Humour, Tin Soldier

Counterpoint: Wrong

Note: This article is hosted here for archival purposes only. It does not necessarily represent the values of the Iron Warrior or Waterloo Engineering Society in the present day.

Originally when told to argue for “Wrong”, I was told that the topic would actually be about “Right versus Wrong”. As my point partner has already picked a provoking piece for her palate, by arguing for being “write” instead of “right”, I’ve clearly proven the correctness of being incorrect. I don’t think I need to further argue about how “wrong” wins this PCP as the entire body of that point can only provide supporting arguments for my counterpoint. I’m not even sure if that sort of thinking makes sense, but even if it’s wrong, it’s right in the sense that I win. Game over. But really, how else is being wrong the clear winner over anything?

To quote Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus, “Make mistakes, make mistakes, make mistakes. It’s the best way to learn something.” As a fellow member of the academic movement that is our Engineering Undergraduate Faculty, I have personally seen the effects and benefits of being wrong over write. How else could I have made it to 4Q? The best way to demonstrate your learning is to make mistakes where it really counts. Finals make up at least half your grade in most of the classes taken by undergrads. By being wrong on your final exams, you demonstrate how much you’ve learned and how closely you’ve followed Ms. Frizzle’s words. I’ve been wrong numerous times and they have done a world of good. I’ve received a lot of valuable material from my TAs and Profs whenever my exams and assignments are returned. Corrections? No, just pure knowledge. If I were to be be right on my assignments, I wouldn’t receive any new knowledge. Just checkmarks, and checkmarks aren’t learning material. It just goes to show that begin wrong in academia really pays off.

In order to be a true supporter of being wrong, you have to go all the way. That’s right, you know what I’m talking about! Being just totally wrong and off-the-wall brings out your innermost creativity. As we all know, creativity is a key element when coming up with innovative and clever solutions in all engineering applications. By being wrong and completely inappropriate, you put your creative skills to the test. Crack a joke; make a funny; do something that you know will bring the most delightful look from the faces of your friends. Just a reminder: you can’t just half-jerk your efforts, you have to forward thrust them until you reached your own personal climax. To take a page from our own outgoing executives, make the effort of being wrong as part of your Forward Action Plan. You can definitely make this Very Achievable Goal a pleasure to work on. Be wrong in every way possible, in the words you choose, in the jokes you crack, and even the butt you smack. As always, be safe whenever you pursue your practice of being wrong. If you think you may be too wrong, put a rubber band on yourself as a good reminder. If that won’t remind you every time you look at it, pull it and smack yourself with it. You know you’re doing the right thing by doing the wrong thing.

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