Ask Figaro
Got a question about rhetoric, figures, Figaro, Figaro's book,the nature of the universe, or just want to lavish praise?
Write in the form at the bottom of this page.
Dear Fig (how's that for a naturalization of sorts!),
I think it IS a trope, at least according to the distinctions classical rhetoric has made between trope and figure. Though I am perfectly aware that the distinction is ultimately dubious, as most of the work on rhetoric over the last fifty years has demonstrated.
Dear PP,
I stand corrected. Naturalization should indeed be classified as a trope, since it transforms reality, turning the human bestial.
Fig.
I think it IS a trope, at least according to the distinctions classical rhetoric has made between trope and figure. Though I am perfectly aware that the distinction is ultimately dubious, as most of the work on rhetoric over the last fifty years has demonstrated.
Dear PP,
I stand corrected. Naturalization should indeed be classified as a trope, since it transforms reality, turning the human bestial.
Fig.
December 3, 2007 |
Permanent Parabasis
Permanent Parabasis
I received a pop-up about the Economist today. The pop-up lavished the praises of the magazine through quotes. One quote in particular caught my attention. It said "I used to think, now I read The _______" That struck me as being a type of rhetoric, but I don't know what. I would also like to know your opinion of that statement.
Madammina
Dear Madam,
It's similar to a device I call the "reluctant conclusion." You claim to have held a different opinion, or made a different choice, before overwhelming facts or circumstances changed your mind. It makes you look impartial.
Fig.
Madammina
Dear Madam,
It's similar to a device I call the "reluctant conclusion." You claim to have held a different opinion, or made a different choice, before overwhelming facts or circumstances changed your mind. It makes you look impartial.
Fig.
December 3, 2007 |
madammina
madammina
This is in response to jj's question of 2 dec. I'm wonder if the trope you're looking for isn't called "naturalization", which is how a "reverse anthropomorphism" might be described. But I defer to Figaro.
Dear P.P. and J.J.,
It's not a trope but a figure. Besides that, you may well be right, P.P. But rhetoric is more interested in how you animalize your victim. If it's a base insult ("Dumb as an ox"), it's a TAPINOSIS, a form of insult. If it's a description of his character ("He had the strength of an ox and the breeding instincts of a rabbit"), it's a form of CHARACTERISMUS.
Figaro's rules aren't just for the naming of the tools. We look for figures that DO things--like insult people animalistically.
Fig.
Dear P.P. and J.J.,
It's not a trope but a figure. Besides that, you may well be right, P.P. But rhetoric is more interested in how you animalize your victim. If it's a base insult ("Dumb as an ox"), it's a TAPINOSIS, a form of insult. If it's a description of his character ("He had the strength of an ox and the breeding instincts of a rabbit"), it's a form of CHARACTERISMUS.
Figaro's rules aren't just for the naming of the tools. We look for figures that DO things--like insult people animalistically.
Fig.
December 2, 2007 |
Permanent Parabasis
Permanent Parabasis
Dear Figaro,
No doubt you get asked this question often--apologies for the tedium of having to see it once again.
Is there a term for what I can only call, feebly, reverse anthropormorphization? An example is when a human, part of a human, or an object is labeled as having animal-like characteristics. Reverse personification or animalizing just don't sound good, do they?
Thanks so much for your help with this. Feel free to analyze the rhetorical strategies in this humble request.
jj
Dear J.J.,
We can honest say we've never been asked that question. See the answer above.
Fig.
No doubt you get asked this question often--apologies for the tedium of having to see it once again.
Is there a term for what I can only call, feebly, reverse anthropormorphization? An example is when a human, part of a human, or an object is labeled as having animal-like characteristics. Reverse personification or animalizing just don't sound good, do they?
Thanks so much for your help with this. Feel free to analyze the rhetorical strategies in this humble request.
jj
Dear J.J.,
We can honest say we've never been asked that question. See the answer above.
Fig.
December 2, 2007 |
jj
jj
Hello Figaro! Just finished your book (Thank You for Arguing) and convinced a couple of people they couldn't live without it, either. Bravo!
I'm hoping to launch a second (or maybe it's third) career as a high school teacher soon, and am wanting very much to make rhetoric a part of the syllabus. Here's my question: Do you know of other resources I might use, in addition to your book, suitable for such an audience? All advice appreciated,
Ryandake
Dear Ryandake,
Good on you! That noble task will save you eons from Purgatory. To help with your syllabus, check out the list of Best Books on Rhetoric, linked on the sidebar of this site.
Fig.
I'm hoping to launch a second (or maybe it's third) career as a high school teacher soon, and am wanting very much to make rhetoric a part of the syllabus. Here's my question: Do you know of other resources I might use, in addition to your book, suitable for such an audience? All advice appreciated,
Ryandake
Dear Ryandake,
Good on you! That noble task will save you eons from Purgatory. To help with your syllabus, check out the list of Best Books on Rhetoric, linked on the sidebar of this site.
Fig.
November 29, 2007 |
ryandake
ryandake
Here's a way to add to your ethos: proofread your posts — and your answers to them. There is no "e" in the middle of judgment.
Thanks.
Ciao, Bella
Dear Bella,
There's a technique in rhetoric called the "pleasing flaw." Figaro didn't want to look like one of those orthographic showoffs.
Fig.
Thanks.
Ciao, Bella
Dear Bella,
There's a technique in rhetoric called the "pleasing flaw." Figaro didn't want to look like one of those orthographic showoffs.
Fig.
November 25, 2007 |
Bella Silverstein
Bella Silverstein
Far be it from me to diss Aristotle. But what the hey. The sweet spot of every question OFTEN, even USUALLY lies in the mean, between two extremes — but not always. What if one extreme is actually right? For instance, what about the issue of Global Warming?
Wouldn't extreme action — such as large government subsidies for clean energy companies, tax breaks for individuals who choose electric cars and solar-powered electricity, even legislative mandates like, say, forcing all apartment complexes above 50 units to convert to non-fossil fuel sources of electricity, or nationalizing big oil & coal companies, a la Chavez, or forcing Detroit to produce all electric vehicles, all in the name of public interest — wouldn't these extreme (some might say, anti-capitalism or even anti-American) measures be a more effective solution, rather than a weak cap-and-trade policy for carbon output?
Naturally, anything's better than nothing, and we are, of course, talking about Congress, for pity's sake. But still.
If the problem is an extreme one, as Global Warming may very well be, then it's possible extreme measures might be more appropriate. I concede that this was the rationale for the disgusting and disasterous decimation of our Constitutional rights in the name of anti-terrorism; but just because it's USUALLY the wrong choice, doesn't mean it is always so. Please respond.
But please, first allow me to subscribe to your daily dose of Figaro; I haven't received it yet. That's not for a lack of trying.
Ciao, Bella
Dear Bella,
To get your audience to cooperate with you, you must hit the medium--or, at least, appear to hit it. Taking an extreme stand on global warming in this country might make slightly less radical opinions seem relatively reasonable. In which case, good on you. But the solutions you suggest to global warming wouldn't fly in this country. Not now. Aristotle would say they're unvirtuous.
Fig.
Wouldn't extreme action — such as large government subsidies for clean energy companies, tax breaks for individuals who choose electric cars and solar-powered electricity, even legislative mandates like, say, forcing all apartment complexes above 50 units to convert to non-fossil fuel sources of electricity, or nationalizing big oil & coal companies, a la Chavez, or forcing Detroit to produce all electric vehicles, all in the name of public interest — wouldn't these extreme (some might say, anti-capitalism or even anti-American) measures be a more effective solution, rather than a weak cap-and-trade policy for carbon output?
Naturally, anything's better than nothing, and we are, of course, talking about Congress, for pity's sake. But still.
If the problem is an extreme one, as Global Warming may very well be, then it's possible extreme measures might be more appropriate. I concede that this was the rationale for the disgusting and disasterous decimation of our Constitutional rights in the name of anti-terrorism; but just because it's USUALLY the wrong choice, doesn't mean it is always so. Please respond.
But please, first allow me to subscribe to your daily dose of Figaro; I haven't received it yet. That's not for a lack of trying.
Ciao, Bella
Dear Bella,
To get your audience to cooperate with you, you must hit the medium--or, at least, appear to hit it. Taking an extreme stand on global warming in this country might make slightly less radical opinions seem relatively reasonable. In which case, good on you. But the solutions you suggest to global warming wouldn't fly in this country. Not now. Aristotle would say they're unvirtuous.
Fig.
November 25, 2007 |
Bella Silverstein
Bella Silverstein
I'm a devoted vegetarian, but I want to hear the other side of the story. What do you have to say on vegetarianism?
Alex
Dear Alex,
Figaro is all for vegetables, but if you refer to vegetarianism as a cause, then you're in the realm of what we call the "inarguable": it's a values debate that determines your membership in and out of a group rather (demonstrative rhetoric) than a decision (deliberative argument). What's more,
...Darn! Figaro just dribbled hamburger juice on his keyboard. Gotta go.
Fig.
Alex
Dear Alex,
Figaro is all for vegetables, but if you refer to vegetarianism as a cause, then you're in the realm of what we call the "inarguable": it's a values debate that determines your membership in and out of a group rather (demonstrative rhetoric) than a decision (deliberative argument). What's more,
...Darn! Figaro just dribbled hamburger juice on his keyboard. Gotta go.
Fig.
November 22, 2007 |
Alex
Alex
Dear Figaro,
In The Last Unicorn, Peter Beagle described the unicorn as having amarathine eyes. This uses both meanings of "amarathine" simultaneously (undying and a purple color) without it being a pun or zeugma. Is there a word for this literary device?
Teek
Dear Teek,
It is indeed a kind of pun called the ANTANACLASIS (an-ta-NA-cla-sis), or double entendre. Not the joking, play-on-words kind of pun, the antanaclasis strikes a rhetorical chord, causing the word to vibrate with its double meaning -- a bicorn, if you will.
Fig.
In The Last Unicorn, Peter Beagle described the unicorn as having amarathine eyes. This uses both meanings of "amarathine" simultaneously (undying and a purple color) without it being a pun or zeugma. Is there a word for this literary device?
Teek
Dear Teek,
It is indeed a kind of pun called the ANTANACLASIS (an-ta-NA-cla-sis), or double entendre. Not the joking, play-on-words kind of pun, the antanaclasis strikes a rhetorical chord, causing the word to vibrate with its double meaning -- a bicorn, if you will.
Fig.
November 20, 2007 |
Teek
Teek
Dear Fig,
My boyfriend is a football fanatic and likes to spend his entire day on Sunday watching football. I am super busy with school and don't even enjoy watching football all that much. But when he gives me that "puppy dog" look it is so hard for me to say no, so I will turn to him and say, "Okay, but just for a minute." As I lie down he will say sweet things such as "I just love you so much and I want you to enjoy the things I enjoy. I know you are tired you have had such a busy week -- just lay here and we can cuddle and have a lazy day."
Well. how do you say no to this? My boyfriend and I have a great relationship and we spend as much time together as we can, but unfortunately we are both very busy and have little time to relax together. In the end I usually spend the entire day watching football. However, the next day I am even more stressed because I didn't accomplish what I needed to.
What do you think?
Always Convinced
Dear A.C.,
Figaro fantasizes in the shower about being Dear Abby. He believes that rhetoric trumps common sense every time. So let's analyze Football Boy's argument and gin up a defense for each one:
Pathos: F.B. appeals to your caring instincts. Why do women fall for that stupid "puppy look," anyway? To defend against it, use humor -- "Oh, no, not the puppy dog look! I can feel its tractor beam!" (Stupid humor is great against stupid expressions.)
Ethos: He uses the character trait of EUNOIA, or disinterested good will, by claiming he cares only for your mutual happiness. Use this ju-jitsu move against it: "I think it's great you want to share things. Turn off the TV so we can list the things we both love."
Logos: F.B. employs the ENTHYMEME, "You're tired, therefor lie with me." (Figaro is deliberately fixing the poor boy's grammar.) Your counterargument? "I'd be less tired if you helped me clean up."
Ignore Figaro's advice at your peril! Without a strong dose of rhetoric, you're doomed to be Football Boy's servant -- with privileges.
Fig.
My boyfriend is a football fanatic and likes to spend his entire day on Sunday watching football. I am super busy with school and don't even enjoy watching football all that much. But when he gives me that "puppy dog" look it is so hard for me to say no, so I will turn to him and say, "Okay, but just for a minute." As I lie down he will say sweet things such as "I just love you so much and I want you to enjoy the things I enjoy. I know you are tired you have had such a busy week -- just lay here and we can cuddle and have a lazy day."
Well. how do you say no to this? My boyfriend and I have a great relationship and we spend as much time together as we can, but unfortunately we are both very busy and have little time to relax together. In the end I usually spend the entire day watching football. However, the next day I am even more stressed because I didn't accomplish what I needed to.
What do you think?
Always Convinced
Dear A.C.,
Figaro fantasizes in the shower about being Dear Abby. He believes that rhetoric trumps common sense every time. So let's analyze Football Boy's argument and gin up a defense for each one:
Pathos: F.B. appeals to your caring instincts. Why do women fall for that stupid "puppy look," anyway? To defend against it, use humor -- "Oh, no, not the puppy dog look! I can feel its tractor beam!" (Stupid humor is great against stupid expressions.)
Ethos: He uses the character trait of EUNOIA, or disinterested good will, by claiming he cares only for your mutual happiness. Use this ju-jitsu move against it: "I think it's great you want to share things. Turn off the TV so we can list the things we both love."
Logos: F.B. employs the ENTHYMEME, "You're tired, therefor lie with me." (Figaro is deliberately fixing the poor boy's grammar.) Your counterargument? "I'd be less tired if you helped me clean up."
Ignore Figaro's advice at your peril! Without a strong dose of rhetoric, you're doomed to be Football Boy's servant -- with privileges.
Fig.
November 20, 2007 |
Always Convinced
Always Convinced
Dear Figaro,
I often try to persuade my dad to do favors for me. For example, last week, the low coolant light came on in my car. I immediately called my father because I didn't know what to do.
He is an airline pilot and was about to get on a flight back to Phoenix. He was really short and just replied "Okay, Meghan, go buy some coolant then." So then I used my clueless, sad voice that usually suckers him in. "Okay," I said, "What is that and what do I do with it?" Then he said, "I'm landing in Phoenix in a few hours. Do you need me to come over and do it for you?" In a situation like that, all I had to do was play the poor innocent child role and he agreed to go out of his way to do me a favor.
However, last night, I was complaining to him (using the same voice) about my computer crashing and not having one to use. I mentioned that maybe I could get one for Christmas and my dad just laughed and said "better try and get that one fixed or start saving your money." Then he proceeded to bring up how I needed a job after I validly argued my need for a computer and even used my voice that usually worked. Why is it easy to get my dad to do certain things for me, but other times I think he is trying to teach me a lesson or make me responsible? Am I using the wrong type of persuasion?
Meghan
Dear Megan,
Dad comes to change the oil because it reinforces his role as Father Who Shows Up and Makes Things Right. It eases the separation anxiety we dads feel when our little girls grow up.
Why doesn't that same motive get you an iMac? Because you're asking for a machine, not his presence. To extract some serious hardware out of your old man, you must use a different argument. A logical one might work: "This crappy computer is making me so inefficient! I can't study at the high level I used to." Let him bring up the issue of a new computer, then play it coy.
DAD: Are you asking for a new computer?
YOU: No, Daddy. I know you don't make that much money.
DAD: I make plenty of money!
YOU: Well, I'm saving for a new computer. I just hope I'll have enough before I graduate, or I'll never get into grad school.
DAD: How much do you need?
Now reel him in gently.
Fig.
I often try to persuade my dad to do favors for me. For example, last week, the low coolant light came on in my car. I immediately called my father because I didn't know what to do.
He is an airline pilot and was about to get on a flight back to Phoenix. He was really short and just replied "Okay, Meghan, go buy some coolant then." So then I used my clueless, sad voice that usually suckers him in. "Okay," I said, "What is that and what do I do with it?" Then he said, "I'm landing in Phoenix in a few hours. Do you need me to come over and do it for you?" In a situation like that, all I had to do was play the poor innocent child role and he agreed to go out of his way to do me a favor.
However, last night, I was complaining to him (using the same voice) about my computer crashing and not having one to use. I mentioned that maybe I could get one for Christmas and my dad just laughed and said "better try and get that one fixed or start saving your money." Then he proceeded to bring up how I needed a job after I validly argued my need for a computer and even used my voice that usually worked. Why is it easy to get my dad to do certain things for me, but other times I think he is trying to teach me a lesson or make me responsible? Am I using the wrong type of persuasion?
Meghan
Dear Megan,
Dad comes to change the oil because it reinforces his role as Father Who Shows Up and Makes Things Right. It eases the separation anxiety we dads feel when our little girls grow up.
Why doesn't that same motive get you an iMac? Because you're asking for a machine, not his presence. To extract some serious hardware out of your old man, you must use a different argument. A logical one might work: "This crappy computer is making me so inefficient! I can't study at the high level I used to." Let him bring up the issue of a new computer, then play it coy.
DAD: Are you asking for a new computer?
YOU: No, Daddy. I know you don't make that much money.
DAD: I make plenty of money!
YOU: Well, I'm saving for a new computer. I just hope I'll have enough before I graduate, or I'll never get into grad school.
DAD: How much do you need?
Now reel him in gently.
Fig.
November 19, 2007 |
Meghan
Meghan
Dear Fig,
First, a situation in which I persuaded someone was just this morning. Arizona State sent a refund check to me for a large amount of money. My dad is the one who pays for my school so of course I needed to send the money to him. This happened once before last year and I wasn’t sure why I got this large check or where it came from so I kept it for myself. About a month later my dad realized he hadn’t received the money and after we talked about everything I told him I spent some of it and sent him most of it back.
So when I received this check last week I knew I needed to send the money to him, but it was hard not keeping any of it for myself. I sent the majority of the money to him and decided it would be easier to explain not all of the money was there via email. So I emailed him telling him the money was on the way and that I kept a “small amount” for myself if that was okay. I told him I could send the rest if it was a problem and then wrote an entire paragraph afterward saying how much I loved and missed him. He called me later on laughing and saying of course I could keep some of the money and thanking me for sending the rest.
A situation in which someone persuaded me was my junior year in high school my mom told me for spring break she was taking me from California to Arizona to look at colleges. As a bratty young teenage girl I was furious. This was not the way I wanted to spend my spring break and there was no way I was going to college in the middle of the desert. There was nothing I could do so I got on the plane with my mom and step-dad (who I have never gotten along with) and fly to Arizona. She really pressured me to go to college out of state and knew it would be best to look at the school while there were students there (as opposed to going on a weekend or during the summer or winter break).
I enjoyed the U of A tour but the area around campus was exactly how I imagined Arizona would be and I didn’t like that there was desert everywhere. I was from L.A. and used to shopping and beaches and theme parks. Then we went on the ASU tour of the school and I fell in love. I loved everything I saw, the campus and people were beautiful and right away I knew this was the school. It was exactly where I always imagined I would be going to college.
I thought it would be hard to tell my mom I liked the school. I always had a hard time admitting I am wrong, especially to my mom. I made such a fuss that I would never go to school in AZ and that I would hate it, so how would I tell her this was my new dream school? Of course I had to because the alternative would not outweigh sucking up and admitting I am wrong.
Lastly, a current event situation where persuasion is involved might be the recent events with Duane “Dog” Chapman. His show Dog the Bounty Hunter was cancelled due to inappropriate language used in a private conversation with his sun that was leaked to tabloids. I know he has made several appearances apologizing and trying to give excuses for his inappropriate behavior. I wondered if there was a way he could persuade AE TV to keep his show on air. I think he may be able to use Don Imus as an example. Imus also used similar language and his radio show was dropped. After a long period of time his network picked up the show again and is giving him a second chance. I feel that he could tell them that he understands the world may need time to get over what happened, but that after he lays low for a while he can come back and show them that it was worth it for them.
I wondered what types of rhetorical devices and appeals are used in these situations?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
Um, is Figaro being snookered into a class assignment. Lately he's been getting a lot of persuasion examples from Arizona.
Example 1: Aristotle said that anger arises from a sense of belittlement. By showing elaborate respect for your dad, you defused any potential explosion.
Example 2: What did you end up saying to your mother? Figaro's suggestion would be to win a whole lot of points for future arguments by saying, "You know what, Mom? You were right."
Example 3: Duane Chapman's only recourse is the old redemption device, which works especially well in a religious society like ours. He should change careers and dedicate himself to fighting the system that jails so many black men. Of course, TV producers aren't clamoring for a show on political advocacy. On the other hand, maybe Chapman would end up truly redeemed. As for Imus, he'll never be restored to his former glory. Only a few stations carry the poor foul-mouthed sap.
Fig.
First, a situation in which I persuaded someone was just this morning. Arizona State sent a refund check to me for a large amount of money. My dad is the one who pays for my school so of course I needed to send the money to him. This happened once before last year and I wasn’t sure why I got this large check or where it came from so I kept it for myself. About a month later my dad realized he hadn’t received the money and after we talked about everything I told him I spent some of it and sent him most of it back.
So when I received this check last week I knew I needed to send the money to him, but it was hard not keeping any of it for myself. I sent the majority of the money to him and decided it would be easier to explain not all of the money was there via email. So I emailed him telling him the money was on the way and that I kept a “small amount” for myself if that was okay. I told him I could send the rest if it was a problem and then wrote an entire paragraph afterward saying how much I loved and missed him. He called me later on laughing and saying of course I could keep some of the money and thanking me for sending the rest.
A situation in which someone persuaded me was my junior year in high school my mom told me for spring break she was taking me from California to Arizona to look at colleges. As a bratty young teenage girl I was furious. This was not the way I wanted to spend my spring break and there was no way I was going to college in the middle of the desert. There was nothing I could do so I got on the plane with my mom and step-dad (who I have never gotten along with) and fly to Arizona. She really pressured me to go to college out of state and knew it would be best to look at the school while there were students there (as opposed to going on a weekend or during the summer or winter break).
I enjoyed the U of A tour but the area around campus was exactly how I imagined Arizona would be and I didn’t like that there was desert everywhere. I was from L.A. and used to shopping and beaches and theme parks. Then we went on the ASU tour of the school and I fell in love. I loved everything I saw, the campus and people were beautiful and right away I knew this was the school. It was exactly where I always imagined I would be going to college.
I thought it would be hard to tell my mom I liked the school. I always had a hard time admitting I am wrong, especially to my mom. I made such a fuss that I would never go to school in AZ and that I would hate it, so how would I tell her this was my new dream school? Of course I had to because the alternative would not outweigh sucking up and admitting I am wrong.
Lastly, a current event situation where persuasion is involved might be the recent events with Duane “Dog” Chapman. His show Dog the Bounty Hunter was cancelled due to inappropriate language used in a private conversation with his sun that was leaked to tabloids. I know he has made several appearances apologizing and trying to give excuses for his inappropriate behavior. I wondered if there was a way he could persuade AE TV to keep his show on air. I think he may be able to use Don Imus as an example. Imus also used similar language and his radio show was dropped. After a long period of time his network picked up the show again and is giving him a second chance. I feel that he could tell them that he understands the world may need time to get over what happened, but that after he lays low for a while he can come back and show them that it was worth it for them.
I wondered what types of rhetorical devices and appeals are used in these situations?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
Um, is Figaro being snookered into a class assignment. Lately he's been getting a lot of persuasion examples from Arizona.
Example 1: Aristotle said that anger arises from a sense of belittlement. By showing elaborate respect for your dad, you defused any potential explosion.
Example 2: What did you end up saying to your mother? Figaro's suggestion would be to win a whole lot of points for future arguments by saying, "You know what, Mom? You were right."
Example 3: Duane Chapman's only recourse is the old redemption device, which works especially well in a religious society like ours. He should change careers and dedicate himself to fighting the system that jails so many black men. Of course, TV producers aren't clamoring for a show on political advocacy. On the other hand, maybe Chapman would end up truly redeemed. As for Imus, he'll never be restored to his former glory. Only a few stations carry the poor foul-mouthed sap.
Fig.
November 19, 2007 |
Kelly
Kelly
Dear Figaro,
About 8 months ago I had a persuasion situation that ended up as a love story…
My four teammates and I had just finished our game against Oregon and decided to go to see “Disturbia.” First we went to Chili’s for dinner. Brit called and said she couldn’t make the movie unless we went to the midnight show.
After dinner I received a phone call from my teammate Bianca, who was out drinking with her cousins and brother. She had been asking me to go out and drink with them all day and I turned her down every time because I didn’t want to drink nor did I want to be out till all hours of the night.
Well, that all changed because now that we were going to the midnight showing of the movie and it was only 10. Also, it’s hard to say no to Eric, Bianca’s brother, because he is absolutely relentless and will call and call and call AND CALL until you tell him “yes I will come. Geez.” It doesn’t take much for him to persuade you either since he thinks he’s mister money bags and pays for everything. Walking in I heard my name ring throughout the restaurant, “BURKALURK!!! WHAT’S UP GIRL?” Eric bought me a drink and said, “Bitch, you better drink it cuz’ I bought it. So drink!” It didn’t take long before I was joining them for a round of sake bombs.
I started talking to the guy sitting in front of me. Let’s just say 8 months later we are still together and because of that night of being persuaded into drinking and going out led me to finding a very special guy. What can I say; a little persuasion led me to love.
However, I would really like to know why I tend to sway my decisions even though I know deep down it's really not going to benefit me at all? Even though in this situation I did benefit from it and the next day I ended up being close to pitching a perfect game I still don’t know why I can’t stay stronger and not give into situations of persuasion? How can I overcome these pressure persuasions? Does it show weakness that I allow for myself to do so?
Katie
Dear Katie,
Are you sure your new boyfriend didn't hire Eric to behave like an ass, call you a bitch, and get you drunk? Next to him, Duane Dawg Chapman looks like a Romeo.
As for resisting peer pressure, try the Divide & Conquer device. Persuade one member of your group at a time to do something else with you. If that doesn't work, walk your athletic self to the library and bring home a good-looking scholar. A rhetoric major, say. Someone who gets you high on figures.
Yours in Safe Seduction,
Figaro
About 8 months ago I had a persuasion situation that ended up as a love story…
My four teammates and I had just finished our game against Oregon and decided to go to see “Disturbia.” First we went to Chili’s for dinner. Brit called and said she couldn’t make the movie unless we went to the midnight show.
After dinner I received a phone call from my teammate Bianca, who was out drinking with her cousins and brother. She had been asking me to go out and drink with them all day and I turned her down every time because I didn’t want to drink nor did I want to be out till all hours of the night.
Well, that all changed because now that we were going to the midnight showing of the movie and it was only 10. Also, it’s hard to say no to Eric, Bianca’s brother, because he is absolutely relentless and will call and call and call AND CALL until you tell him “yes I will come. Geez.” It doesn’t take much for him to persuade you either since he thinks he’s mister money bags and pays for everything. Walking in I heard my name ring throughout the restaurant, “BURKALURK!!! WHAT’S UP GIRL?” Eric bought me a drink and said, “Bitch, you better drink it cuz’ I bought it. So drink!” It didn’t take long before I was joining them for a round of sake bombs.
I started talking to the guy sitting in front of me. Let’s just say 8 months later we are still together and because of that night of being persuaded into drinking and going out led me to finding a very special guy. What can I say; a little persuasion led me to love.
However, I would really like to know why I tend to sway my decisions even though I know deep down it's really not going to benefit me at all? Even though in this situation I did benefit from it and the next day I ended up being close to pitching a perfect game I still don’t know why I can’t stay stronger and not give into situations of persuasion? How can I overcome these pressure persuasions? Does it show weakness that I allow for myself to do so?
Katie
Dear Katie,
Are you sure your new boyfriend didn't hire Eric to behave like an ass, call you a bitch, and get you drunk? Next to him, Duane Dawg Chapman looks like a Romeo.
As for resisting peer pressure, try the Divide & Conquer device. Persuade one member of your group at a time to do something else with you. If that doesn't work, walk your athletic self to the library and bring home a good-looking scholar. A rhetoric major, say. Someone who gets you high on figures.
Yours in Safe Seduction,
Figaro
November 18, 2007 |
Katie
Katie
Dear Figaro,
NY has a law that requires that newborns receive a Vitamin K shot and eye drops within one hour of life. This law in particular allows NO exceptions. The eye drops are to prevent blindness in the event that the mother has gonorrhea or Chlamydia. The Vitamin K shot is to prevent hemorrhagic disease. There is a 1/10,000 chance of having this disease, and if it were to develop, the vitamin K can be taken at the time of diagnosis.
The eye drops requirement is ridiculous as my wife and I are certain that we are not at risk.
Many other states and governments (CT, NJ, Canada, etc.) allow for religious exemptions and substituting oral Vitamin K for the shot.
I feel that my civil rights as a parent are being violated--NY requires that hospitals report refusals to Child Protective Services (CPS).
I'm looking for advice on how to argue to the hospital to accept that I have the best interest of my child in mind when I refuse this and that CPS needn't be notified. To me, the law is too prescriptive, the concept of justice is nowhere in the conversation and the Hippocratic oath of avoiding harm should come to bear before some poorly written statute. (NYCRR, Title 10, Section 12.3.)
Thank you,
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
You're not about to get the hospital to break the law. The group to persuade is the New York legislature, which will not be sympathetic to your claim of a civil rights violation. Since the procedure won't harm your child, why not allow it while writing your representative?
Meanwhile, are you allowing airport inspectors to root through your luggage every time you try to carry on 3.5 oz of hair gel? Figaro would happily swap infant eye drops for a little privacy.
Yrs,
Fig.
NY has a law that requires that newborns receive a Vitamin K shot and eye drops within one hour of life. This law in particular allows NO exceptions. The eye drops are to prevent blindness in the event that the mother has gonorrhea or Chlamydia. The Vitamin K shot is to prevent hemorrhagic disease. There is a 1/10,000 chance of having this disease, and if it were to develop, the vitamin K can be taken at the time of diagnosis.
The eye drops requirement is ridiculous as my wife and I are certain that we are not at risk.
Many other states and governments (CT, NJ, Canada, etc.) allow for religious exemptions and substituting oral Vitamin K for the shot.
I feel that my civil rights as a parent are being violated--NY requires that hospitals report refusals to Child Protective Services (CPS).
I'm looking for advice on how to argue to the hospital to accept that I have the best interest of my child in mind when I refuse this and that CPS needn't be notified. To me, the law is too prescriptive, the concept of justice is nowhere in the conversation and the Hippocratic oath of avoiding harm should come to bear before some poorly written statute. (NYCRR, Title 10, Section 12.3.)
Thank you,
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
You're not about to get the hospital to break the law. The group to persuade is the New York legislature, which will not be sympathetic to your claim of a civil rights violation. Since the procedure won't harm your child, why not allow it while writing your representative?
Meanwhile, are you allowing airport inspectors to root through your luggage every time you try to carry on 3.5 oz of hair gel? Figaro would happily swap infant eye drops for a little privacy.
Yrs,
Fig.
November 17, 2007 |
Andrew
Andrew
(pardon the use of lowercase. i'm a writer and my fingers are fused to typewriter keys all the time. it's not done out of disrespect for you. like coming to your readings in a tattered bathrobe or anything)
i love your rhetoric book! i heard about it from the coolest indie film producer i've ever met. she has to work with people and play all sorts of roles to get things done. anyhow, so i get your book. maybe i'll hope to get to it before five years are up. however, i've been really sick and cranky all week and so have had time to catch up on reading as i can't really sleep, either. and i love love love this book! i was cranky (no sleep, can't breathe, or talk without coughing fits) and my best friend james came over as he usually does on friday night. i made him a quick supper and he made the mistake of answering his cell phone RIGHT BEFORE he was to sit and eat, and chatted about where the closest fed ex office was as everything got cold. whoa! i was so mad (really hurt), i went back to bed and sulked for the next five minutes.
but he came over to me and while we argue beautifully anyhow, this book gave a name to everything.
james said, "i was only on for a few moments."
me: "but i feel like crap and sterilized myself to make you a hot meal."
james: "i needed to help my friend find a fedex office and no, i don't know why his iphone couldn't help him--"
me: "--wait a minute. let's get out of the past and present tense [i'd already told him some details of this book]...how can we stop this from happening in the future?"
james: "huh? okay."
me: "would you be able to answer your phone calls AFTER supper when you're with me?"
james: (thinks a moment then shrugs) "...yeah, sure. okay."
me: "okay, thanks. i'm over it then."
james: "come on down, spanky." [he calls me spanky]
i came on down with my box of tissues and cough drops that i always forget don't work.
hope you're well. i just love this book. it's so funny. like fat albert ("if you're not careful, you just might learn something!") for people who want to argue with the passive-aggressive affluent californians AND the trigger-happy ghetto teenagers that fill up san francisco.
erika
Dear Spanky (and what do you call James???),
You can write Figaro in lowercase any time you want. Tell that cool indie producer that the world needs a film about this dashing guy who quit his job in the quixotic quest to make everyone speak in the future tense.
Yrs,
Fig.
i love your rhetoric book! i heard about it from the coolest indie film producer i've ever met. she has to work with people and play all sorts of roles to get things done. anyhow, so i get your book. maybe i'll hope to get to it before five years are up. however, i've been really sick and cranky all week and so have had time to catch up on reading as i can't really sleep, either. and i love love love this book! i was cranky (no sleep, can't breathe, or talk without coughing fits) and my best friend james came over as he usually does on friday night. i made him a quick supper and he made the mistake of answering his cell phone RIGHT BEFORE he was to sit and eat, and chatted about where the closest fed ex office was as everything got cold. whoa! i was so mad (really hurt), i went back to bed and sulked for the next five minutes.
but he came over to me and while we argue beautifully anyhow, this book gave a name to everything.
james said, "i was only on for a few moments."
me: "but i feel like crap and sterilized myself to make you a hot meal."
james: "i needed to help my friend find a fedex office and no, i don't know why his iphone couldn't help him--"
me: "--wait a minute. let's get out of the past and present tense [i'd already told him some details of this book]...how can we stop this from happening in the future?"
james: "huh? okay."
me: "would you be able to answer your phone calls AFTER supper when you're with me?"
james: (thinks a moment then shrugs) "...yeah, sure. okay."
me: "okay, thanks. i'm over it then."
james: "come on down, spanky." [he calls me spanky]
i came on down with my box of tissues and cough drops that i always forget don't work.
hope you're well. i just love this book. it's so funny. like fat albert ("if you're not careful, you just might learn something!") for people who want to argue with the passive-aggressive affluent californians AND the trigger-happy ghetto teenagers that fill up san francisco.
erika
Dear Spanky (and what do you call James???),
You can write Figaro in lowercase any time you want. Tell that cool indie producer that the world needs a film about this dashing guy who quit his job in the quixotic quest to make everyone speak in the future tense.
Yrs,
Fig.
November 17, 2007 |
Erika Lopez
Erika Lopez
Fig,
I expect that the lawyers for Barry Bonds will be giving us rhetorical fodder for months to come, but here's my favorite from day one: "all you need to know about the government's case is that they leaked an official indictment to every media outlet in America and withheld it from Barry, his lawyer, and everyone else who could read it and defend him."
I'm pretty sure that's not all we need to know about the case. What would we call this fallacy? Or do we give them credit for attempting to reframe the issue?
Thanks,
Matt
Dear Matt,
Figaro is a risk-taking type, so I'll go out on a limb here and call it a SYNECDOCHE, the trope that makes an individual represent the whole species, or vice versa. The synecdoche implies "all you need to know" through one example: the welfare mother or the sexual predator. In this case, one action stands for the whole bad-gummint shebang.
That's all you need to know.
Fig.
I expect that the lawyers for Barry Bonds will be giving us rhetorical fodder for months to come, but here's my favorite from day one: "all you need to know about the government's case is that they leaked an official indictment to every media outlet in America and withheld it from Barry, his lawyer, and everyone else who could read it and defend him."
I'm pretty sure that's not all we need to know about the case. What would we call this fallacy? Or do we give them credit for attempting to reframe the issue?
Thanks,
Matt
Dear Matt,
Figaro is a risk-taking type, so I'll go out on a limb here and call it a SYNECDOCHE, the trope that makes an individual represent the whole species, or vice versa. The synecdoche implies "all you need to know" through one example: the welfare mother or the sexual predator. In this case, one action stands for the whole bad-gummint shebang.
That's all you need to know.
Fig.
November 15, 2007 |
Matthew Litt
Matthew Litt
Hey, Fig:
Is there a different name for a chiasmus that get really long? Like this beauty from Mill: "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." This is a chiasmus, right?
Dear Chesty,
To be brief: yes.
Fig.
Is there a different name for a chiasmus that get really long? Like this beauty from Mill: "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." This is a chiasmus, right?
Dear Chesty,
To be brief: yes.
Fig.
November 13, 2007 |
Lord of the Chesterfield
Lord of the Chesterfield
Fig,
I enjoyed your lecture yesterday at Carlton Fields. You talked about Cicero, please point me in the right direction of a good book to read regarding him (aside from your book, of course).
Thank you.
Dear JDK,
I enjoyed it. Lawyers make a great audience; the astonishing view of Miami was a distraction, though. As for Cicero, the best biography is by Anthony Everitt. You can buy it through this link: http://www.figarospeech.com/rhetoric-books-on-amazon/
And if you do, Figaro gets 40 cents!!!
Fig.
I enjoyed your lecture yesterday at Carlton Fields. You talked about Cicero, please point me in the right direction of a good book to read regarding him (aside from your book, of course).
Thank you.
Dear JDK,
I enjoyed it. Lawyers make a great audience; the astonishing view of Miami was a distraction, though. As for Cicero, the best biography is by Anthony Everitt. You can buy it through this link: http://www.figarospeech.com/rhetoric-books-on-amazon/
And if you do, Figaro gets 40 cents!!!
Fig.
November 9, 2007 |
JDK
JDK
Fig,
There's a sign that I see as I'm walking into the building at work that has always annoyed me... mainly because it's so cheesy. Today, however, when I read it--apart from the usual feeling of loathing I have for the sign--I wondered what kind of figure it is.
Here's what it says:
"Those who put safety first... LAST!"
I don't know why it bothers me so much... there are safety-themed signs all around the building but this one just gets to me... maybe if I know what kind of figure it is, next time I see it I may think about the figure instead of the usual mocking, sarcasm, and curse words.
YITBOS
Dear Yit,
Put your liver at rest. The sign is using a perfectly respectable ANTANACLASIS (an-ta-NA-cla-sis), which uses a pun in a contrasting manner.
Fig.
There's a sign that I see as I'm walking into the building at work that has always annoyed me... mainly because it's so cheesy. Today, however, when I read it--apart from the usual feeling of loathing I have for the sign--I wondered what kind of figure it is.
Here's what it says:
"Those who put safety first... LAST!"
I don't know why it bothers me so much... there are safety-themed signs all around the building but this one just gets to me... maybe if I know what kind of figure it is, next time I see it I may think about the figure instead of the usual mocking, sarcasm, and curse words.
YITBOS
Dear Yit,
Put your liver at rest. The sign is using a perfectly respectable ANTANACLASIS (an-ta-NA-cla-sis), which uses a pun in a contrasting manner.
Fig.
November 8, 2007 |
YITBOS
YITBOS
Thanks for your clarification on the dearth of a nice blanket term for "reverse anthropomorphization." By the way, I have used the word "naturalization" on occasion though it feels dicey.
And, as you've pointed out, in the case of attributing "inappropriate" emotion to inanimate objects, we'd call it the bathetic fallacy. Still doesn't quite cover all possibilities, but not bad.
Dear JJ,
Naturalization qualifies as the bathetic fallacy if it's unintentionally funny. Good call.
Fig.