Fallacies of Emotional Arguments

There are so many factors that come into play with emotional arguments. One in particular that interested me was the scare tactics section. This section goes on to show pictures, give examples, and even outline a couple different types of scare tactics that we are familiar with. One of the examples was the common fear of flying in planes. It went on to portray the fact that people die more every year from automobile accidents than from plane crashes. This fact could be used by airline companies in an attempt to increase their sales, vouching that flying is the safer alternative, all by using scare tactics.

Another example the passage gave referred to the average employee. Employers could tell their employees that they could hire immigrants to do their job for cheaper. This would be a case of using a scare tactic to prevent your employees from asking for raises or bitching about their current pay. There are many uses for scare tactics, they could be personal, political, or even business-orientated.

This section is very powerful in connecting to the average reader. Every example stated, I could relate to and connect with. I feel like scare tactics are more present than we think. I would like to know what the difference is between subliminal messages and scare tactics if they are both basically doing the same thing. The author definitely provided good information on the topic and got me thinking about what other scare tactics I have been exposed to.

An ironic example of a scare tactic was used on me when I was choosing to come to Arizona State. When I was given the official tour, one that was set up by the university, I was informed of some safety features. The tour guide went on to persuade me to live on campus because it was so safe. He showed me the big blue emergency boxes that you can see on every corner and went on and on about how safe the campus was. He made it seem as if the campus was the only safe place to live. It was almost implied that if I lived away from campus I would be unsafe.

This is an ironic example because now that I have learned how deceptive scare tactics can be, one was used on me, one that was scaring me into being safe.

Figurative Language

Figurative language plays a major part in writing. Without devices like these, all writing would sound extremely similar. Sentences would become bland and boring before you knew it. It would be like watching commercials on television and never returning to your show. In that last sentence, I compared something to something else that the reader could relate to using “like” or “as”, that is called a simile. Figurative language can work wonders in writing.

There are many different kinds of figurative language including, metaphor, analogy, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, and more. The different devices are used in relating different messages to the reader. For example, if something is really large in size, and the author is trying to give the writer an idea of it’s size, they could use a hyperbole. “It was as big as the sun!” Obviously an over exaggeration, this sentence lets the reader imagine how big something really is in a more exciting way.

Learning these devices has made me a better writer in so many ways. I can write an extra page-worth in any essay just by implementing a couple of these writing devices. I can let the reader know exactly what I am trying to say and that is what writing is all about. Not only are these devices fun to use, they enhance every aspect of an essay.

Whenever I think about visual figurative devices, I think about movies. Everything is movies is exaggerated to make it more entertaining; this is writing’s way of doing this. Buildings exploding, car chases, dialogue, and other aspects of movies are all uses of figurative language. The world is full of figurative devices; you just have to see them. Like that last sentence.

Arguments of Definition

          Arguments of definition are present in every day life. Whether we realize it or not, we are using this device on a daily basis. The whole idea is a controversial understanding of a definition. For example, if a sign, or law, or anything of the matter states something, but you believe it means something else. Let’s say a statue has a sign that says, “No Climbing” on it. You might decide that is it perfectly acceptable to sit on it though because you interpreted the sign literally and are not climbing on it. That is an argument of definition.

            In today’s society, we are always looking for loopholes to break or bend the law. You can buy fake ID’s online because they are supposed to be used for “novelty purposes” only. You can even buy illegal substances and drugs online because they are claimed to be only for “research purposes.” Why do signs on the freeway say, “All Trucks Move To Right Lanes”, when really they just mean commercial trucks? Why do people get upset when you drive the speed limit? People interpret everything so differently; even the simplest signs could have 10 different interpretations.

            When you look closer into “Definitions by Example”, you see that many things we hear also end up being arguments of definition. Whether it is “The best basketball player in the league”, “The best food for you to eat”, or “The hardest test you will take”, these statements are all representative of the speaker’s beliefs. Your hardest test could have been my easiest. Your favorite basketball player could be the archrival that I hate. While these examples aren’t very controversial, some interpretations can cause major issues. For example, the definition of self-defense, parking regulations, the right to bare arms, and many others cause some major issues.

            If a drug dealer has machine guns and grenades all over his house, technically he does have the right to bear arms, but he also must register the guns and weapons. If they aren’t approved he is still not allowed to be in possession of them. He could argue all day that it is in the Bill of Rights and he will continue to possess whatever guns he wants. You can see how this can become a major issue.

            Not too long ago I was parking my car at an apartment complex. There was a sign that was knocked down and I couldn’t read, but when I returned to my car later that day, I had a citation. The ticket said, “There were other postings around the complex you could have read.” That was completely unfair in my opinion. Where I parked, there was no sign that was readable, yet I still received a ticket. But then again he could argue that I shouldn’t expect a sign at every single parking spot.

            Our laws and legislature should be more clear and have less leeway for loopholes. It can cause major issues and ultimately creates more problems than it solves.

Logos

Logos is the idea that facts and evidence is being used to support a claim or draw you to believe that something is true. Logos uses statistics and other forms of evidence to give the reader insight to actual data about an issue. When a picture or article is represented using charts, research, or any other logical form of information, that piece of work is using Logos. Even common sense is Logos. Take this for example; 2+2 = 5. Logos will tell you that the answer is 4 because that is a fact and you are using common sense and a mathematical formula to reach that conclusion.

Using Common Sense and Reasoning.

This section is the subconscious use of Logos. When you are deciding what to wear for the day and you look outside and see rain, you will most likely wear more clothing than if it was sunny outside. Your brain goes through a process like this:

Rain is wet and cold.

More clothing keeps me warmer and drier.

If I am wearing more clothing, the rain won’t make me as cold or wet.

I am going to wear more clothing.

We use logos every day, whether it is conscious, or subconscious.

I picked logos because it relates to my personality more than the other options. I am an extremely logical person and I feel we use logos more than Pathos (emotion) or Ethos (character).

From the second I wake up, I plan events that carry on through the day. Without logic, everything would be completely chaotic and even dangerous. I know I need to wake up before class and not when class starts. I know on the way to class I need to long board on the sidewalk and not in the street. I know that I need to eat food when my stomach is grumbling. All of which seem like no-brainers are all logos related.

When I was growing up, I hadn’t developed some of the common sense that I have today. I once was dirt biking and went off a jump going full speed, only to realize that there was a huge hill behind it and I was only supposed to ride over the jump. So I crashed, broke my bike, and got injured. Now looking back on it, it is amazing I didn’t figure out that there was no way to make that jump.

Me

I’m going to try and make my blog a little different. I don’t really understand how to use them or the point of them so I’m going with the flow and trying this. I’ll list some things I like and don’t like and write a little about those, that way its not super boring and you can learn some real things about me and not just where I am from or how old I am.

Likes:

Calculators – math already sucks enough, if we had to do the long division of some of these problems, nobody would graduate, ever.

Space – Living with a roommate is cool and all, but in the same room all the time, is a little too close. Sometimes I want to pick a booger or readjust the goods and not have to worry about another dude being next to me.

Technology – It makes everything so much easier, I can’t remember the last time I had to actually hand-write a paper. Or even call 411 and get charged an extra couple bucks to find out where the closest Lazer Tag is. I just want to dominate little kids on their birthday and lazer tag is one of the only places I can do that.

Pasta – its $1 for a pound of food. You serious? Plus it comes in all kinds of shapes, and if there is one thing I enjoy, its a variety of shapes when I eat.

Chicken – You can have it as a pet, you can call someone it, or you can cook it and put it on anything or dip it in any sauce and its good. Very versatile food and I appreciate that.

Gym – It’s a place where a bunch of dedicated people gather to better themselves. It’s also a place where you can take your mind off of everything. Plus you feel tough throwing around metal things.

Holidays – It’s an excuse to drink regardless what day it is and there is always a cool story behind why we get that day off.

Youtube – you can learn how to do almost anything or you can watch a guy pretend he’s a snake making snake noises, which everyone is down to watch.

Tempur Pedic Pillows – They mold to your head, so if you’re still complaining your not comfortable, maybe you just have a weird shaped head.

Jokes – theres nothing like a perfectly executed joke. You know the one that after someone says it your like “shit I wish I thought of that”

Dislikes:

Typing without autocorrect – I’ve never felt dumber in my life. Nobody begins sentences with capitals or uses capital I’s anymore. Those little red and green squiggly lines under your mistakes is a beautiful thing.

Dubsteb without vocals – You can only enjoy the same exact noise looped for so long…

Facebook News Feed – I don’t care who you are friends with now. I don’t care if you liked a picture. I don’t care what song you are listening to. And if I see another post that uses the pound sign then says something that makes no sense I’m going to delete that person. #yournotcool

Fast food mess ups – I said a hamburger with no cheese. That implies twice that I didn’t want cheese because hamburgers don’t come with cheese, but to help you out I specified I wanted no cheese, yet you still put cheese on my value burger.

Name games – I can barely remember a name after a quick introduction, some little game isn’t going to somehow enable me to remember 30 names at once. I do like games though, just not this one.

Awkward moments that didn’t have to be awkward moments – Yeah I get it, we don’t know each other and we are walking toward each other pretending we are texting or looking somewhere else. But when you actually get next to the person, say something, depending on what you say I probably wont bite you.

“Sucks to suck” – I already didn’t like the phrase but one day I was walking to my room with a large amount of groceries, I was almost to the gate and 3 girls are walking through it, look at me struggling, then proceed to walk through the gate, letting it lock. You know what one of them had the nerve to say after that? You guessed it. “Sucks to suck” Now if you say that, I think you are that girl and I don’t like you.

These are some of the things I think about.