Gossip: we all do it and we all hear it. It's natural and engaging. Why is it though that we are so engaged when someone is gossiping? What makes it so interesting that it grabs our complete attention? Why can a little gossip grab our full attention but yet our professors in class can't even grab some attention?
Gossip is nothing but talking about rumors or private affairs of others. What makes us wanting to hear more? When someone tells you "I have to tell you a secret later" your first response is "no, I want to know now". It just pulls you in to hear more about what the person is saying.
The interesting thing is this: most of the time, gossip is never exactly right and the information is tweaked. Yet, we absorb it and take it as what they say and not even think about reading into the credibility of the person half the time. Anyone can start talking about someone else and you are able to believe them, even though you have no idea who this person is. Why is that? Why do we not test their ethos more? Sometimes we ask them who they heard it from, trying to test the ethos of that person. Add in your comments here...
Monday, April 7, 2008
incest?!
I read an article today dealing with a daughter and a father having a sexual relationship together. The father is 61 years of age while the daughter is in her late 30s and is married with 2 children already. Recently, the daughter and the father had a child together who is 9 months old. After they recently went public about their relationship, the court has banned them from having sex anymore (which i think is funny that the gov't can do that).
Right off the bat, you think to yourself these people are horrible people. You already place a stereotype on them saying no matter what there story is, these people are disgusting. When reading this article, I found the writer to say things to his audience that will spark some kind of emotion inside of them. The reporter focuses mainly on the "incest" part instead of the mental effects the child will have when it grows up. the reporter continues to talk, using forensic rhetoric, about what incest consists of and how this family is messed up. I read another article on this issue about how they are going to appear on 60 minutes tomorrow night. That article focused on what the mental effects the child will experience when it grows up and how family of the daughter (reminder: she has a husband and 2 children already), are handling this event. After comparing, you can realize the first article is trying to really get your emotions involved and are trying to get you angry inside. They had the same audience, but approached it differently to grab your attention.
Right off the bat, you think to yourself these people are horrible people. You already place a stereotype on them saying no matter what there story is, these people are disgusting. When reading this article, I found the writer to say things to his audience that will spark some kind of emotion inside of them. The reporter focuses mainly on the "incest" part instead of the mental effects the child will have when it grows up. the reporter continues to talk, using forensic rhetoric, about what incest consists of and how this family is messed up. I read another article on this issue about how they are going to appear on 60 minutes tomorrow night. That article focused on what the mental effects the child will experience when it grows up and how family of the daughter (reminder: she has a husband and 2 children already), are handling this event. After comparing, you can realize the first article is trying to really get your emotions involved and are trying to get you angry inside. They had the same audience, but approached it differently to grab your attention.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Airport Security
We all know how tight security at airports have gotten in the past 5 years. They always say before you enter security that you can only have 3 oz. of fluid or gels and they have to be in a clear zip lock baggy. They have signs everywhere that says you cannot have lighters or firearms or other weapons like this. Now they have been advertising this for a long time now and usually they seem pretty tight when it comes to these rules.
They have convinced us that you will not get past security if you are breaking any of these rules. The fact that you have to go through that much time to get through security means that they must be doing a pretty good job at inspecting everything and everyone. They have convinced me that they are smart and are protecting us.
I had the priviledge of traveling to New York for a water polo tourney. We flew out Saturday morning and had 10 girls traveling. Well, after we had passed through security at the airport, we then realized what we got through with. One girl had a lighter. Another girl had accupuncture needles. While another girl had a huge tube of toothpaste. Someone else had a razor. How do we get through the airport with so much stuff that is not allowed on te planes? For the longest time airport security had convinced me of how strong they are and how hard it is to get past with illegal things to bring on planes. They had persuaded me of being strong until this trip. They let 5 of us go through that were carrying things that should have been taken away. So does that ruin their credibility? Are they really as good as they say they are?
They have convinced us that you will not get past security if you are breaking any of these rules. The fact that you have to go through that much time to get through security means that they must be doing a pretty good job at inspecting everything and everyone. They have convinced me that they are smart and are protecting us.
I had the priviledge of traveling to New York for a water polo tourney. We flew out Saturday morning and had 10 girls traveling. Well, after we had passed through security at the airport, we then realized what we got through with. One girl had a lighter. Another girl had accupuncture needles. While another girl had a huge tube of toothpaste. Someone else had a razor. How do we get through the airport with so much stuff that is not allowed on te planes? For the longest time airport security had convinced me of how strong they are and how hard it is to get past with illegal things to bring on planes. They had persuaded me of being strong until this trip. They let 5 of us go through that were carrying things that should have been taken away. So does that ruin their credibility? Are they really as good as they say they are?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Pretending to be sick
When I was younger and I didn't feel like going to school, whether it was because of a test that day or I just didn't want to go, I would pretend I was sick. Now, I know that every person has tried this one before at least once in their lives. I would start off by going to my mom in the morning and telling her I didn't feel good. She would always tell me to go take a shower and see how I feel after. Before I would go to her a second time, I would make sure my head felt hot by putting a warm wash clothe on my head. I would try so hard to convince my mom that I was sick, even though I felt perfectly fine.
My mom was never convinced so I always tried to bring a few tears out. Once I complained about my stomach hurting and that I don't feel good for about 20 minutes, she then decided that I could stay home. Now, I know she didn't let me stay home because I was sick. She was so tired of me whining that she was just like fine, do whatever you want.
When I look at this, I realize that my persuasion wasn't the best mode of getting my mom to let me stay home. I really stunk at persuading her that I was sick. So how the heck did I succeed at staying home?
My mom was never convinced so I always tried to bring a few tears out. Once I complained about my stomach hurting and that I don't feel good for about 20 minutes, she then decided that I could stay home. Now, I know she didn't let me stay home because I was sick. She was so tired of me whining that she was just like fine, do whatever you want.
When I look at this, I realize that my persuasion wasn't the best mode of getting my mom to let me stay home. I really stunk at persuading her that I was sick. So how the heck did I succeed at staying home?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Clinton was under attack?
So Hillary Clinton once claimed that she was "under sniper fire" when she was visiting Bosnia with her daughter in 1996. There were 4 instances where she told this story since Dec 11, '07. Then after video was presented of her being greeted in Bosnia and there were no signs of "sniper fire". When approached on this issue again, Clinton responds with:
"You know I have written about this and described it in many different settings and I did misspeak the other day. ... and last week, you know, for the first time in 12 or so years I misspoke."
She said the same story 4 times of being "under sniper fire". So how does she get away with saying she misspoke? She gets off the hook by stating it was the first times she misspoke in 12 or so years. She goes into a speech about how she is human and she makes mistakes. She enters into this speech by dodging the question why she lied about what happened. She practiced great rhetorical speech by misleading the question and having the audience sympathize with you.
Im not too sure if she ended up pulling it off or not. I sure don't believe she "misspoke". Her speech was not that convincing, but she tried. Did it work for the rest of the United States though?
"You know I have written about this and described it in many different settings and I did misspeak the other day. ... and last week, you know, for the first time in 12 or so years I misspoke."
She said the same story 4 times of being "under sniper fire". So how does she get away with saying she misspoke? She gets off the hook by stating it was the first times she misspoke in 12 or so years. She goes into a speech about how she is human and she makes mistakes. She enters into this speech by dodging the question why she lied about what happened. She practiced great rhetorical speech by misleading the question and having the audience sympathize with you.
Im not too sure if she ended up pulling it off or not. I sure don't believe she "misspoke". Her speech was not that convincing, but she tried. Did it work for the rest of the United States though?
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Reality TV
One thing that I have been thinking about lately is Reality Tv. Now, Reality TV is defined as: television programs that present real people in live situations and monitor their emotions and behaviors. When you watch the trailor for the newest real world, during the previews, one of the first things that they say is the words "True Life". They seem to emphasize those words in the opening of each show when they are introducing the characters.
For those who have seen Real World, you probably know that its not entire truth being presented. After doing research on this show, it was found that there is a script that goes along with the episodes that the cast members have to follow. Whether it is a script word for word, or a loose script, there is still a script. Why should they be allowed to emphasize "True Life" when its not real? The reason for the show is to draw people in. How can they draw people in to watch if they can't create drama?
So, does their persuasion work? Most of us know that this show is staged or at least some of it is staged. Everyone knows that just by the situations that happen and what not. So, why do they still emphasize that it is real if we all know it is not? Their persuasion does not really work anymore, yet they continue to do it. You would think that they would find another way to convince us this is true life. Or maybe they are in so deep they can't convince the public anymore that it is true life. Just some thoughts....
For those who have seen Real World, you probably know that its not entire truth being presented. After doing research on this show, it was found that there is a script that goes along with the episodes that the cast members have to follow. Whether it is a script word for word, or a loose script, there is still a script. Why should they be allowed to emphasize "True Life" when its not real? The reason for the show is to draw people in. How can they draw people in to watch if they can't create drama?
So, does their persuasion work? Most of us know that this show is staged or at least some of it is staged. Everyone knows that just by the situations that happen and what not. So, why do they still emphasize that it is real if we all know it is not? Their persuasion does not really work anymore, yet they continue to do it. You would think that they would find another way to convince us this is true life. Or maybe they are in so deep they can't convince the public anymore that it is true life. Just some thoughts....
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Hillary and Obama Working Together
Alright, so I've been reading up on how Obama and Clinton are talking about teaming up and working together. I don't think it is a good idea for a candidate on one side to team up with another candidate on the complete other side. I think that Obama and Clinton are both extremely strong candidates, but together does not mean that they will be even stronger.
If you think about it, Clinton spends a lot of time trying to catch Obama with what he says and tries really hard to persuade people into thinking Obama is all talk and no show. They spend so much time bashing each other down, that seeing them work together is almost impossible. The funny thing about it is that Clinton thinks it will be the Clinton-Obama campaign and Obama thinks it would be the Obama-Clinton campaign. How are two candidates who are running to be on top going to work together? Clinton, portraying herself as a strong woman, will not give in to Obama and vis versa with Obama. So who is going to humble themselves and decide to be second to the other person? Can Obama work under a woman? Interesting to think about....
If you think about it, Clinton spends a lot of time trying to catch Obama with what he says and tries really hard to persuade people into thinking Obama is all talk and no show. They spend so much time bashing each other down, that seeing them work together is almost impossible. The funny thing about it is that Clinton thinks it will be the Clinton-Obama campaign and Obama thinks it would be the Obama-Clinton campaign. How are two candidates who are running to be on top going to work together? Clinton, portraying herself as a strong woman, will not give in to Obama and vis versa with Obama. So who is going to humble themselves and decide to be second to the other person? Can Obama work under a woman? Interesting to think about....
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