Perhaps if I had spelled ‘weakly’ right…
The skills that I have developed through participation in various debate forums are becoming quite useful when I find myself in an argument with my spouse.
Funny, I hadn’t noticed you buying chocolates and flowers for the other debaters.
Sometimes I am convinced to modify my view by the process of debate. In both directions. Let me illustrate -
I got into a debate about gun control. Before engaging I weakly held the position that some gun control was reasonable and had a sense that more guns was correlated with more deaths. I also felt that most guns rights advocated were loons.
After the debate I had researched the issues and felt very strongly that wide gun availability increased the rate of homicide. My view now had some depth that it previously did not have. I also changed my view of the gun rights advocates. Sure, there are a few loons among them, but many have good reasons for concluing how they do, even if I conclude differently. I have a greater respect for their position than previously, even though I more strongly disagree than ever.
It possibly has to do with how we enjoy learning - as a passive endevour or as part of an active process gathering information and arguments of utility.
As a teacher, I’d like to point out that all of your reasons for debate are the reasons that some of us advocate much more conversation - debate/discussion - in classrooms. It is an educative, social event, destined to make us all better.