Editor's note: Michael's challenge to the community sounds both edifying and fun. I look forward to seeing what kinds of articles this concept might generate. Now I just have to figure out how to argue that Superman 64 is good game.... -James
In college, my Rhetoric professor gave me a writing challenge traditionally know as the Invective and Encomium, or Blame and Praise. This challenge is the basis of On the Contrary. Essentially, he asked us to choose a topic and write an essay arguing our stance. Once we finished that, we also had to submit an entire counter argument for our chosen viewpoint.
If you wrote an argument that stated that abortion was evil and immoral, for example, you also had to submit a paper stating the benefits of pro-choice. This forces the consideration of both sides of an issue before committing to a final stance.
People post articles on Bitmob for any number of reasons. Some want to break in to the enthusiast press. Some want to weigh in on the big issues of the day. And some just want to write about whatever is on their mind. Bitmob offers myriad reasons to contribute.
Regardless of intent, it stands to reason that you're probably interested in improving yourself as a writer. And that's what matters. Casual bloggers and career-focused professionals alike -- everyone can benefit from some extra writing practice. This is what the On the Contrary writing challenge offers.
I'd like members of the community to pick a topic that they feel strongly about, and argue both sides of the matter. The goal is to promote a more thorough understanding of the issues that affect us as gamers, with the added benefit of generating some top-quality content for the Mobfeed.
Why you should participate
People often have a tendency to stick to the side of a debate that they initially feel drawn to. This can be limiting as a writer. By gaining a more complete understanding of an issue, you can broaden your view of it and argue your chosen side more effectively. You'll be able to counter any arguments the opposition might have, because you'll likely have already made them yourself. The result is tighter, more balanced writing.
Plus, once I've collected all of the entries, I'll post a series of links featuring the best-written articles. This means more exposure for you and your writing if you choose to participate.
What you have to do
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Choose a topic of interest. Your topic could be anything from "Nintendo is the greatest developer ever" to "grenade spammers should be banned." Be creative!
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Write two entries: one in agreement with your chosen topic (pro) and one in opposition to your topic (con). Articles should be at least 500 words each -- any less than that, and you probably won't have enough space to develop a convincing argument. Be sure to include the tag On the Contrary in each article. Your article titles should also give some indication of the stance you're taking in each piece.
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Post each article separately. Submissions are due by midnight on January 31, 2010. You don't have to post both articles at the same time, and the length of time between posts doesn't matter. As long as you remember to include the correct tag, it will appear in the wrap-up post.
I think this is a great opportunity for Bitmob members to gain a better understanding of a variety of issues. Standing on the other side of the fence may be uncomfortable -- especially when arguing against a stance you feel very strongly about -- but moving out of your comfort zone is a necessary step towards improving as a writer. I'm really interested to see what you guys come up with, and I look forward to reading all of your submissions.
This challenge is open to Bitmob staff, as well. You guys are a critical component of our community, after all. Interacting with you is a large part of what makes Bitmob so special. Feel free to participate if you have the time. I'm sure we could all benefit from some solid examples.
