We lost last night's debate (see previous post) but only by two votes with one abstention.

Given the name of the society, Tainted Goods, I feared a rout. Instead I was told, "Everyone thought your arguments were compelling."

Not compelling enough to win, I hear you cry, but I've experienced worse results in student debates.

Oddly enough I think it helped that out of six speakers I was the only one who was not a 'competitive debater'.

They're a strange breed. Think University Challenge but more manic. It's not enough to know your stuff. For some it's also a performance.

Competitive debaters will propose or oppose almost any motion regardless of their own opinion which can be disconcerting if you're on the receiving end.

Many years ago I lost a debate at the English Speaking Union in London. I was partnered by the late Lord Harris who was chairman of Forest and an experienced public speaker.

Our opponents were a team of young world champion debaters. They were brilliant and we were thrashed. The motion in favour of smoking bans was passed by a large majority.

Afterwards, in the bar, they added insult to injury by revealing they were both smokers and were strongly against the measure!

Sometimes however competitive debaters can be a little bit too clever and the issue gets lost amid the florid language and theatrical delivery.

Last night one of my team gave a fast and often funny speech but for the most part I've no idea what he was talking about. I don't think the audience did either.

In contrast our opponents stuck to a well-argued brief that was perhaps a little too earnest.

Predictably they focussed on the behaviour of the tobacco industry half a century ago. Individuals who work for tobacco companies were dismissed as "cynical" and it was implied that tobacco companies can do whatever they want when they are in fact one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world.

No matter. I enjoyed my evening in Oxford. Unlike ASH (who chose not to take part) Forest doesn't run from public debate.

In fact this was the second time in less than a year that ASH has rejected an invitation to take part in a debate with Forest at Oxford. (See Has the tobacco industry been no platformed?)

Says it all, really.