Debate motion Defend the indefensible
Waiting in line is secretly fun
Queues are where time goes to die, or so most people think. This motion asks you to argue that standing in line is secretly enjoyable. It is a fun challenge because everyone has suffered in a queue, and the debate turns on whether waiting can be a rare gift of free time or is simply wasted time.
FOR Argue that the motion is right.
AGAINST Argue that the motion is wrong.
Arguments FOR
- A queue is one of the few moments when nobody expects anything from you. You can daydream, people-watch, or simply rest your busy mind.
- Waiting builds excitement. The line for a concert, a ride, or a new film is part of the event, full of anticipation and shared buzz.
- Queues create surprise conversations. Strangers chat, swap jokes, and complain together, which is a small kind of community.
- A line is fair. Everyone waits their turn, and there is a quiet satisfaction in a system where nobody can push ahead.
Arguments AGAINST
- Waiting in line is time you can never get back. Most people would rather spend it with friends, sleeping, or doing almost anything else.
- Queues are often uncomfortable: standing for ages, hot or cold, with tired children or heavy bags. That is not fun; it is endurance.
- If waiting were fun, businesses would not invest in faster checkouts, apps, and booking systems. Everyone is trying to make queues disappear.
- Most queues are for dull things like the post office or the bank. Excitement for a concert does not make the line itself enjoyable.
Sample openers
FORA queue is the last place on earth where nobody can ask you to do anything. That is not waiting; that is freedom.
AGAINSTIf queues were fun, theme parks would sell tickets to the line and skip the rides.
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 anticipation argument?
Anticipation is about the event, not the line. People enjoy thinking about the concert, not the hours on cold pavement. Ask your opponent whether the same person would enjoy queuing at the post office for the same length of time.
How do I win the jury on this motion?
The word secretly is your friend or your enemy. FOR can argue the fun is hidden and needs noticing; AGAINST can say there is no secret, just boredom. Jurors reward clever use of the wording, plain talk, and humour.
Who will enjoy this motion?
It works for anyone who has ever queued, which is everyone. It is great for parties, streams, and classes, and it gives quieter players lots of relatable examples to use.