# Resolved: I have no idea what this means **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 4, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467 "2010-07-04T00:17:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/1 "2010-07-04T00:17:30Z")
I’ve seen quite a few threads that begin with “Resolved:”, but I don’t know what it is, exactly, that has been resolved. If the issue has been resolved, then why raise the topic in Great Debates? That’s like saying _almost everyone agrees with this statement, so let’s all talk about how much we agree_. If the OP has resolved the issue within their own worldview and has come down firmly on one side, then I can see how there could still be debate on the subject, but why bother to prefix the title? Doesn’t _Politicians Suck_ mean exactly the same thing as _Resolved: Politicians Suck_? Is this a custom carried over from another message board, or is it something that’s been going on forever that I’ve just somehow missed? ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/2 "2010-07-04T00:23:06Z")
I don’t know specific cites (although I’m sure someone will quickly chime in with some), but that is how formal debates are introduced in real life. Resolved: That Canadians are much nicer people than Americans. Following that resolution the pro-Canadians and pro-Americans have a debate to see who has the better argument. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/3 "2010-07-04T00:27:26Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I don’t know specific cites (although I’m sure someone will quickly chime in with some), but that is how formal debates are introduced in real life. > > Resolved: That Canadians are much nicer people than Americans. > > Following that resolution the pro-Canadians and pro-Americans have a debate to see who has the better argument. AH! The fog is cleaing! The _topic_, itself, is resolved so that pro and con positions can be taken! Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/4 "2010-07-04T00:34:42Z")
It is further confusing in that U.S. formal debates, (particularly those arranged for college and high school students), do use that formula while similar debates in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and a few other places use a different protocol. (I’m not sure abut Canada; “Resolved” could either be Yank or North American and I do not recall which.) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/5 "2010-07-04T03:58:38Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > (I’m not sure abut Canada; “Resolved” could either be Yank or North American and I do not recall which.) As I recall debates in my high school and university days, “Resolved” introduced debate topics in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/6 "2010-07-04T06:09:55Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > It is further confusing in that U.S. formal debates, (particularly those arranged for college and high school students), do use that formula while similar debates in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and a few other places use a different protocol. (I’m not sure abut Canada; “Resolved” could either be Yank or North American and I do not recall which.) My understanding from my high school debate and University Law classes is that, in Australia and NZ, a topic is said to be “Mooted”, “Moved”, or “Proposed” when put up for discussion. Something is “Resolved” when it’s been discussed and a course of action decided upon or decision reached. Like the OP, I’ve spent years wondering why people on the boards keep opening debates with “Resolved” when that’s clearly not true, but I’ve just put it down as a quaint Americanism now. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/7 "2010-07-04T06:58:59Z")
The UN does the same thing. A UN resolution is introduced, it is debated, and then it is voted on and either adopted or not adopted. For that matter, the British Parliament does the same thing. From Hansard: > [@](#): > > Mr. Douglas Hogg (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con): I rise to oppose this money resolution on several grounds. First, it meets no perceived need. It has no justification, and it would also involve a wanton waste of public money. So, there’s a resolution introduced in Parliament, and they’re debating it, with Mr. Hogg being opposed to adopting it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/8 "2010-07-04T07:18:36Z")
When I was in my school’s debating society in the UK, topics were introduced with the prefix “This house believes…” It sounds like a very similar [del]pile of pretentious bullshit[/del] protocol. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/9 "2010-07-04T08:44:30Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Like the OP, I’ve spent years wondering why people on the boards keep opening debates with “Resolved” when that’s clearly not true, but I’ve just put it down as a quaint Americanism now. 😛 I’m American, and it had to be explained on the board for me to understand the meaning. It still comes across as inadvertently arrogant to me. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/10 "2010-07-04T13:01:02Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I don’t know specific cites (although I’m sure someone will quickly chime in with some), but that is how formal debates are introduced in real life. > > Resolved: That Canadians are much nicer people than Americans. > > Following that resolution the pro-Canadians and pro-Americans have a debate to see who has the better argument. Resolved: this topic is. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/11 "2010-07-04T16:20:56Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’m American, and it had to be explained on the board for me to understand the meaning. It still comes across as inadvertently arrogant to me. Well, you can always use “Yo!” instead. And the great thing about that usage is it can go at the beginning or the end. \*Yo! Them motherfuckin’ bitches in Congress ain’t got no sense! Them motherfuckin’ bitches in Congress ain’t got no sense, yo!\* ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/12 "2010-07-04T16:42:27Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Resolved: this topic is. Master Yoda? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/13 "2010-07-04T20:44:15Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I’m not sure abut Canada Ha! Please tell me the typo was intentional. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/14 "2010-07-04T20:52:22Z")
phonetic ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/15 "2010-07-04T22:54:52Z")
Ha! I knew it! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/16 "2010-07-05T04:33:08Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > My understanding from my high school debate and University Law classes is that, in Australia and NZ, a topic is said to be “Mooted”, “Moved”, or “Proposed” when put up for discussion. When I debated at school in NSW, the topic was given in the form of a statement e.g. “The pen is mightier than the sword”. There were no introductory words in the form of ‘resolved’, ‘mooted’, ‘proposed’ etc. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/17 "2010-07-05T07:30:02Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > When I debated at school in NSW, the topic was given in the form of a statement e.g. “The pen is mightier than the sword”. There were no introductory words in the form of ‘resolved’, ‘mooted’, ‘proposed’ etc. It wasn’t consistently done in NZ either; but my point is that the word “Resolved” was never used to denote something up for debate- rather, it was for something which had already been debated and, well, resolved. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/18 "2010-07-05T08:41:30Z")
It may have been debated many times, but most debate topics are not issues that are actually going to be resolved by the end of the debate. (Oh, how I wish they were!) These are some current debate topics used for various purposes by the National Forensic League: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States. Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey. Resolved: Compulsory inclusion of non-felons’ DNA in any government database is unjust. Resolved: Current trends in American political dialogue compromise meaningful democratic deliberation. To use the word “Resolved” is literally pretentious, but not linguistically pretentious. The team defending the statement is pretending that they are resolute that their position is the correct one. (The teams should actually be well-prepared for either side of the debate.) And there is more than one meaning for “resolve.” Other than that, “pretentiousness” is often in the eye of the person who doesn’t use that particular word in that sense very often. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/19 "2010-07-05T09:06:05Z")
In debates, does “mooted” carry the same meaning as “resolved”, “moved” or “proposed”? I understand that saying “Resolved: Plan ABC is efficient” means that I believe Plan ABC is efficient and I’m prepared to defend that belief. If I say “Mooted: Plan ABC is efficient”, does it mean (in debates) that I believe Plan ABC is moot and no longer applicable? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467/20 "2010-07-05T09:36:11Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > To use the word “Resolved” is literally pretentious, but not linguistically pretentious. The team defending the statement is pretending that they are resolute that their position is the correct one. (The teams should actually be well-prepared for either side of the debate.) And there is more than one meaning for “resolve.” Starting with “Resolved: [Statement For Debate]” says, to me “I, His Imperial Majesty And God Emperor Of The Universe, Hereby Decree That [Statement For Debate] Is The Only Correct View And No Discussion Will Be Entered Into”. If you say (in your best Edwardian accent) “I have resolved to write a letter to my Member Of Parliament”, then you’re saying “I have decided- and am going to- write a letter to my Member of Parliament”; not “I am unsure if I should write a letter to my Member of Parliament and would like to discuss the matter further”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-have-no-idea-what-this-means/545467.md?page=2)