We surely talk a lot, but seldom in English.
We may quarrel a bit, but seldom make it a debate.
That's why I felt desperate when I had to attend an English debate in front of TV cameras and a mass audience. What made it worse is that the topic and debater’s role and side would not be decided until 2 minutes before the debate formally being pronounced to start, leaving almost no time for debaters to prepare.
With little experience and being informed that it was not only a competition, but more importantly, a show as a part of awarding ceremony, I did freak out knowing that I might end up in screwing up the whole thing.
It is the cruelty of life that we do not have much choice. At last, with all this desperation haunting me, I managed to suppress the worry and came to the conclusion that it's best to play to the ears just like most debaters in real life, being it around the negotiation table or in the courtroom, for they don't know what cards would be played either.
That's what I, together with other debaters, had gone through before I finally put myself on the stage. Blindly.
Time was very limited to every debater. I got to say something
even though I really did not quite know what would come out of my
mouth. Once fight begins, you have no retreat but give a head-on
shooting and get excited.
The kind of torture I expected before did not last that long. With a bit relief, we all got the job done, though certainly not to everyone's satisfaction.
For the audience, it is a debate, however, for me, it is more like a thrilling experience.
