At my kids debate championship

They asked us not to look the children in the eyes while they speak

Is that a new thing? Like a zoo?

Eye contact with the Judges is encouraged, and part of the judging at the end even?

But not eye contact with the parents 😄

lol. that's funny. 

as a former debater - looking judges in the eyes is very distracting. easy to over-interpret their micro-expressions and lose your train of thought.

as a former coach - this is a key skill and it sad to see your league abdicate their responsibility for building strong communicators.

Startup artist seeking inspiration.  Champion of /bcard

I understand it can be a lot

And the kids should be focused on the judge so that’s good!!!

I know I’m a boomer but you can pry my eye contact from my cold, dead hands.

Playing “The SIMS Pets” except this feels real. Cannelle is dog. Cruella is cat. I am mother.

direct prolonged eye contact is a sign of aggression!! for cats. and autistics. i feel like you can usually throw children into one of those categories, no?

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😂 So, are we supposed to just stare at the floor now?

My casts are immutable, but my opinions might get a soft fork.

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Middle school so they worry about parents influencing them I think

There’s a lot of silent body language we should avoid!

what happened to facing your fears? now we’re shielding kids from eye contact?

Should've banged on the glass just to be sure!

you cannot use telepathy triggered by eye contact, i don't make the rules

Careful, they take it as aggression and might attack.