Debate motion This or that
Being able to fly beats being invisible
It is the classic playground question: would you rather fly or be invisible? This motion asks you to argue that flight is the better power. The debate turns on what you would actually do with each one. Flight offers freedom, travel, and wonder, while invisibility offers secrecy, safety, and a lot of tricky questions about honesty.
FOR Argue that the motion is right.
AGAINST Argue that the motion is wrong.
Arguments FOR
- Flying gives you freedom every single day. You could skip traffic, reach any place quickly, and see the world from above whenever you wanted.
- Flight is useful for good deeds. You could reach people stuck in floods, help search for someone lost, or deliver supplies where roads cannot go.
- Most uses of invisibility involve sneaking, spying, or avoiding people. Flight is a power you can enjoy openly without hiding what you are doing.
- The joy of flying would never fade. Sunsets above the clouds and gliding over mountains beat standing unseen in a room you were not invited into.
Arguments AGAINST
- Invisibility lets you escape any awkward moment, avoid danger, and get out of trouble instantly. Flying makes you the most visible person in the sky.
- A flying person would be stared at, chased by cameras, and never left alone. Invisibility keeps your life private and peaceful.
- Flight comes with practical problems: cold air, bad weather, birds, and aircraft. Invisibility works anywhere, in any weather, with no risk of falling.
- Invisibility can also do good. You could quietly protect someone, uncover wrongdoing, or help without needing thanks or attention.
Sample openers
FORInvisible people hide in corridors. Flying people see the whole world. I know which life I want.
AGAINSTFlying sounds wonderful until you realise you are cold, wet, and being followed by every camera in town.
How a match plays
- Two sides. One debater argues FOR the motion and the other AGAINST, taking turns at two podiums: three rounds, or five in a full match.
- Eleven AI jurors. Each cares about something different, and some start out leaning one way. They switch sides as your arguments land. Win eight of them, or the final verdict.
- Your voice. When your turn starts, argue out loud, and the jury reacts to what you actually said. No mic? Type instead.
- Vera or a friend. Vera, our AI debater, takes the other side any time. Or send a friend a private code and argue it out live.
Questions
What is the strongest rebuttal to the freedom argument?
Point out that flying makes you a public spectacle. You would lose privacy, attract attention everywhere, and face real dangers like weather. Ask your opponent how free someone really is when everyone can see them coming.
How do I win the jury on this motion?
Describe everyday life with each power, not just dramatic moments. Jurors reward imagination grounded in practical reasoning, humour, and direct rebuttals. They punish speakers who only list cool scenes without comparing the two powers.
Is this good for a party or class?
It is a perfect icebreaker. Everyone has an answer, and the arguments reveal values like honesty, freedom, and privacy. It works for all ages and needs no research at all.