Here was the last big debate I ever did in public:
In my first semester in college, I had a public speaking class. I was easily the best speaker, but then the assignment came: do a presentation taking sides on a controversial issue, then answer tough questions from the audience (classmates).
I had a reputation as the funny guy, but I made the mistake of choosing the then-building Iraq war, saying I believed we should invade Iraq.
I got up and made my firebrand speech on how bad Saddam was (shocking a lot of people because of my fun guy reputation), and then question time came...it was downhill from there.
What kinds of questions did they throw at you?