We have a file store!

There used to be a platform called cross-x.com. Aside from serving as a forum for discussions about current debate issues, this site used to host a store where people could sell their files. This store served three main beneficial functions:

1. It made files cheaper. That most files are distributed either for free or on an exclusive basis dramatically increases the costs of accessing professionally-produced debate research. On cross-x.com you were paying for a commodity product rather than for exclusive use permissions, which made the barrier to entry far lower on the buyer side.
2. It enabled debaters to better monetize research as a side hustle, providing additional income while helping to alleviate trade-offs between time spent mastering their craft and time spent making money / financing their undergraduate education.
3. It allowed people to browse files in circulation mostly in one public place, which was a significant improvement on similar transactions occuring behind the scenes / on the basis of ad hoc social relationships.

We are launching a store that aims to replicate some of these objectives. The first file on the store is Consult Natives by Lincoln Garrett (which you can find here if you are a subscriber, and here otherwise) and comes with an explainer article for subscribers (which you can find here).

Important things to know:

• My (Truf’s) files will always be free for subscribers. I am not going to list things on the store.
• If you are a subscriber, you will receive a discount on all files. Lincoln's files will be sold at a larger subscriber discount than third parties and will come with an article that provides some context on how the files were produced, substantive background on the argument, and tips for making good use of the files in a debate.
• The site will take a 10% cut of the sales. This cut covers fees from Gumroad (the platform we are using to host the files and handle the transactions), covers our time to review and list the files, and compensates us for positioning your file in a prominent place with a third-party stamp of approval that a product contains what it says on the tin.
• There is also a Gumroad platform fee that does not go to us.
• We are going to exercise some, but not much, editorial control. We are not going to list anything that is inappropriate for introduction in a high school debate. We are not going to list anything that violates Gumroad’s terms of service. We are going to confirm that your file contains what you say it contains. We are not really going to review whether the cards are good or the strategy could be made better (we may add an ‘editor’s choice’ certification that does this in the future).

Please reach out if you are interested in listing something. Thanks for reading!