It used to be taught, every high school and many early junior high and elementary schools had debate clubs, and the ability to hold complex and nuanced debate used to be intellectual entertainment for many. however, then the 60's youth rebellion saw the "debate stars" all on the youth side and arguing against the hypocrisy of the status quo. Soon, debate clubs were disbanded, and the formal rules of debate changed to allow for "cheap tactics" that destroyed the intellectual purity and allowed literal stunts, information overflow and diversion tactics to be allowed. That set the stage for debate and a pop culture intellectualism to die a quick death. Within a decade, the ability to discuss controversial topics without emotional outrage was lost. Now we are bereft.