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Welcome to Around The Horn: The Blue Area, an off-season game.

Do you love debating? Are you tired of the roundabout discussions and the personal attacks that occur in regular threads when we're all just trying to root for this lovable losing team of ours? If you've got time on your hands, and would like to join in an off-season debate game, look no further than Around The Horn: The Blue Area edition!

How It Works // The Rules (Please Read Before Signing Up)

- Just like the show on ESPN, there will be four participants for each "session" that we have. However, anybody can sign-up. You may have to wait a few extra days for the randomly chosen 4 to finish their session, but you will be 100% part of it.

There will be 5 total topics (+ 2 final round topics) where the four selected participants will debate sides on. You can all agree, all disagree, half and half. Whatever you feel -- even if you want to play devil's advocate, you're welcome to. As long as think you have good points and put thought into your posts.

Each "complete episode/session" (5 topics + final round) will take about 1-2 days total, so everything should wrap up in 24-48 hours at most. However, I am open to shortening it or making it a little longer depending on how active people are. If everybody is active and debating a topic, we can move through them faster.

At the beginning of each topic, the participants must have an opening post where you present your stance on the topic at hand (make a good first impression). From then on, you are able to debate with the other participants whom you disagree with, or build-upon and present information / opinions with those who you do agree with. Hell, you can half-agree with somebody and point out small issues you had with their view and expand upon that. Anything, really.

Witty banter is encouraged!

The topics will range from Magic related stuff to General NBA things. You may have an upper hand if you know a lot about basketball.

After 3 topics, the person with the least amount of points will be eliminated. After 5 topics, another person will be eliminated. The final two will have a speed-round of two topics (each person gets to go first once) where you must argue opposite sides. I will post when we are getting close to switching topics.

The winner gets the floor and gets one big post at the end where they can vent, promote, present interesting facts, bring attention to whatever they want. The winner also gets to come back the next "episode/session" (unless they wouldn't like to) while the other 3 may get replaced, depending on how many people sign up. Updated win counts will be posted in this thread as well.

How are points scored? Well, like the show, it's completely subjective. This is for fun, so don't be sad if you don't "win" -- we'd love to have repeat participants. The hosts will be Bensational and I.

Personally, I will be scoring points for creativity, strong arguments (even from opinions I disagree with) and the ability to really "wrangle" each topic and come at it with a fun viewpoint and make me consider things I haven't thought of. Points may or may not be given out (and could be taken away) after each post. You'll get an updated points count after every round.

No personal attacks of any kind. You will lose points for this, and it could lead to a warning.

(Please only sign up if you have the time to dedicate to it.)

The Hosts:




Current Participants

Sign-Ups:

(reserved for editing purposes)

You had me at "Witty banter!"

Anyways, how can we have 4 seperate opinions to decide a winner of a topic?

BadMofoPimp wrote:You had me at "Witty banter!"

Anyways, how can we have 4 seperate opinions to decide a winner of a topic?

Not 4 separate opinions. Basically, just watch Around The Horn if you ever have and you'll see what I mean. People can attack a topic from different angles and come away with different opinions and conclusions or similar ones, it's just how they present and the points that are made and if its well researched and if it makes sense.

It's for fun though, and subjective. For example if Bill Simmons was ever on the show and was asked a Celtics question, he'd arguably have the biggest advantage because he's such a big fan but the points he'd make would be so homerific and over the top he probably wouldn't score much points. Somebody can agree with his thought process but be able to connect the dots a little more and score better. That sort of thing.

This is a really fun idea. Ive always loved this show.

Thanks

But yeah, if anybody is interested just say you'll sign up and if you have anymore questions I can PM you instead of cluttering here.

Damn, I was hoping to be Tony Reali.

This is gonna be a whole lot of fun peeps!

As SOUL mentioned, opinions on topics can come from all different angles and can even end up with the same conclusion.

We don't want this to be a traditional debate where people dogmatically choose a side and stick to it, which makes issues Black & White. We're looking for the 'grey' area in between - or, in Magic theme, "the Blue Area", showing that differing opinions can coexist in harmony. *cue the daisy chain crowns being handed out*.

But have fun with it. Witty banter isn't an invite to have digs at other posters, it's an invite to be witty about the topic. Heck, self deprecation would be something refreshing to see on this board! (I'm not even sure why it'd be relevant, I'm just riffing and on a roll!).

The first episode might take a bit of time to iron out some wrinkles, but let's persevere. I think this could become a great ongoing series on this board.

Who's in?

This sad sack punk may give it a shot. Got nothing to lose but my dignity if I haven't lost that already here. Howz that for self depreciation? Just practicing, you know. Get some pity votes etc.

Maybe i'll reopen this when the board is more active after the draft, shame cause we spent a decent amount of time on it.