Blog # 5

A) I think Pollan means that, tools have no emotions or compassion. They are just inanimate objects and just serve as a purpose to get things fixed. Maybe he is saying that men are becoming more like that, just “objects” that work and fix things. Or maybe he is saying they do nothing all the time unless you make them. Maybe they just want one thing, and that is sex.
When I hear the word tool, I just don’t think about gardening tools, I think of the show on VH1 called Tool Academy. The show is about boyfriends who are secretly chosen to be on what they think is a search for "Mr. Awesome."They think they are amazing and they are super conceded, and they don’t respect or know how to treat their girlfriends right. But they get a big surprise when they learn that they are actually in the "Tool Academy," where they will learn behavior and how to become gentlemen.


B) Even though it doesn’t seem like it, men also have issues concerning their diet and body image. Some guys worry about their hair line receding, or their hair falling out or turning grey. It’s just another sign that they are getting older and that probably worries them. They also worry about fitness; some have to exercise a lot to stay in shape, because they worry that they will gain too much weight. Some girls aren’t interested in fat guys.
Also some guys worry about being muscular. No guy wants to look weak and shrimpy, they want to look built and buff so they can impress the ladies. They have to eat healthy too, just like women.

Blog # 4

What is similar between what Asimov and Sedaris realize about language?

I think the similar thing that Asimov and Sedaris realize about language is that,there are different ways that people communicate.For example,some use expression,signals,sign language,gibberish,and words.Asimov talks about how a deaf person uses their hands to communicate,and a blind person just talks.Both are different method of communication.
I think that Sedaris is talking about people who speak other languages.He moved to France to learn the speak the language.People speak many languages all over the world.Maybe he thought the best way to learn the language was to go to the country as opposed to a class or something.

Blog # 3

A) "Society is organized on the principle that any individual who possesses certain social characteristics has a moral right to expect that others will value and treat him in an appropriate way."(Goffman)
I like this quote,and I think it means that someone who has certain social traits,like kindness for example,expect to be treated kindly by others,they feel that's how other people should act.This quote is significant to me because,I always act polite and nice to other people.I feel that you should always be polite to someone even if they don't always act polite back.I guess I feel that if your'e nice to someone,they'll be nice to you too.


B)"Ours is an "informercial" culture in which the desire to sell products and stories continually tries to pass itself off as "helping" and "informing" the public, satisfying their "right to know." We get our deepest philosophies of life from jingles and slogans."(Bordo)
I think this quoute means figuratively speaking,that people are always trying to give advice or try to teach others with demonstrations because maybe they feel good about trying to help or inform someone else about a problem or anything in general.
Literally speaking,people are always try to sell their product so they can make money.
I guess this is significant to me because sometimes other like to try and help with stuff,and teach me things.


C) I think Goffman and Bordo's thoughts are still significant today.Goffan's quote is significant because people still expect others to treat them the way they would want to be treated.Bordo's quote is still significant as well because,everyone is always trying to help or inform others on anything they think they more of.

Blog # 2

A) What are we really seeing?The fact that your mind is capable of taking a circle,two dots and a line and turning them into a face is nothing short of incrediable!But still more incredible is that you can't avoid seeing a fce here.Your mind won't let you.(McCloud)
I like this quote because I think it is interseting.I never really thought much about what McCloud is saying how you can't avoid seeing a face.Whenever I would see a circle,two dots,and a line,I would see a face.I wouldn't try to see anything else,I wouldn't think about trying to see anything else,I would just see the face.It never occured to me that my mind was taking the things and making it a face.It's interesting that the mind works in weird ways,by making you see pictures out of just lines or shapes.I think McCloud is smart and what he thinks is fascinating.The mind is a very complex thing,it's always working to show you differnt things.


B) It is a crime to cut people.Cooks cut food,therefore,cooks are criminals.
I think this is a logical fallacy because,it is a mistake in reasoning.Cooks cut food,but that doesn't make the criminals because they're not hurting anyone,they are just preparing food.However criminals are bad because they're hurting whoever they stabbed.Both are cutting things,but they are not the same situation.


C) If ever there was an idea custom made for a Jay Leno monologue,this was it:__________,Isn't that like_______?Whatever happened to________?
I happen to sympathize with_________,though,perhaps because__________

Blog # 1

The Nature of Rhetorical Criticism

A)

Some use the word rhetoric in a negative way.The term commonly is used to mean empty,bombastic language that has no substance(Foss).Others use the word in a metaphorically way.Foss however,states that neither of those thoughts is how rhetoric is used in rhetorical criticism.He defines the word,saying that it is how humans use symbols to communicate.He also states that the definition has threes aspects which are related to humans and the way they communicate with symbols.

The first aspect is called Humans as the creators of rhetoric.Some people question if symbols separate people from animals,because chimps and gorillas have been taught by using symbols.People though are the only ones so far that use symbols to create a part of their reality using symbols.Animals and people both have different experiences with symbols.

The second aspect is called Symbols as the medium for rhetoric.The word rhetoric doesn't involve signs.Symbols are different from signs.I think that a symbol represents something and a sign tells or shows you something.However signs and symbols can be associated together in communication.

The third aspect is called communication as the purpose of rhetoric.The purpose of this is communication,because symbols are used for communicating.Foss says that "rhetoric functions in a variety of ways to allow humans to communicate with one another."He also says that people use it to persuade others,understand new things,and also that sometimes people may express their thoughts out loud or maybe just write them down.Also,Foss says that another communicative function rhetoric establishes is that it's tells us what reality is.Reality is always changing depending on the symbols we use to talk about it.I thinks Foss means that the symbols we see makes it easier to tell what things a real and not just made up.

I do agree that symbols are used for communication,and that the word rhetoric serves many functions.I see symbols all the time,for example a stop sign.And sometimes,I like to change the font on wordpad,on my computer to Symbol and write things and see what it looks like.Also,when I hear the word rhetoric,I think of the term rhetorical question.For example,will I ever finish writing this blog??

B)
google definitions
-The art of speaking or writing effectively as the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion .
-Asked merely for effect with no answer expected(rhetorical question)