Debatable

Debatable issues in the pro-wrestling industry and John Cena have at least two things in common: one, you can't see them; two, you actually can, you just pretend not to.

We have a lot to cover this week! We tried our best to make the stories featured this week reflect a bunch of different fields. We have stories about COVID. About international relations and international law. We even talk about why Rihanna's being a billionaire status matters to what the feminist movement should strive to be!

 

But we spend a lot of time discussing things that hit close to home--  about the surprisingly layered issue that is Nas Academy allegedly exploiting National Living Treasure and indigenous tattooist Whang Od. How should content creators behave when selling products? Why is pinoybait a thing? How important is consent in the commercialization of indigenous culture? Can traditional knowledge be protected by copyright? So many questions! So little time!

We interview Venti about why competition policy matters and how firms can abuse their dominance at the expense of consumer welfare!

In this matterloading session, we recap the week by looking at all the important events that caught all our attentions! We discuss the South Korean vaccine rollouts, China's relationship with the Taliban, Saddiq's Case, Hidilyn Diaz, the SONA, #TruthsfromTheBible, Simone Biles, and Britney Spears!

In this episode, we talk about how we can set priorities in a debate! Learn about the art of framing as well as different frames you can use.

 

Phase 1 of our FREE tournament Magiting Open is ONGOING! Don't forget to check us out at facebook.com/MagitingCup

This week, we talk about the Indian COVID Crisis and the politics of blame, how climate change caused flash flooding in Europe, why Rodrigo Duterte can't invoke immunity if they get elected as VP, the #Tumindig movement, cardboard beds in the Olympics, and more!!

Idris Elba was in the news recently for proposing that everyone should verify their identities before using social media to prevent people from using anonymity as a means to be racist or bigoted. Is this a good idea, or would it do more harm than good?

 

Phase 1 of Magiting Cup is OPEN NOW! Check out our page at facebook.com/MagitingCup and stay tuned this week for the first episode of Matterloading with Nina and Kyle!

The theme for the grand finals of this year's Debatable Intervarsity is Arts and Culture!  This motion deals with cynicism, an attitude characterized by a general distrust of others and their motives. We see more and more cynicism in various areas of life, from people refusing to believe in governments,  in vaccines, and even in the very idea that people can be altruistic. Cynicism has been around for a long time, but never before has it been this prevalent in our culture as a society.

The motion reads: THR the mainstreaming (e.g. in art, media, politics, etc.) of cynicism. Much thanks is due to Papat Lozano, who contributed this motion and this post-debate analysis!

00:00 Introduction1:08 What is the importance of arts and culture?4:11 How is cynicism related to art, media, and politics?5:53 Who should this debate focus on?7:07 What is a strategic general frame for cynicism?11:09 What is the counterfactual for gov bench?19:32 How will teams evolve and adapt to the counterfactual?20:52 How will society function on Opp?23:02 Arguments for CG29:41 Arguments for CO34:37 Tips for encountering similar motions in the future

The theme for the open semi-final of this year's Debatable IV is international relations. On April 21, 2021, the New York Times published an article that illustrates a key dilemma facing the Biden administration-- can it really work with Beijing on issues like climate change while effectively challenging Beijing on human rights issues?

The transition into greener energy through solar panels is one of the ways the world can combat climate change. Currently, China controls the majority of the solar supply chain. One of the key materials of solar panels comes from Xinjiang, a region in China where Uighur internment camps are located. Recently, China held a business conference warning the world of unilateralism pursued by certain countries that would ultimately discourage cooperation. This statement is directed towards the US who recently talked about self-sufficiency in supply chains. The US is now faced with a dilemma: should they cooperate with China on climate change or exclude China until it resolves its human rights issues in Xinjiang. 

The motion reads: TH, as the US, would cooperate with China. Much thanks to Ashley Dejarme for contributing this motion and for giving us their valuable insights!

'China's Solar Dominance Presents Biden With an Ugly Dilemma' (Swanson and Plumer, New York Times):https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/business/economy/china-biden-solar-panels.html

00:00 Introduction1:17 What is the context behind this motion?2:15 Why mix environment and international relations in a motion?5:13 There must be a tradeoff between environment and human rights6:28 Framing on gov + Realist theory10:43 What arguments to prioritize in the opening half?15:08 Extending on gov18:52 Reframing on opp22:04 Could opp give an alternative partner for the US instead of China?23:41 Arguing on opp27:02 Extending on opp + Hegemonic Challenger theory30:44 Advice for IR motions

The theme for Debatable IV's novice and junior finals is philosophy! The nature vs nurture debate is a classic one in psychology and philosophy. The question of what makes us who we are gives us profound insight on the nature of humanity and the human condition. One recent contribution to this debate is a concept called the "collective unconscious," defined by psychoanalyst Carl Jung. 

The collective unconscious is a body of knowledge containing all of human experience that all human beings tap into when making decisions. The collective unconscious is responsible ffo many deep-seated beliefs and instincts, both positive (ie: charity, selfless acts, open-mindedness, etc.) and negative (ie: racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc.). It is said to influence a person's preferences, dreams, ideals, and goals based on the many factors that a person has no control over, even before they are born. It establishes the idea that a segment of humanity is genetically inherited and not shaped by personal experience. 

The motion asks us whether even the very idea of a collective unconscious is doing more harm than good. It reads: THP a world where the idea of a collective unconscious does not exist. We are so thankful to Miko Bombeo for contributing this motion and for letting us interview them for this post-debate analysis!

00:00 Introduction1:15 What makes debating philosophy fun?2:27 What is the collective unconscious?3:30 What inspired this motion?5:09 What was the context behind this theory?7:09 What is the debate about?8:48 Framing for gov12:01 What's the alternative?13:53 Arguing on gov17:13 Extending on gov19:30 Reframing and arguing on opp21:58 Weighing harms and benefits on opp25:31 Extending on opp28:05 Advice for philo motions