[Issue 54] [Contest] Debate: Man vs. Machine

[Night-Sisters 2,139]

 

From the invention of the wheel to the creation of supercomputers, humans have been devising tools to assist with certain tasks for eons. Today in the digital age, we're breaking new ground in Artificial Intelligence. We have robots that are programmed to swim, write, play ping pong, and even learn. The ingenuity of the developments in this field are incredible, however, there is a...darker side to all this progress. Will there be a day when machines become so far advanced...that they are capable of taking over?  

 

It's an interesting, if somewhat terrifying idea, and one that is well worth a debate. So, dear readers, get your thinking caps on, choose a side in this argument, and start writing!

 

 

 

 

The task is to develop and logically defend your viewpoint on the question above. Use your knowledge of humans and the machines they build to clearly reason your way through the issue. Entries will be judged on the presentation, clarity, quality of the arguments, and overall cohesiveness.   

 

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The Rules: 

 

- Entries must be on topic. 

- Word count must be 800 or less. 

- One entry per individual. 

- All entries must be PMed to @Rhapsody_In_Blue.  :excl: Entries PMed elsewhere will be disregarded. :excl:

- You may quote outside material if you wish, but you must include a list of sources.(e.g. provide links to any online websites you use/quote.) This list will not contribute to the wordcount.

 

Entries will be cross-checked for plagiarism. Any stolen content will result in immediate disqualification.

 

Tips:

 

Do some research and take your time. Develop your arguments, thinking carefully about how they might be countered by a person coming from the opposing viewpoint. Use of the typical persuasive essay structure (introduction, body, outro) is suggested for delivering your ideas. 

 

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Prizes:

 

Category One: Best Supporting Persuasive pieces

(Arguing that robots will take over the world)

 

1st: 25,000 crystals and an an invitation to participate in a Reporter-hosted debate against the winner of the best opposing persuasive piece for a chance to win a bonus 10,000 crystals. 

 

2nd: 20,000 crystals

3rd: 15,000 crystals

 

 

 

Category Two: Best Opposing Persuasive pieces 

(Arguing that robots will not take over the world)

 

1st: 25,000 crystals and an invitation to participate in a Reporter-hosted debate against the winner of the best supporting persuasive piece for a chance to win a bonus 10,000 crystals.

 

2nd: 20,000 crystals

3rd: 15,000 crystals

 

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Right, so you all are probably wondering...what's this Reporter-hosted debate all about then? Well, after the first place winners from both categories are selected, they will be invited to debate with each other on the issue presented above. This discussion will be hosted by the Reporters and conducted via Tanki PM.

 

The results of said argument will be published in the paper, and the winner out of the two participants as judged by the Reporters will be given yet another 10k crystals to top off the twenty-five thousand they would have already won. If for any reason the first place winners do not wish to participate, the invitation will be extended to the next runner-up.

 

Good luck to all!

 

The deadline for this contest is July 20th 11:59 PM UTC+0. 

 

[beaku 2,656]

Woooooohooooooo!!!! Finally!! Something meant for me! :D

Though I've already had this debate when the now-extinct Tanki Online Debating Society was active on the forum. I'm still not sure as to which side I'll take, but in definitely in!

[omrot 2,327]

Too complicated :P

 

I'm more of a Caption This guy

[Quarks 2,255]

I wonder where you got this idea from. Perhaps it was a skype debate somewhere?

[beaku 2,656]

I wonder where you got this idea from. Perhaps it was a skype debate somewhere?

Well, it actually was but I doubt NS was aware of it. It's a very common topic anyways.

[Night-Sisters 2,139]

Wow, I had no idea that we used to have a debating society. Cool. XD

[Zenyth 6,494]

great contest idea, and eragon's pic is killer :D

[beaku 2,656]

Wow, I had no idea that we used to have a debating society. Cool. XD

Well, technically the Skype group still exists. But it has kinda gone into slump save occasional arguments on range of issues.

[Mr.Ace 1,116]

ok im gonna go for this !

you know what if u fail try try again so im definitely gonna go fro this even if i finish last

Edited July 2, 2016 by Mr.Ace

[BatmanX9 45]

What's this "Al" machine?

[Flexoo 6,980]

What's this "Al" machine?

Artificial Intelligence.

[MiR4cUl0uS 815]

Eh type of topic is this?? :wub:

[Night-Sisters 2,139]

Hopefully a good one :? 

[beaku 2,656]

I still can't decide which side to take... :(

[Metaphor 538]

I still can't decide which side to take... :(

Ikr, at least we can take our time :lol:

[falcosenna1 8,320]

I think I might give it a try. I might use a lot of Dutch sources. Should I add those to my list of sources too?

Edited July 3, 2016 by falcosenna1

[Night-Sisters 2,139]

Yeah, sure. I can't speak Dutch but there's always idiotic Google translate.  :ph34r:

[BatmanX9 45]

Artificial Intelligence.

Thanks! :) I'm actually pretty good at debating.

[mydoom.exe 5,154]

Trying my hand at debating, good luck to everyone!

[falcosenna1 8,320]

Yeah, sure. I can't speak Dutch but there's always idiotic Google translate.  :ph34r:

I can guarantee you Translate isn't a talented Dutch-speaker.  :lol: 

[BlueDragon_tamki 3,204]

I can guarantee you Translate isn't a talented Dutch-speaker. :lol:

or a French-speaker xD

[falcosenna1 8,320]

I finally managed to choose which side I'd like to defend. :P

Yeah, I'll participate. I just started writing. :)

Edited July 3, 2016 by falcosenna1

[BlueDragon_tamki 3,204]

This doesn't fit for me, I am not so good at arguments

[Boeing_787 1,455]

This doesn't fit for me, I am not so good at arguments

Just do a Google search about the subject. Your brain will soon be brimming with ideas:)

[Metaphor 538]

Found which side of argument I support after a few days worth of researching; it's incredible how much information and arguments have been created in the past few years on this topic around the world.