Oh Chapter 3, Please be the last!

In chapter 3, Ramage claims that “when dominant belief systems attempt either to ignore alternative belief systems or to coerce them into compliance with their own, they pay a very high price for their intolerance” (70). I am not sure what price they pay, but I do understand this bad idea about cutting out all other options or twisting them to fit with your own beliefs because when you are not open to all options, you may be wrong—or at least ignorant.

I can also understand how rhetoric and persuasion are “alternative[s] to coercion” (73). because it seems as though coercion is evil. It’s saying whatever needs to be said and disregarding the facts in order to get what you want, while rhetoric and persuasion use honesty, although it does seem that persuasion can be a bit skewed sometimes.

Ramage claims that “one of the distinguishing marks of our age is the increasingly sophisticated and subtle way in which coercion may be disguised as persuasion” (74). This may be true because more and more companies are finding loop holes and ways to tell consumers what they want, even if their product may not offer it.

Ramage is absolutely right when he said “matters that were once determined by authority now must be submitted to discussion and negotiation” (71) when referring to democracy. There is an organization for just about everything and no matter what someone does it is open for argument, or discussion.

Overall, many of the methods of persuasion Ramage discusses in chapter 3 can be considered rhetorical situations. Personally, it seems that rhetoric is a jumbled way of being persuasive—OK- how about I confuse you so much that you have to go along with what I say? OR you and I practice rhetoric together and we go in circles of confusion until some clear word slips in and one of us comes to an understanding?

Well, Goodnight All- It's late and I'm tired! GOOD NEWS-- From looking at the syllabus, it seems as though this is the last of our Ramage headache! We can only hope.