Do More Debates Enhance Understanding Or Add Confusion?


I’m working on a new theory and I believe it has some validity.


It goes something like this: Based upon those who I’ve talked to, it seems that as the number of forums increase, the amount of new information decreases and the level of confusion increases. Furthermore, as the number of forums increase, the greater the likelihood that the front runner will be unseated by fellow party members eager to promulgate their own agendas.

I’m labeling the theory as one of Creative Dissonance, Leadership Threat and Reduced Understand and Clarity.

The theory works like this. As the number of forums increase, the new information imparted is inversely proportional to the number of forums scheduled, while the threat to the front runner is increased proportionately as is the level of confusion.
Understanding, like the amount of new information imparted, is inversely affected with negative consequences.


Therefore, the greater the number of forums, the greater the dissonance that occurs and the increasing murkiness of the data presented.

In other words, an increasing number of forums at this point only seems to hurt the candidates. And there may be an even bigger negative attribute of scoring more forums than the other side.


Most importantly, as the number of forums increases per party over the other party, the chances are that they advantage may shift to the side offering the fewest forums or debates using the existing system.

Consequently, there may be a genuine benefit in limiting the number of forums to a maximum of three so as not to contribute to the growth of dissonance and misunderstanding while keeping clarity and content to a maximum.

Three is a somewhat arbitrary determination based on the results through the Third Debate where it seems that the disadvantages of the forums outweighed their benefits.

Most thought that three forums might be the maximum that the citizenry can absorb productively.

Something the Party might want to consider in coming elections..

Again, these findings are only preliminary and predicated on conversations with friends and colleagues and my own observations seeking to determine the longer term benefits of limiting the number of debates as opposed to whatever measures will increase their clarity.


Les Aaron
The Armchair Curmudgeon