FROM THE MOUTH OF AN ADDER
ACCORDING to Wikipedia, the common European adder or common viper, is a venomous snake that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of central and eastern Europe and as far as East Asia, so you can see that we’re not talking mathematics here. What we’re talking is talk. Conversation. Discussion. Dialog. Debate. In short, viperous praddle, intentionally so.
I’m not talking propaganda or prepared speeches, public or private. I’m talking more of intentional gossip that indirectly leads one or more parties to erroneous, hurtful assumptions that, when unconsciously or consciously acted upon, damages others. I’m also not talking anything like court affidavits — statements made under oath that reflect an opinion or declaration of a blind and balanced court of law. I’m talking everything in-between that is harmful.
But first, some definitions: Conversation or discussion is, in my opinion, an informal, polite, social exchange of ideas or information. Dialog is a more formal conversation or discussion in which the parties seek to resolve a conundrum while carefully respecting each’s right to converse without interruption (and I’m not talking about filibustering). Debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, in which opposing arguments are put forward and one opinion “wins” over the others. Think “Highlander” and “there can be only one.” And irrespective of the above form, there has to be bias, spin, prejudice, partisanship, bigotry, intolerance or manipulation involved.
In my opin, this is probably the most dangerous form of talk possible, as it generally leads the participants to think they are discovering a truth, when, in fact, truth isn’t an issue. Instead it’s about subtly convincing the others that they have come to a conclusion that, in fact, they were carefully led to. The ancient Greeks mention that perception of truth was dependent on the appeal one uses. Logos (logic and reasoning), pathos (emotion), ethos (morality and religion) to which I would add keiros (popularity or public prestige) and numos (the law). Of these, only logos was recognized has having any absolute “truth value” and then only if the arguments and evidence presented was true. I can’t but wonder if in today’s world of “fake” news, we shouldn’t as a society return to logos. But that would require a major reset in our education, government, politics, business, “advertising and marketing,” as well as the way we regard, hopefully respect, each other.
In THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859, the “edge” is largely about what we perceive to be true and how we act upon it. Taking up where the irreverent TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese left off, NewAmerica, a shadow of its former United States of America, provides a challenging and dangerous future place for three young firebrands to live. Why not take a moment from contemporary life to converse with me at THE EDGE OF MADNESS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
#RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #WilliamMaltese #TotalMeltdown #conversation #discussion #dialog #debate #truth #logos #pathos #ethos #keiros #numos #nomos #spin #bias #fake #Savant #Aignos #book #ebook #audiobook #unbalanced #technology #business #government #politics #business
I’m not talking propaganda or prepared speeches, public or private. I’m talking more of intentional gossip that indirectly leads one or more parties to erroneous, hurtful assumptions that, when unconsciously or consciously acted upon, damages others. I’m also not talking anything like court affidavits — statements made under oath that reflect an opinion or declaration of a blind and balanced court of law. I’m talking everything in-between that is harmful.
But first, some definitions: Conversation or discussion is, in my opinion, an informal, polite, social exchange of ideas or information. Dialog is a more formal conversation or discussion in which the parties seek to resolve a conundrum while carefully respecting each’s right to converse without interruption (and I’m not talking about filibustering). Debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, in which opposing arguments are put forward and one opinion “wins” over the others. Think “Highlander” and “there can be only one.” And irrespective of the above form, there has to be bias, spin, prejudice, partisanship, bigotry, intolerance or manipulation involved.
In my opin, this is probably the most dangerous form of talk possible, as it generally leads the participants to think they are discovering a truth, when, in fact, truth isn’t an issue. Instead it’s about subtly convincing the others that they have come to a conclusion that, in fact, they were carefully led to. The ancient Greeks mention that perception of truth was dependent on the appeal one uses. Logos (logic and reasoning), pathos (emotion), ethos (morality and religion) to which I would add keiros (popularity or public prestige) and numos (the law). Of these, only logos was recognized has having any absolute “truth value” and then only if the arguments and evidence presented was true. I can’t but wonder if in today’s world of “fake” news, we shouldn’t as a society return to logos. But that would require a major reset in our education, government, politics, business, “advertising and marketing,” as well as the way we regard, hopefully respect, each other.
In THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859, the “edge” is largely about what we perceive to be true and how we act upon it. Taking up where the irreverent TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese left off, NewAmerica, a shadow of its former United States of America, provides a challenging and dangerous future place for three young firebrands to live. Why not take a moment from contemporary life to converse with me at THE EDGE OF MADNESS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
#RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #WilliamMaltese #TotalMeltdown #conversation #discussion #dialog #debate #truth #logos #pathos #ethos #keiros #numos #nomos #spin #bias #fake #Savant #Aignos #book #ebook #audiobook #unbalanced #technology #business #government #politics #business
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