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Chip Fixes

Fri Jan 06 2012, 03:37AM

Registered Member #3781 Joined: Sat Mar 26 2011, 02:25AM
Location:
Posts: 701

I'm going to be writing a persuasive speech for my speech class in school next week and I'm not sure what to do it on. What would you guys write a persuasive speech on?

EDIT: Humorous topics welcome!

Turkey9

Fri Jan 06 2012, 03:50AM

Registered Member #1451 Joined: Wed Apr 23 2008, 03:48AM
Location: Boulder, Co
Posts: 661

I did my persuasive speech on global warming, mainly how it's not man made.

The mark of a good persuasive speaker is that he or she can make the audience feel passionate over something menial, say the difference between coke and pepsi.

Googling it will give you endless ideas, but sometimes it can get to be too much.

Nik

Fri Jan 06 2012, 05:29AM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

How about against solar (Photovoltaics) in favor of nuclear (thunk thorium). Solar was tried in Germany and failed miserably now they are trying it again in Canada with heavy government subsidization. Nuclear is getting a bad rep from the media when it is really one of the "greener" forms of energy we can use.

hboy007

Fri Jan 06 2012, 01:04PM

Registered Member #1667 Joined: Sat Aug 30 2008, 09:57PM
Location:
Posts: 374

Nik wrote ...

Solar was tried in Germany and failed miserably now they are trying it again in Canada with heavy government subsidization.

Subsidization isn't always granted in the intent to promote new technologies but also to support industry branches and to emphasize interests. Alternative energy technologies imply high selectivity in location factors.
Hey wait, I have an idea: how about a talk about "doing it right" that presents some failed attempts to promote emerging technologies that weren't meant to be from the start on, concluding with a nice bottom line about how reasonable decisions are made?

Here in Germany, we've been subsidizing the coal mining industry just for the sake of employment and regarding photovoltaics, well ... it's both a political thing and a bit of a laugh compared to other countries with more sunshine.

jpsmith123

Fri Jan 06 2012, 02:24PM

Registered Member #1321 Joined: Sat Feb 16 2008, 03:22AM
Location:
Posts: 843

You could do something patriotic like persuade your class that the "U.S. government" is lying about Bruce Ivins being the so-called "anthrax killer".

For example, the government alleges that Ivins used the facilities at USAMRIID, where he worked, to grow and process anthrax spores into an effective bio-weapon, which he subsequently used to attack the United States.

This poses the obvious question: If this is true, then why wasn't the whole supervisory staff at USAMRIID subsequently fired, demoted, or even reprimanded?

Can you imagine that? A guy goes to work every day (and even gets overtime)...but instead of doing what he's supposed to be doing, he engages in this massive, intricate endeavor (supposedly on the edge of what's even technologically possible under the circumstances), in the process risking the lives of everyone in the area...and his supervisor doesn't have the slightest clue as to what he's doing?

Is there anyone here who could go to work for days on end and do some major illegitimate project using massive amounts of company time and resources, and not even get noticed? And not be asked for an explanation?

Can you imagine if something like that had actually happened somewhere? Why, there'd be a real investigation. Heads would roll. Lawsuits would be filed. People would be found negligent and punished. People would be fired.

Instead what happened? Nothing. Nothing at all.

To anyone who's spent any time in the real world, is the government's "story" believable?

Steve Conner

Fri Jan 06 2012, 03:46PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Believable? Not very.

Off topic even for the chatting forum? Probably.

For anyone interested in conspiracy theories, there are lots of other forums where you can discuss them, but not this one please! Although I have to admit they would make interesting topics for a persuasive speech, either for or against. (A really good lawyer could argue both sides on subsequent days without anyone noticing anything wrong.)

Edit: It is probably unfair to dismiss the Ivins thing as a conspiracy, there is no consensus on it even inside the Government.

jpsmith123

Fri Jan 06 2012, 04:31PM

Registered Member #1321 Joined: Sat Feb 16 2008, 03:22AM
Location:
Posts: 843

But you see my main point Steve, don't you? IOW, without even getting into the merits of the alleged case against Ivins, if "the government" actually believed its own story, there would've been some kind of a shakeup at USAMRIID. The fact that there wasn't any such thing speaks volumes.

(BTW I think of it as a noble effort to clear the name of a guy who can't defend himself).

Steve Conner

Fri Jan 06 2012, 05:05PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Yes, I see your main point, and I'm eager to avoid it for the sake of the forum rules.

jpsmith123

Fri Jan 06 2012, 06:12PM

Registered Member #1321 Joined: Sat Feb 16 2008, 03:22AM
Location:
Posts: 843

Ok, I'll shut-up about it....

Tetris

Fri Jan 06 2012, 08:22PM

Registered Member #4016 Joined: Thu Jul 21 2011, 01:52AM
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 660

How bout going against the SOPA act, and pretend as if you are writing a letter to the gov't to try and persuade them to repeal the act? And it's the national oration speech, right? If you do go to the national levels, it really will be a letter to them. Hm... I wonder if its the same oration I'm thinking of. If so... why didn't we get ours yet? It's the same topic all over the US.

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