Is there a rule about repeating yourself in a debate?

[Guest Peter]

The Chair interupted and chastized someone for repeating themselves in a debate. Is this a rule or is it allowed?

[Joshua Katz]

There is no such rule in RONR. While I don't know your rules, I would be surprised if there were something there, either.

[Richard Brown]

I think that repeating oneself in debate could be considered dilatory and out of order. It would depend on the circumstances. 

[Rob Elsman]

Within reason, it is permissible. Yeah, it is permissible. 😁

[Joshua Katz]

The standard format for a speech is "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you told them." 

[Rob Elsman]

I was a little surprised at the use of "chastized" [sic] in the original post. Neither the book nor I suggest that it is the role of the presiding officer to ever chastise a member during a meeting. I have said on this forum before that the presiding officer should set a tone that is welcoming, comfortable, and encouraging. Chastising members during a meeting sounds more like embarrassing, humiliating, and discouraging members to me.

[J. J.]

On 7/28/2024 at 9:24 AM, Rob Elsman said:

I was a little surprised at the use of "chastized" [sic] in the original post. Neither the book nor I suggest that it is the role of the presiding officer to ever chastise a member during a meeting. I have said on this forum before that the presiding officer should set a tone that is welcoming, comfortable, and encouraging. Chastising members during a meeting sounds more like embarrassing, humiliating, and discouraging members to me.

Chastisement may, in lay terms, include something like the chair saying, "The member will refrain from referring to other members by name."  That would be completely proper in that circumstance.

I tend to agree, in this specific case, that repetition is not out of order, provided the debate is relevant to the issue  at hand.

[Rob Elsman]

I deliberately use the word, "admonish" on this forum. "Admonish" comes from the combination of two Latin words: the preposition, "AD", meaning "to", "toward", or "forward" and "MONÉRE", meaning "to advise or warn". The sense that I intend to convey is that the chair sets the expectations of behaviors going forward, exactly as J.J.'s example, rather than remonstrating about acts already completed. Admonishment, when done properly, sets an example of patience, temperance, forbearance, and prudence. This should leave the recipient corrected but not belittled.

Edited July 28, 2024 at 05:38 PM by Rob Elsman

[Gary Novosielski]

On 7/27/2024 at 10:40 PM, Guest Peter said:

The Chair interupted and chastized someone for repeating themselves in a debate. Is this a rule or is it allowed?

The only rules in RONR concern time limits and ensuring that the debate remains germane to the question.  Repetition is not addressed.

But if the repetition consists of repeating arguments already made by others, the chair might enquire with increasing emphasis, between speeches, whether the assembly is ready for the question.

Edited July 28, 2024 at 04:02 PM by Gary Novosielski

[Rob Elsman]

Oh, I agree with Mr. Brown that unreasonable, deliberate repetition can give the impression that the speaker is not trying to be either persuasive or illuminative. It is right that the chair should intervene and admonish the speaker to avoid merely dilatory remarks.