Robin Sloan, author of the wonderful novel Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, has described attending debates sponsored by the Long Now Foundation. He was struck by the debate format, which, he says, is “nothing like the showdowns on cable news or the debates in election season.” There are two debaters, Alice and Bob. Alice takes the podium, makes her argument. Then Bob takes her place, but before he can present his counter-argument, he must summarize Alice’s argument to her satisfaction—a demonstration of respect and good faith. Only when Alice agrees that Bob has got it right is he permitted
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