Luck And Practice

I was fortunate to be able to join the debate fraternity.I never have really been out of it for a good part of 19 years. I would be first to admit that practice and Saiful are two words that would have serious worldly repercussions if combined too often but I did practice, albeit, sporadically and specifically. Nonetheless, divine interventions helped my limited practice to be specifically on what was needed at that time to win or do well in the few tournaments that I entered.

Here’s the list.

1. 1990 UPM Inter-College Tourney

- three beautiful teammates, so I was inspired to do all sorts of research to get to the final

2. 1991 UPM Inter College Tourney

- Our team was conned or Shanghaied into losing the finals the previous year so in 1991, I was pissed and thus ever willing to get the most potent of data.It was here that I developed my unique squirelling approach. We won and I was best speaker.

3. 1992 – kicked out of the UPM for purportedly having a short tongue and thus inable to pronounce words correctly. Insane, took me out of debate for a year but UPM lost all they could have lost (probably would have lost even if I was around) but my reputation was intact and called back in 1993 and I met OMAR SALLAHUDDIN.

4. Perfected my art of multiple definitions and parameters and got to the finals of the Battle of Wits. Lucky because Omar’s team in a mindboggling decision lost in the semis. Ha ha, easy path for us in the finals. (My first prize money even though we lost the finals)

5. Went to the AllAsians (the first one) got to define 4 out of 5 times in the prelims and thus we won all four. Got to the octos but cannot define as we were the opps. Lost but reputation still okay as breaking then, means, you’re good.

6. Went to the first royals in 95. Perfected the art of coin flipping so that we will get the ‘Affirmative’ position all the time. Got 4 out 5 and won 4 out of 5. Got through to the semis and the coin did not favour us and we were on the wrong side. Thus we lost.

Really not bad considering we only practiced defining and defending our parameters. Tough luck as by 96 people just simply got better and our way was not in style anymore (not that it was ever in style anyway)

Ideology In Debate

Talk is an interesting concept as it is not ever singular in formation. There are various influential variables that leads to the formation of the text of the talk. They would involve belief, culture, rules,level of education, economic backgroud, etc.

Thus, I would focus on one issue, Idealogy or belief. New debaters will be indoctrinated into the debate society with various show of beliefs, from the debaters talk, to the way they think, to the way they discuss, to whom they would listen to,etc. You can choose to ignore these belief charateristics and choose to do you it your own way but you will be frustrated and isolated. Debaters, happy and gay though most of them would be, religiously follow a set of belief that denotes the way they should act from the thinking, to the production of thoughts in discussion or debate speeches.

Hence, it would be wise for newer debaters to follow the cues and advice of senior members so as not to go against the conventions (hidden or clear) of the community.

The Day I Met Daniel

Well, it was one of those days when you’re pushed to the front to lead or choose a leader for your group. I of course pretended not wanting to lead or nominate an able leader until a few more girls coaxed me into going to the front and be their hero, end the meting and allow them to go back to their lipstics, books and of course the shared pertinent need to have lunch.

I went to the front of the congregation of 118 TESL students and diplomatically got a big bloke, now famous, by the name of Karam (Sinking) Singh. He was certainly huge enough, with a booming voice and with lucnh beckoning ever closer the whole class decided on Karam’s not so good looks but charming personality that he was the leader we need to end the crisis of ending the meeting so that lunch can be sought after soon.

He sensed that lunch was probably the reason of his election too and thus boomingly announced that he will only need 3 to 4 minutes to address al of us and then we could go and do what men and women were delivered this earth to do, eat, buy and use lipstic, read and figure out the next best time to do all of these.

Karam shouted,”Could we all just settle down and sit down please?”. And… Daniel, well then just a bloke to me, stood up with a hideous red shirt and unseen before hair style. He shouted back, “What if I want to stand?”. The crowd hissed, sensing that lunch and lipstick will be delayed further.

Karam, thinking that his authority is being challenged on the first two minutes of being in power was about to answer when Daniel as he would do many times later in his life started eagerly jumping up and down with his backpack and Karam sensing that this monster is from a different timezone inteligently let us go and informed us that some decisons will be discussed later.

The Art Of Debating

It was spelled correctly, ‘Art’ not ‘Fart’. Though many debaters now clearly know that manner is given due reward in debates, but have very limited areas improvement oppurtunity. Seniors and coaches would tell them sounding like how to say something (as ‘how’ would relate mostly to manner) but their version of ‘how’ still sounds like ‘what’ most of the time. The teaching of manner oftentimes would be the camourflaging of the teaching of matter.

Hence, newer debaters would have no art whatsoever and could literally be accused of farting out points and argumentation. They would be loud and fast similar to our preffered method in the loo and much to the chagrine of people who are expecting art plus points not farty points when viewing debates. A classic example would be during WUPID 2007 finals where the Irish boys were arty crafty and hence made their matter better. Thus we should have more trainings on manner and those without much inclinations on how to teach manner should NOT be doing it.

The Knee Problem

We can hop, run, hop, side hop and step because we have wonderfuljoints provided by the Allmighty. So, first, be extremely thankful. One of the most important areas of joints is the knee. It is somewhat ugly even with direct comparison to your own or someone else’s bum, the knee would still, in beauty category, ranked extremely low.

However, I love as we all should, these knees of ours. I’ve had a running problem with my right knee for the good (or bad) part of a decade. 2 weeks before the fasting month however, the word ‘problem’ was combined strongly with the word ‘bad’. My right knee could just stop whatever it is suppose to do even when I was sitting down. The faces that I saw in my mind (Bangau, Jabba and Bob) my rugby mates from my beloved Ex Angels Rugby Club, all pushed me to the brink of sheeding a tear or two. The thought of them missing me though I know they would be glad that I won’t be around to impede anymore, was simply unbearable.

Then, as if God sent, while I was fasting in Melaka, some blokes asked me to play football with them. In the spirit of Kolo Toure who was fasting while playing in EPL, I bravely accepted the call of duty. Iplayed and I played well. Knee problem, well… What knee problem? The problem dissapeared. I felt strong and at least 4 weeks younger. Thus, I will not be retiring just yet. My right knee was cured, well or the pain was not as excruciating as before.

This great feeling was the one I presented to my wife who smiled and said,”You always feel good before you play rugby. It’s after that I’m worried about”.

Great feeling slightly deeming but the smirk is still there. I will take them all on, one knee at a time. The painkillers will help.