Das,Gayathri

About me: I've debated at Ardrey Kell for 4 years for at the high school level (1 year of PF, 3 years of LD). I focused more on traditional LD due to the nature of the LD circuit in NC, but went a more progressive route my senior year when travel was more an option for our team. I'm currently a freshman at Chapel Hill doing parliamentary debate and planning on majoring in Philosophy.

General: I very much think debate should be a space where everyone is free to express ideas in any manner they please, and am open to basically any type of advocacy. Case positions that are out of the norm on your particular circuit, deviant styles of argumentation, interpretive dance cases- you do it well and I'll judge it. I really admire people who debate the way they feel they can do the best despite backlash from their circuit/other debaters. That being said, being outwardly racist, sexist or homophobic does not constitute self expression and I have no tolerance for any sort of rudeness that I think would make someone uncomfortable within the debate space. You do you, but know the line.
 * DISCLAIMER: Parts of my paradigm are shameless stolen from Joe Bruner w/ his permission*

Specifics-

__Gestures__- So nobody freaks out, here's what these things usually mean.
 * Nodding vigorously**- This usually means I'm a) following the argument well or b) Recognize/like the card or evidence you're using. It does not mean I think you're right or you're automatically victorious.
 * Smiling**- I smile at almost everything, it's nothing special, please keep speaking.
 * Straight Face-** I understand this point and speaking about it more is a waste of your time, please move along with your refutation.

__Speed__- Slow down for tags/author names. Please don't start off full speed, you can work your way up to whatever speed works for you. You can go ask fast as you want but at about Tomasi level speed I will probably not be able to follow you as well as I'd like. I am not averse to yelling clear if you are being unclear, but after 2/3 times I will probably stop flowing.

__V/VC-__ " I hate the Value/Value Criterion so much. If you take it out of your case and just weigh impacts or argue that you analytically prove the resolution true, you'll probably do better in front of me. If you want me to explain this more, ask me, but this is what it is. I'm going to explain it more here since I get asked so much: I do not think it is either philosophical or realistic to appeal to only one criterion to the exclusion of all others when making decisions, and I don't think most authors think so either. So I have a strong preference against hearing you claim stuff like "only explicit violations of categorical imperative matter" or "any miniscule risk of extinction causes you to vote aff if I solve at all."

At the same time, I'm not trying to be prejudiced against traditional LDers who are used to relying on this heavily, so if you DO decide to use it, please be extremely clear on what the link between the Value and Value Criterion is, and especially what the link between your contentions and your value criterion is. Even better would be if you actually supplied a good reason the truth of the resolution hinges on your value above all else. If this isn't clear and you're using a V/VC and spending tons of time talking about your framework, I'll have a really hard time voting for you, even if you appear to be winning."

__Theory-__ I CAN understand theory arguments, I know the parts of a shell and have engaged in theory debate once/twice but since I debated in North Carolina I am in no way a "theory hack". If your strat involves multiple shells for time suck, you will not have a fun time in front of me. THAT BEING SAID- in cases of actual abuse I don't mind evaluating theory. ALSO NO THEORY THAT IS NOT IN A SHELL FORMAT (other than in case spikes)- I do not have time to figure out where your magical blip theory argument applies towards your opponents case in a high power round.

__Topicality-__ I don't have as much of an issue with this, and actually don't mind it as much as theory. But I also find it fairly tedious- run it if you need to.

__Substance__:Coming from NC, I really felt pigeonholed a lot of the times in terms of argumentation, purely because of the clash between what I wanted to run/ what worked in front of the judging pool. As a result of having to write more traditional cases, I ended up really enjoying with philosophy that isn't just PoMo, so any case that utilizes philosophical elements well will do well in front of me. Util is cool, I am not a huge fan of Kant, but any spins on traditional Deon are appreciated.

~Moral Skep: No thank you~

I don't like it when people say they don't have to prove solvency- If you don't understand what this means/think it's unfair **PLEASE** ask me to explain, this is something I feel fairly passionate about.

__K's/CPs/Disads/Performance/K affs__- I ADORE Kritiks and Kritik literature. I spent quite some time reading K lit my junior/senior year and really finding myself expanding my horizons of thought. I think they help improve critical thinking, are valid forms of argumentation and used them more my senior year as I traveled. I do expect the K to have all the parts of a K, but those parts do not have to be explicitly stated, I can follow the structure well. A strong yes to K affs as well- I've had some of my most enjoyable debates using K affs. If the K is something more obscure (Lacan, DnG, whatever), more explanation is good.

"I would like debaters to better explain what the real-world impacts and solvency of voting for the K are. My ballot is probably not actually preventing extinction or ending neoliberalism. I would like debaters to better articulate what REALLY HAPPENS when I vote for either side in K rounds as opposed to reading "cap causes extinction" or "structural oppression first duty to oppose" cards. Neoliberalism and Capitalism are probably bad and Racism and Sexism certainly are, but I am seeing a trend of debaters not clearly articulating what the PRE-FIAT impact is on an argument that is supposedly PRE-FIAT."

CPs and Disads are great tools in the proverbial toolbox if they are relevant- except politics Disads. I have never seen a good politics disad, if you really think you can change my mind, I won't stop you from running it but no promises.

I have literally only ever debated against one performance/narrative debater, but if that's your style go for it, I think the perspectives that these types of advocacies bring are really nice and make for interesting debates.

__Evidence__: I am generally very trusting of the evidence that people bring into round, in the sense that I believe anyone who is serious about competing and not an utter douchebag would not falsify evidence. If you are accused of messing with evidence, reading a card the way it's not supposed to be read, etc expect that to be reflected in your speaker points. I will call for cards that are very important to your advocacy if they are heavily contested, otherwise I trust that your stats are true.

__Voting Issues__: These are critical in how I make a decision, and I prefer them to be a little more less line by line. Tell me what arguments you think you are winning/are extending, why they matter more than your opponent's and the impacts coming off of them.

__Speaker points__- Expect fairly high speaker points unless you're insufferable in round. That being said, surefire ways to get 30's include - Using Eastern philosophy in case (except Mozi, I hate Mozi) - Using Nietzsche/ Paulo Freire in case - Quoting Childish Gambino at any point during the round, including CX - I'm a huge YuGiOh buff- if you take out your opponents case in 5 points (can be turns, blocks, whatever) and then say 'I HAVE SUMMONED EXODIA THE FORIBIDDEN ONE" that's basically an automatic win with a 30.

If you are a female debater and are aggressive you will not be docked speaks :)

Surefire ways to get me to hate you - Look down on an opponent for the style of debate they do in round - Completely destroy someone past the point that is necessary for victory simply for the LOLz

That's about it. I look forward to judging rounds, if you have any other q's feel free to ask me in round, happy debating!