And they are very good at it. That's why Keiran Bunn (21), John Brinsley-Pirie (22) and brothers Alec (22) and Patrick Dawson (20) have been selected for the Otago University Debating Society's two teams to compete at the 2014 world universities debating championship in Chennai, India.
Mr Brinsley-Pirie said the teams could not be stronger, given all four of them were former Logan Park High School pupils and good friends, and John and Alec flatted together.
''It gets us into a bit of trouble sometimes. We do argue a lot about trivial things like the make-up of the All Blacks team.
''There's even been some chat about what the conventions are for leaving food out on the bench overnight, and whether it is safe to eat.''
The four believed they were in a strong position to do well at the world university debating championship, being held from December 29 to January 4, because two of them had already achieved outstanding results.
Earlier this year, Alec and Kieran came fourth in the world universities debating championship in Berlin, won the Colgate IV debating competition and were fifth at the HWS Idea tournament.
Teams from some of the top debating universities in the United States and Canada competed in the Colgate IV tournament, and the HWS Idea tournament was an invitation-only tournament, made up of finalists in the world championships.
All four credited their former debating coach, Logan Park High School teacher Suzanne Robins, for their success.
She was thrilled about her former pupils' selection.
''They are stunning debaters and it's great to see them going from strength to strength.
''I do believe that the culture of inquiry, discussion and debate at our school has helped to develop their thinking and their debating skills, but I also commend them for continuing to stretch their thinking and to enjoy the challenges of high-level debating,'' she said.
The four hope to repeat the extraordinary success Alec and Kieran have had this year.
''We're aiming for anything better than fourth,'' Mr Brinsley-Pirie said.
