My "Debate" Coach

[theburningliberal]

First off, I don't want any elementary-school replies from the right that consist of "Well she's right, j00 are stupeed!!!!!" Such posts will be deleted, and the poster receiving a 3 day ban from posting.

Now. I was standing talking with my yearbook adviser and debate coach (both conservatives) about the Associated Press and the con-job they pulled with their photos. When my debate coach heard the dilemma Mrs. Creech and I were discussing, she said, and this is word for word what she said, "AP is liberal and therefore stupid."

Now I respect her right to say that. I do.

Let me also say that my debate coach is a 5 foot tall woman who I love dearly. She is such an awesome person.

However. First, I felt insulted by her comment, and I still do. I'm assuming that she wouldn't like it if I told her that AP was conservative, and therefore stupid, so I'm left to wonder why she said that, when she knew I was standing right beside her. (She knows I'm pretty liberal.)

Secondly, she is, above all, a teacher. While this wasn't an academic setting per se, (it was after school hours and she and my yearbook adviser are friends, so she came to visit), I am still a former classroom student of hers and one of her debaters on team. Isn't it against conduct rules for teachers to make unfounded slams against one ideology or another, due to the fact that the educational environment - in or out of school hours - is still supposed to be one of respect, where everyone can feel welcome?

As I said before, I adore my debate coach. She is a lovely person, but DAMN. Did she have to insult liberalism - a belief I hold dear - right in front of me?

[theburningliberal]

At 1/4/05 11:42 PM, wAcKyEagle wrote: Such posts will be deleted, and the poster receiving a 3 day ban from posting.

Sorry about this. I just copied and pasted this from another board (on which I am a mod) and forgot to remove it from here.

[JoS]

Well she is correct in saying that AP is stupid, and liberal since they are both subjective terms. However saying they are stupid because they are liberal would be going a little too far perhaps. You should have said Fox is conservative and therefore stupid.

[poxpower]

At 1/4/05 11:46 PM, JusticeofSarcasm wrote: Well she is correct in saying that AP is stupid, and liberal since they are both subjective terms. However saying they are stupid because they are liberal would be going a little too far perhaps.

not if they are both as subjective as you say 8-)

anyways, some people get carried away in the heat of the moment. Plus, you sound like you're in High School. They don't need to get the most competent and bright people on earth to teach there you know :o

anyways, you now know that she looks down on liberals and is pretty prejudiced against them, so use that somehow.

[theburningliberal]

At 1/4/05 11:49 PM, -poxpower- wrote: anyways, some people get carried away in the heat of the moment.

We weren't arguing. She just happened to drop in and hear what we were saying, and it just came off the cuff randomly, without any provocation whatsoever.

Plus, you sound like you're in High School.

In the words of Lt. Worf, "Very Astute." </sarcasm>

They don't need to get the most competent and bright people on earth to teach there you know :o

*aingery faise* Don't insult her.

anyways, you now know that she looks down on liberals and is pretty prejudiced against them, so use that somehow.

How should I use it? I don't want to make her angry, but I do want her to apologize...

[JoS]

At 1/4/05 11:49 PM, -poxpower- wrote: not if they are both as subjective as you say 8-)

If I were to think mods are stupid and since you are a mod what would that mean, other than I am banned? Would it be fair to automatically label someone something just because of one characteristic that is totally unrealated to the other. Their is no link between liberalism and stupidity, since the both measure different things. Like saying purple is a stupid colour, they arent the same thigns so you cannot use these words togetehr.

[poxpower]

At 1/4/05 11:56 PM, wAcKyEagle wrote:

We weren't arguing. She just happened to drop in and hear what we were saying, and it just came off the cuff randomly, without any provocation whatsoever.

well, like I said, you know what she thinks now -.-
She probably doesn't mean it that much. Like when I say 13 year old kids are faggots.

How should I use it? I don't want to make her angry, but I do want her to apologize...

well bring it up and say it offended you that she would say something like that. Just don't act like you're really pissed of making a reproach to her. Just say it.
I don't know if she will apologize, but at least she'll know how you feel and probably watch it in the future when she's around people -.-

At 1/5/05 12:12 AM, JusticeofSarcasm wrote:

Their is no link between liberalism and stupidity, since the both measure different things. Like saying purple is a stupid colour, they arent the same thigns so you cannot use these words togetehr.

What if to me, an liberal is someone who like to spend his money on expensive cars, and what if I think that's a waste of money, and what if I think wasting money is stupid?
If to me all liberals are money wasters, and all money wasters are stupid, then all liberals will become stupid in my eyes, hence the obvious correlation between "liberal" and "stupid" in this example.

which shows its possible to link the two in this manner, which was my point.
plus I even put a smily and you had to come off as an ass insulting me. SO, BOO TO YOU.

[TimScheff]

Wow, I wonder if the conservative debaters I coach react the same way when I start in on conservatives. (Probably not because I usually am either so sarcastic about it or I will actually warrant my claims). A comment like that would probably be nothing but a joke.

I think the fact the AP is being called liberal is funny, I certainly don't see it as a liberal news source. It certainly is not a polemic opposite of Fox News and the National Review the way Air America and The Nation are.

In any event, its really not a helpful way for a coach to approach a situation, but I have recruiting problems on my team and it looks like yours is larger. All in all I wouldnt' worry about it. Its not like evidenciary source quality concerns are ever an issue in a round, and even then you won't have your own coach as a judge.

[Pyrrho]

At 1/4/05 11:42 PM, wAcKyEagle wrote:

Now. I was standing talking with my yearbook adviser and debate coach (both conservatives) about the Associated Press and the con-job they pulled with their photos. When my debate coach heard the dilemma Mrs. Creech and I were discussing, she said, and this is word for word what she said, "AP is liberal and therefore stupid."

That was a bit unprofessional of her.

Now I respect her right to say that. I do.

Aye.

Let me also say that my debate coach is a 5 foot tall woman who I love dearly. She is such an awesome person.

Aye, again.

However. First, I felt insulted by her comment, and I still do.

It should have struck a nerve. Her logic behind her claim was simple and a bit ignorant

I'm assuming that she wouldn't like it if I told her that AP was conservative, and therefore stupid,

I doubt she would.

so I'm left to wonder why she said that, when she knew I was standing right beside her. (She knows I'm pretty liberal.)

Meh. Who knows? Women's minds work in extremely unusual and complicated ways. No man will ever understand.

Secondly, she is, above all, a teacher. While this wasn't an academic setting per se, (it was after school hours and she and my yearbook adviser are friends, so she came to visit), I am still a former classroom student of hers and one of her debaters on team. Isn't it against conduct rules for teachers to make unfounded slams against one ideology or another, due to the fact that the educational environment - in or out of school hours - is still supposed to be one of respect, where everyone can feel welcome?

It is frowned upon, you are correct. Teachers are expected to uphold a certain level of professionalism with their students, whether it be on or off campus, during or out of school hours.

As I said before, I adore my debate coach. She is a lovely person, but DAMN. Did she have to insult liberalism - a belief I hold dear - right in front of me?

She didn't have to. I'm sure if she is the calibur of person you claim her to be, then she meant no personal offense. If it bothers you that much, maybe you should consider speaking with her about it.

[JoS]

At 1/5/05 01:05 AM, -poxpower- wrote:

At 1/5/05 12:12 AM, JusticeofSarcasm wrote:

What if to me, an liberal is someone who like to spend his money on expensive cars, and what if I think that's a waste of money, and what if I think wasting money is stupid?

Although liberal is a broad term in the form she used it it could not refer to spending habits, only to political beliefs, and one cannot derive a true link between a common political belief and intelligence.

plus I even put a smily and you had to come off as an ass insulting me. SO, BOO TO YOU.

I wasn't trying to make fun of you, I was trying to make a joke using the only example I could think of that applied to you (I am Canadian too). Sorry if I offended you 8-)

[Reverend-Kyle]

It's not like she was teaching this idea to you. It might be hard to believe, but high school teachers aren't robots; they have opinions.

Like Tim Scheff here, she was probably being sarcastic when she said it.

I don't know what to tell you. Suck it up or go cry to the ACLU about it... fucking tax and spend liberals...

[ReiperX]

As a teacher, someone who believe it or not can greatly impact the lives of her students, I think what she said was unprofessional. But it was her opinion.

But its not something I would dwell on if I were you, maybe one day try and talk to her about what she said, let her know it did offend you. Hell she might have said it to you for a reason to give a little fuel for you and her to debate one day. Ya never know till you talk to her.

Glad you respect your teacher, a lot of kids don't give teachers the respect that they deserve.

[MustaphaMond]

Out of curosity, how did she support the idea that liberal = stupid?

[theburningliberal]

At 1/5/05 05:50 PM, MustaphaMond wrote: Out of curosity, how did she support the idea that liberal = stupid?

She didn't. She just said, "AP is liberal and therefore stupid."

No justification, no warrants, no nothing.

[Ravens-Grin]

What you need to do in retaliation is get this t-shirt; wear it but don't say anything. Here