What is it about political campaigns that divides a nation? What happened to civil discourse? I was taught at St. Mary's Dominican High School in New Orleans, the rules of debate, and Robert's Rules of Order.
To be prepared for a debate in 1966 meant combing the card catalogues for days and weeks to find support for our positions.
Imagine this as a debating topic for high school students: Nuclear Proliferation?! There I was a 17 year old idealist handed a debate topic that terrified me! There were no internet research capabilities; just old magazines and newspapers stored on microfiche that had to be magnified to be read. There were no instance searches with cut and paste options; just a pen and a notebook.
And woe to you who had not prepared properly; you were decimated by your opponent! Debating had an order to it. One person spoke while the other LISTENED and took copious notes in order to prepare a rebuttal.
One person was not allowed to SHout over the other; that would have cost you seriously; that would have LOST the debate for you. I would not have wanted to face my debate coach if I had lost a debate because of improper procedure.
You were not allowed TO CAP SOMEONE OUT LOUD! Where has this originated? Thank God that we are not CAPPED OUTLOUD for our behavior.
