&#x27;Glasgow debate leaves students on brink of tears&#x27;

It seems an over-reaction that Cambridge Union have decided to revoke reciprocal membership with the GUU - the incident sounds like a one-off piece of troublemaking. It sounds from the Facebook notes as though they actually dealt with it pretty well. I think any kind of public debating situation involves being tested to some extent, albeit this one was rather extreme.

Reply 3

cl_steele

2

i think they need to calm down a bit... true the kiddies from GUU said some mean things and they should be put on the naughty step but Cambridge storming off in a huff and refusing to see them again? come on...

Reply 4

Iqbal007

19

Those guys are complete idiots..........

What I don't get is why they weren't removed and why GUU told them to ignore them rather then actually dealing with them.

I think they need to be named and shamed and disciplined thoroughly, including officials from GUU who choose to do nothing about it. And to be fair, these days people just get a slap on the wrist, they need to know the consequences of their actions however of an over reaction so that they make an effort to fix things.

Reply 5

Everyone has the right to debate, and trying to silence people with personal comments and sexist remarks is crude, immature and vile. I hope they name and shame the individuals in question, it's not acceptable to bully people particularly in somewhere that ought to be a safe space.

Reply 6

c_al

10

Of course the shouts and comments etc were wrong, but how can she be in the top 20 speakers if she starts bubbling when someone heckles her?

Reply 7

Carecup

1

Original post by c_al

Of course the shouts and comments etc were wrong, but how can she be in the top 20 speakers if she starts bubbling when someone heckles her?

I donno perhaps the content of her speech :eek:

?!

Reply 8

c_al

10

Original post by Carecup

I donno perhaps the content of her speech :eek:

?!

Being a good speaker is about more than having the right content or else they would be as well just writing an essay on the subject.

Reply 9

Original post by c_al

Being a good speaker is about more than having the right content or else they would be as well just writing an essay on the subject.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9907930/Cambridge-University-students-boycott-prestigious-debating-competition-over-sexist-heckling.html

I quote: two speakers, including one of their members who ranks amongst the best in the world, were left on brink of tears after being subjected to rhetoric of a cruder variety

Is being amongst the best in the world, as described by the Telegraph, enough to constitute being a good speaker? I think so. They weren't critiquing the debate, they were bullying women for having the audacity to be there. I hope they get due punishment, it is entirely unacceptable, especially coming from men who are in receipt of a university education.

shameful behaviour

Does anyone have the video of this debate?

Reply 12

RollerBall

Original post by edithwashere

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9907930/Cambridge-University-students-boycott-prestigious-debating-competition-over-sexist-heckling.html

I quote: two speakers, including one of their members who ranks amongst the best in the world, were left on brink of tears after being subjected to rhetoric of a cruder variety

Is being amongst the best in the world, as described by the Telegraph, enough to constitute being a good speaker? I think so. They weren't critiquing the debate, they were bullying women for having the audacity to be there. I hope they get due punishment, it is entirely unacceptable, especially coming from men who are in receipt of a university education.

You've missed his point entirely. He was driving at the fact that you'd think somebody who's ranked as one of the best speakers in the world would have the guile, confidence and intellect to deal with some immature hecklers.

It's like being the best comedian in the world and then running off in tears because somebody shouted at you on stage.

Reply 13

Original post by RollerBall

You've missed his point entirely. He was driving at the fact that you'd think somebody who's ranked as one of the best speakers in the world would have the guile, confidence and intellect to deal with some immature hecklers.

It's like being the best comedian in the world and then running off in tears because somebody shouted at you on stage.

I would not expect to enter a debate at university level and be called a bitch. They did not deserve it, if the heckles were related to the debate it would be fine, the point is that they were rude personal comments and that is not acceptable.

Reply 14

Fullofsurprises

Original post by RollerBall

You've missed his point entirely. He was driving at the fact that you'd think somebody who's ranked as one of the best speakers in the world would have the guile, confidence and intellect to deal with some immature hecklers.

It's like being the best comedian in the world and then running off in tears because somebody shouted at you on stage.

They didn't run off the stage, they kept going - the "nearly in tears several times" comment was made by one of them later on.

Reply 15

ed-

OP

13

Original post by RollerBall

It's like being the best comedian in the world and then running off in tears because somebody shouted at you on stage.

Nothing like.
You expect certain etiquete as a debater. Heckling - especially irrelevant and derogatory heckling - is not to be expected.
They've clearly never had to deal with anything like that before so of course they're going to be thrown off.

Also, taken from one of their responses;

Spoiler

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 16

InnerTemple

From speaking to some older debaters, it seems that things have changed in 'debate land' - there isn't as much heckling and debate speeches themselves have become more about substance rather than style. Whether or not this is a good or bad thing is a moot point, however I see nothing wrong with some heckling and I, as a participant, certainly dish some out.

However, heckling of the nature described is completely unacceptable.

Reply 17

RollerBall

Original post by edithwashere

I would not expect to enter a debate at university level and be called a bitch. They did not deserve it, if the heckles were related to the debate it would be fine, the point is that they were rude personal comments and that is not acceptable.

I can tell you've never debated. Go look up what straw manning is and come back. Jesus wept.

Reply 18