Welcome to The Online Debaters Club
Our Story
The Online Debaters Club is an offspring from the Toastmasters club 104 London Debaters, although we are not part of Toastmasters. During the Covid lockdowns 104 London Debaters started meeting on Zoom, and when the club returned to meeting in person, there were a few who had joined during the online period but who lived too far from London to join in person. Kristina Bhrava, William Hagerup and Bill Moss decided to continue to offer online debates once a month, and this eventually became The Online Debaters as it now stands. William and Bill are still on the committee and one of the earliest members, Andrew McDonald, is now the Club President.
Our Values
If you want a safe space, please stay away. At The Online Debaters Club, we believe in diversity of opinions, however controversial, and the tolerance of different views, whether right-wing, left-wing or no wing. Our debates are conducted in a respectful tone, but no argument is respected, whether secular, religious, political or anything else.
Every opinion and viewpoint can be questioned, debated, argued and thrashed. If you can't stand that heat, do not enter the kitchen.
Membership Benefits
If you apply to join The Online Debaters Club, we will conduct an interview to see if you are a good fit for a debate club.
You need to believe in freedom of speech, logic and tolerance, and be able to work with other debaters in teams.
If we accept you, you'll gain access to do the main, prepared debates, giving you a wonderful opportunity to enhance your debate skills, your persuasiveness, team-working capabilities, general knowledge as well as other skills, such as Zoom hosting, debate chairing, time-keeping and improvising.
We hold regular debate workshops which you will have free access to, and we offer coaching and mentoring in some cases.