud" they were to lose to Yale for example? The wording is really clumsy.

You generally wouldn't congratulate in this manner or be as shocked if MMA fighter #252 won the world championship, but if a fighter from some place perceived as antithetical to the competition wins then people will probably be more shocked and giving of compliments. Articulate is fine in this case. Debate requires being articulate. Those who see offense do not understand the situation entirely.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reading why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

Most people don't know what Debate competitions really are anyway. Still impressive that the prison team won due to lack of internet research.

Today I learned that the world 'articulate' can be offensive/demeaning..or something along those lines.

Fascinating. I never knew this, I'm not the type of person who would ever compliment someone unless I truly meant it sincerely though.

Me neither. Huh.

 

[norm9]

It's a common way of condescending to Black people in America to say things like, "You're so well spoken!" Even if the Harvard team didn't intentionally try to condescend to them that's how it comes across to a lot of people and I'm kind of surprised they didn't see that as a possibility.

But in the context of a debate, where being articulate is a big part of the debate, it's a bit of a reach to take offense or be taken back by the compliment, regardless of the word articulate's use in the past.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

That is ridiculous. Is this seriously how it's done?

 

[FadedRevolution]

But in the context of a debate, where being articulate is a big part of the debate, it's a bit of a reach to take offense or be taken back by the compliment, regardless of the word articulate's use in the past.

How is it in the past when it is still commonly happening today?

 

[Disgraced]

Today I learned that the world 'articulate' can be offensive/demeaning.

Yeah, I honestly had no idea. I've always liked the word as a compliment. Now I'm wondering if anyone I've said it to in my life has thought I was being a prick and if anyone who's said it to me was being a prick.

 

[Seductivpancakes]

This reminds me of Homer for some reason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8KNRdjN8T8

 

[Window]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

What the hell.

 

[norm9]

How is it in the past when it is still commonly happening today?

Past usage as in not today. Today's usage in regards to the article is that the prisoners were articulate in the debate which helped them win. Now if you want to take offense on behalf of the articulate prison debate team, be my guest. But I'm quite sure they would admit that they're articulate and would take no offense to the compliment.

 

[Vik]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

lol, that's dumb

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

wait what
is this for real

These guys spittin hot fire

 

[BajiBoxer]

It's a common way of condescending to Black people in America to say things like, "You're so well spoken!" Even if the Harvard team didn't intentionally try to condescend to them that's how it comes across to a lot of people and I'm kind of surprised they didn't see that as a possibility.

My instant reaction was to cringe a bit, but then context sunk in.

 

[banefirelord]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

If this is truly an accurate picture of how debate works, my respect for people who do debate has just dropped significantly.

 

[Gnome]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

Gross, and it seems oddly counter-intuitive.

 

[params7]

Awesome. I'm more glad that the prisoners are able to enjoy such programs and education opportunities.

Also never knew "Articulate" can be used in a racist manner. Its simply a synonym for precise.

 

[ItIsOkBro]

Yeah, I honestly had no idea. I've always liked the word as a compliment. Now I'm wondering if anyone I've said it to in my life has thought I was being a prick and if anyone who's said it to me was being a prick.

In general I think it's bad when combined with surprise as is often the case. I don't see how being surprised that someone is articulate is a positive thing.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5s5zt7SKA

Looking at a different debate, they don't speed scream it. Any other videos of the caliber of that...speed debate? I really doubt that's the norm.

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

lol, this is awful.

 

[shintoki]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

That's stupid as all hell and only removes all the skills developed through debating....

 

[Window]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5s5zt7SKA

Looking at a different debate, they don't speed scream it. Any other videos of the caliber of that...speed debate? I really doubt that's the norm.

Yeah my high-school debating team (as in the ones I've seen, never participated myself) was nothing like that first video.

Edit: Wikipedia nicely lays out the different forms of competitive debating. Looks like that video was a "Lincoln–Douglas" debate. Or Policy debates as pointed out below. 500+ words per minute,wow.

 

[SixMachine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5s5zt7SKA

Looking at a different debate, they don't speed scream it. Any other videos of the caliber of that...speed debate? I really doubt that's the norm.

The speed reading is a policy debate, I found a lot of it on youtube

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_debate#Speed

examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=murvOaHB66A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZeDq90Ar4k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6KH5-DPfnw

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

I walked into the wrong slam poetry room.

 

[Otheradam]

Nah, that has nothing to do with it.

I guess you guys haven't been exposed much to the use of "articulate" in reference to blacks.

Some reading:
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/weekinreview/04clemetson.html
- http://mic.com/articles/92657/this-...e-hear-when-white-people-call-them-articulate
- https://thechicagolibrary.wordpress...ticulate-and-well-spoken-is-not-a-compliment/

Haven't seen that ted talk before. It was really good. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dryk]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

Debate clubs are supposed to be a place to get away from that Gish Gallop shit not encourage it

 

[Darren870]

Sounds like they had that victory locked up before they even got on stage. A criminal amount of skill really, practically highway robbery.

The trifecta!! Nice!

 

[Aselith]

Here's another example of speed debate stuff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmO-ziHU_D8

The trifecta!! Nice!

Always nice to be appreciated

 

[Gnome]

 

[Sectorseven]

Prisoners get free college?

 

[Aselith]

Prisoners get free college?

It says the teachers come from a nearby college so the professors are probably doing it pro-bono to get them some college credit. Doesn't necessarily mean they could finish a degree in the joint. I think the more regular thing is that you can at least get your GED in there.

 

[RevenWolf]

As a lawyer, I love that movie XD

And I'm really glad to hear that it seems rehabilitation is working, and this will hopefully improve public image of prisoners so that they can more easily reintegrate into society.

 

[DMczaf]

I love this photo

 

[lunchtoast]

Wonder how it went off. I've only heard oxford style debating from the Intelligence Squared podcast which I think works pretty well.

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

As a lawyer, I love that movie XD

And I'm really glad to hear that it seems rehabilitation is working, and this will hopefully improve public image of prisoners so that they can more easily reintegrate into society.

As a non-lawyer, I love that movie, and have seen it a ridiculous amount of times.

 

[vas_a_morir]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

Well, the magic is gone now. Oh well.

 

[Brawndo Addict]

Nah, that has nothing to do with it.

I guess you guys haven't been exposed much to the use of "articulate" in reference to blacks.

Some reading:
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/weekinreview/04clemetson.html
- http://mic.com/articles/92657/this-...e-hear-when-white-people-call-them-articulate
- https://thechicagolibrary.wordpress...ticulate-and-well-spoken-is-not-a-compliment/

Ahyup. Normal compliments for speaking skills are normally words like persuasive, eloquent, strong, effective, impressive, convincing, etc. Even without its racial history of use, articulate is a word that is more related to enunciation and language fluency, it's more competency than skill. The only time I hear white people get called articulate is when talking about their very young kids.

 

[Recidivus Crimen]

Always love hearing about successful inmate programs like this. Here in Australia I've toured a couple of prisons and one of them had a prisoner who successfully completed their degree in prison. If I'm remembering correctly I think he also completed his doctorate while incarcerated as well

 

[King Tubby]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

Why do I keep seeing more and more shit that drives home just how fucked we all are?

 

[RustyNails]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

This is so bad, LOL

 

[Nesotenso]

would love to see a recording of this.

 

[CountAntonius]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

Nowadays muthafuckas wanna talk like they got something to say, but nothing comes out when they move their lips, just a bunch of gibberish and motherfuckers act like they forgot about Dre.

 

[benzy]

I remember reading the reddit thread about this. Sadly debates are really not what people normally expect them to be. It is a lot of speed reading. I heard from the people in that thread that have said they have done debating before, the reason why debating is in the form it is today is because if you overwhelm your opponent with information, if they forget or don't have enough time to counter a point, the judges give the point to you automatically because the point was not addressed at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzwSlK4uEc

Bizzy Bone and Twista would kill in this.