What is writing?

A few thoughts on Faigley.

Though I do not agree entirely with his argument, I did enjoy reading Lester L. Faigley's thoughts on rhetoric in Rhetorics Fast and Slow. Faigley takes the stand that we need to slow our lives down and seek out the places where 'slow' rhetoric should be utilized. At this point, it is important to make a distinction. Fast rhetoric refers to the latest genres of writing and communication. Examples of fast rhetoric include the internet web-pages, blogs, digital photographs, e-mails and text messages. On the other hand, slow rhetoric encompasses the more traditional forms of communication and writing.

Faigley argues that the digital age has fallen short on some of its earlier promises and that, when measured against more classical methods, technology doesn’t always come out on top. Near the opening of the article, we are made aware that for the 2000 Presidential election, Oregon chose to use paper ballots cast solely by mail. I could not believe that a state would choose to use such a low-tech method that I thought was only reserved for reality TV shows like Survivor. But after a brief bit of contemplation, I got to thinking. Perhaps Oregon knew exactly what they were doing. Perhaps using a pen to select candidates on a ballot would’ve alleviated all of the problems of counting and recounting and deciding what to do with hanging chads and dimpled chads. It took Floridians months to finally decide on a final vote count, and I find it hard to believe that it would’ve taken much longer to count the ballots one time had they been on paper and selected with ink. This brings up another interesting anomaly of our society. We have shifted toward such a fast-paced lifestyle that I would hate to think how America would react to having to wait to find out the official results of an election. One can assume that the networks wouldn’t stand for it either—they would have too much to lose. Perhaps those days of no recounts and mail-in ballots are things of fantasy.

It is pointed out in the article that history has shown that new technologies seldom stick to their original intentions. It is of little surprise that the internet has not created world peace nor has it abolished racism and prejudices in our country—all of which were envisioned during its creation. The internet has, however, allowed many people to learn about societies in a way that they never could before. Faigley states on page six of his article that “the glut of information that is readily accessible has not led to a broader global understanding but instead to increased fragmentation, confusion and exhaustion.” Really? He fails to note the instances when the internet has led to better understanding and enrichment and success. The internet has opened doors for many who have lived in closed-off societies. I’m sure it has helped many homosexual men and women who struggled to explain their feelings to see that they are not alone and are not freaks or perverts. It has given victims of rape a place to seek peer counseling when they have felt too scared or ashamed to come public with their histories. The internet is allowing disadvantages peoples in many countries to seek out a world market to sell their locally-produced goods on which their livelihood depends.

The internet gives us all a chance to seek understanding that older, slow rhetoric simply could not provide. It’s no wonder that China chooses to censor the internet. I believe they fear what may happen if their citizens become better informed of how other societies are able to live.

Faigley’s article goes on with the hopes of getting us to see the importance of slow rhetoric in modern society. I have fought to try to agree, but each time I delve deeper and deeper into one of his arguments, I find myself rooting for technology and fast rhetoric. Let’s face it, we’re at a point where technology has consumed our lives and I find it difficult to think that we will ever again separate ourselves from it. Rather, we need to embrace fast rhetoric and utilize its full potential. Faigley himself says that our human ancestors had an evolutionary advantage over other primates because they were able to communicate more and more complex subjects effectively. I believe this is true. We should take that notion along with modern genres of fast rhetoric to communicate those evermore complex issues we face.

I've a cado problem.

I'm known to enjoy a good avocado every once in a while and seeing that nice, round pit always thrown in the trash I decided a few months ago to make something of it. Last September, I took it upon myself to get an avocado pit to sprout (initially it was growing in water then I transplanted it to a make-shift soda bottle pot). I set it in the window to grow and inverted a jar over the bottle to act as a greenhouse. Now, four months later, the plant seems to be doing ok although it hasn't been growing too much lately and the leaves are showing some browning.

I know that this plant will never produce fruit, but I just thought it would be a cool idea to have a small avocado tree as a houseplant. If there is anybody out there who thinks I'm wasting my time, that this plant will not continue to mature, etc. please let me know. Alternatively, if you think that there is something I could be doing to get it to grow better, I would appreciate that information as well. Thanks.

What is rhetoric?

Before enrolling in English 201, I didn't have a very clear understanding of what the term rhetoric meant. Based solely on the context in which I've heard the word used, I would say that rhetoric is the way that somebody uses language when speaking to somebody else. More specifically, I would say that rhetoric is a form of using propaganda orally; it is the clever use of language to persuade others. For example, when somebody asks a rhetorical question, they don't really expect a reply but rather use it as a way to get you to agree with what is being said.

Having read Chapter One from James A. Herrick's The History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction, I now realize that that is much more to be said about what the term rhetoric encompasses. First of all, it is important to note that the term has had a history of ups and downs. As we look through the past few thousand years, rhetoric has been an important tool in society for some, while for others the idea of using rhetoric has been so potentially harmful that its teachings have been banned from many colleges and universities. Based on the recent interest in this discipline, it seems that more and more people are beginning to realize that rhetorical work does have an important place in society. For example, Herrick states that the use of rhetoric is paramount in everything from shaping our economy to figuratively selling ourselves to potential lovers to taking those horse pills the doctor prescribed. The importance of rhetoric doesn't stop here. It is monumental in shaping policies on the communal, local, national and world levels.

Perhaps a better definition of rhetoric is the study of using symbols in a carefully thought out manner to attempt to persuade. More simply put, it is the study of how to use symbols to effectively transmit your argument to those people who need convincing. These symbols can be inanimate or not, ideological or real, simple or ornate. When carefully planned out, these symbols can be highly affective and persuasive. The key to maximizing the effectiveness is to study your audience and prepare for dialog both for and against what you have said.

Welcome.

Bienvenidos. Welcome. You've stumbled upon Chach Chat (catchy, huh?). My real name is John though I am referred to as Chach by my closest of friends. This nickname was given to me by Johnny O and his then girlfriend as a way to distinguish between us roommates of the same name. Why the university housing people thought it was appropriate to place two people of the same name in the same dorm room is beside me, but I'm happy they did.

I'll be straight forward to say that I don't consider myself a blogger, but alas English 201 at UW-Madison is changing that. That said, this is a place for me to post class-related 'stuff' along with whatever else I see fit. One thing is for sure, Chach Chat will continue to evolve. Charles Darwin strikes again.