Group and Organizational Communications

There are actually two concepts in the text that could benefit from a little more in depth discussion due to the importance they play in a work environment. Those would be the topics in relation to group communication and organizational communication. Both of these styles of communication are depended upon heavily in the large majority of business environments. Working my way through management positions, whether those managements were in regards to people and resources or projects, a lot of time and energy is spent on communicating within groups for collaboration and understanding the organizational cultural of the business as a whole. Many times success or failure in these areas can be the difference between achieving a goal and or completing a task at work. It is also an area that where an individual’s skill sets are highly analyzed and considered when working towards promotion and career advancement opportunities as they are highly desired by current and perspective employers.

Concepts of Interest

We have covered so many different subjects in this class that it is difficult to pick out what I found to be the most interesting. It is especially difficult due to the fact that many of the concepts have a tendency to shed new light and understanding on previous concepts as well as open possible conclusions for future ones. I found the different perspectives we examined in chapter two to be not only interesting but also allowed for a deeper understanding and vantage point in which to examine the way we communicate as well as our dependencies upon communication as society. I also found the basic understandings of these four different perspectives to be additional helpful when we began discussing intercultural communications as it provided a broader communication base in which to try and relate to different cultural identities and perceptions. Another section of the class that I found to be interesting was the relation between communication and the different forms of media that rely upon it. How we interpret and respond to messages have great dependency on the method and style in which they are delivered. The chapter also pointed out some of the major struggles that different forms of media encounters while attempting to deliver those messages concisely and how the messages are manipulated to fit different mediums.

Experimental Research Methods

Out of the eight popular research methodologies found in chapter 13 I found the experimental research method to be the most interesting. Mostly due to the interaction the researcher has with the research and the subject in which the research is being conducted about. I liked the complexity behind the research questions and can be molded in various ways in an attempt to gain a desired outcome. I would compare it almost to what would be considered trick questions, however in this case there is no right or wrong answers, nor do they normally lead to a clear and concise answer. If, for instance, I wanted to conduct experimental research in regards to some aspect of deception I could ask a question such as, “Do you believe that if a person is not telling you a complete depiction of a situation that they are trying to deceive you?” There is no clear and concise answer to the question but the question itself is an attempt to generate suspicion in the mind of the subject. The answers received could led to a better understanding of what is believed to constitute deception itself.

Media Agendas

I found the section on Media Agendas to be a particularly vivid reminder of how our media outlets can drive and manipulate our outlook on our country, our current events, and even our overall social climate. As we continue to advance technologically our availability to information continues to speed up creating a demand for immediacy in the messages we receive and also increasing demands on our mediums to control the agendas of what messages will ultimately be conveyed. I think Normal Felsenthal said it well when the text quotes him as saying, “Neither an individual nor a society can give equal attention to everything. We are continually required to determine which problems get our immediate attention and which problems are simply endured or even ignored altogether.” The problem with this is that with the majority of these types of communications being controlled and delivered to us via the media, how am I as an individual ever properly equipped to form a non-biased conclusion in regards to the world and events that are taking place around me when the vast majority of our information channels only provide us with a the portion of the events and messages that they feel are pertinent. And yes, I realize I can research into whatever topic or event I choose to learn more about, however I am still restricted to the information and points of view presented to me by way of any research material I seek out, leaving me to attempt to interpret and discover the truth from partial stories, accounts, and information controlled by the agendas of others.

Is the medium the message?

I would have to agree that Marshall McLuhan’s statement that the medium is the message has shown to be quite true in today’s society. Each different medium that is used, whether it be radio, newspaper, book, magazine, or television, is directed at a different type of audience as well as in a different fashion and format. You even see this in movies where novels must be condensed down drastically in order to continue to demand the attention of the audience throughout the film. In visual formats, such as television and movies, much of the accompanying details that would be normally be spelled out in text are now left up to the viewer to infer from the images presented on screen. This always leads to the idea that the message trying to be conveyed is adapted, altered, or omitted from certain types of mediums due to the fact that it cannot be universally transmitted into the different formats. For instance, a book would not be read aloud on television because it would quickly lose the interest of most viewers, but it could appeal to radio listeners as it fulfills the audio only expectations of the targeted audience. Television being considered a “cool” medium is probably largely due to the extremely large and diverse audience base in which it must appeal to in order to get ratings. Most content displayed through this medium is initially designed to be generally broad in topic, open ended in its idea structures, and targeted towards entertainment. Because you can both see and hear the messages being transmitted they tend to be shorter and rely more on the audience to interpret the message then have it spelled out for them.

Friends ... In Cyberspace

I have made a couple of friendships that existed exclusively in cyberspace. I have also met some of the friends I originally made online in person when they were close to me geographically. I still keep in touch from time to time with one that is located in Australia whom I first starting talking to over 10 years ago. There are advantages and disadvantages to pursuing these types of cyberspace relationships. They do differ from face to face relationships in that they can be a very one dimensional perception of a person’s personality. There is also the fact that realities in cyberspace can differ extremely from everyday life. The larger cyberspace community does allow for a larger demographic to find others that share your interests. The biggest difference I have found between cyberspace and local friendships is that those that I have made in cyberspace can exist solely in cyberspace if I so choose. When I don’t feel like plugging in that part of reality I don’t have any real obligation to do so. Longer gaps between talking and catching up seem to be more accepted in the online reality. The same is not so true of face to face friendships since they exist with our everyday realities I have more of an obligation to be present. I don’t see it as a disadvantage however because many times it’s that obligation to stay present that creates some of the stronger bonds of close friendships. That’s not to say that close friendships do not exist solely in cyberspace just that they can be more difficult to cultivate.

Telecommuting

I found the section on telecommuting be very insightful. I have been in the position where I was afforded the opportunity to telecommute to and from work a few days per week. Many of the advantages and disadvantages pointed out in the book held true in my case. One of the biggest obstacles I faced in working from home was being able to separate my home time from my work time. With always having deadlines looming it consistently made it difficult to walk away from my work at the end of a work day. This was further complicated by my employer who held the expectation that since I could work from home I was not constricted to normal working hours. It was not unusual to find my work day starting at 7am every morning and still be working at midnight on the report that needed to be completed or trying to analyze the business statistics to create presentations for the next meeting. Weekends were not out of the question either and I continually would get reprimanded for turning my phone off after hours. I have found that my experience is not unusual as many other professionals I have spoken to encountered similar working conditions and employer expectations when telecommuting.

Interdependency & Obligations

Organizations are tied to the environment in multiple ways. Farms for instance are located in areas with the best climates to grow certain foods. Manufacturing plants are normally located near the resources they need in order to produce their products. There is also the impact organizations have on the surrounding environment and the organizations that exist solely to protect or rejuvenate the environment around them.

The relationship that exists between a student and the city in which the school is located is one of interdependency. The student is reliant upon the school to provide them with the knowledge and understanding to be a contributing member of society. The cities and towns in which the school is located are depending on the school to provide a knowledgeable work force to fill the needs of the surrounding community. The school has an ethical obligation to both the town and the student to provide pertinent knowledge and classes to meet the needs of the community while assisting to prepare the student for the growing demands.

Electronic Etiquette

The rules of etiquette discussed by the book display a one sided view on what should be an acceptable use of electronic communications. Although I can agree with the majority of these supposed rules I have to point out that they do not account for a majority of working conditions that are becoming more and more common in our society.

Cell phones for instance are becoming a requirement of business for employees to carry and have on at all times. The normal work week is all but gone in today’s society for many jobs. A lot of employees have to be on-call outside of their “normal” working hours. If you are at the movies, have it on vibrate and step out if you have to take the call. There should be no talking in a movie theater, cell phone or not, and the same goes for church. I don’t however see how it’s rude to talk on the cell phone while in a restaurant. Is the book saying that I should be upset and offended that my privacy has been intruded upon because the people at the table next to me are having a conversation? Most people talk amongst themselves when going out to eat. If you feel that you should not have to listen to others while dining simply stay home.

With answering machines if it’s a business machine the rules apply and are normally mandated by the company in which you are employed. However if it is my own personal machine at home where I don’t conduct business I can have whatever annoying, short, music riddled message I desire. If you don’t like it, don’t call me.

Conference calls are the bane of everyone’s existence in the corporate world. Always identify yourself and don’t say anything unless addressing the group.

Faxes are, and should be, becoming a thing of the past with the ability to scan and email information. They are a means of public communication and should be treated as such. Calling the recipient beforehand ensures they actually receive it.

Timing your communications can be important. Depending on your reason for calling you may need to reach individuals after “normal” business hours and most people conduct business calls while driving by means of a cell phone with a hands-free headset. Again if you don’t own one, don’t talk on the phone while driving.

Your ringtones for work phones should be as unobtrusive as possible, if not on vibrate, and most screen names are mandated by the company.

I will say that you should make sure that when needing to use your personal email and phone for business, such as applying for work, ensure that your email address, voicemail, or answering machine messages are presenting you in a professional manner.

Electronic Communications

I found the section concerned with mediated relationships and communicating through computer-mediated channels to be one of the most interesting sections in the chapter, mostly due to how it changes and adapts the regular norms of interpersonal communication. The sense of anonymity that it can provide or the ability to empower even the shyest of people to be more social allows for a much freer exchange of ideas and larger availability to expand a person’s cultural horizons. The freedom electronic communication affords us does not always lead to positive outcomes of course and it is important to remember that it can be hard to discover the truth in these types of communications. With these types of communication channels became more and more dominant in our society I feel it is very important to understand how to participate and interpret how these channels effect how people communicate, as well as understanding the benefits they can provide, for instance, my ability to share my personal thoughts with others via this blog.

Attraction Filters

In many ways Duck’s theory does make sense that there is a subconscious, or for some conscious, filtering system people use to qualify a potential partner. However, I do not subscribe to the idea that his theory is universal. There are many people who meet and although they may live many, many miles away from each other they are committed to keeping a long distance relationship. Technology has also increased the ability to interact long distance on a regular basis, decreasing the importance of physical proximity in Duck’s theory. Physical beauty is in the eye of the beholder but a person’s personality is the true measure of attractiveness in my opinion. I try not to judge a person before I have a chance to get to know them even if my first impression of them may not have been favorable I do try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, it can take time to truly get to know a person and overlooking some behaviors can be the same as ignoring warning signs. I had made this mistake with one of my ex-boyfriends. The first time I met him I did not get a great first impression. Giving him the benefit of the doubt I choose to overlook some of the behaviors I would not normally. It was a mistake I hope to never make again as it was extremely poor judgment on my part and ended very badly.

Comparing Dysfunctional Patterns

The patterns of rigid complementary, competitive symmetry and submissive symmetry are all categorized as dysfunctional patterns due to the unbalanced nature they exhibit. As with most habitual patterns attempting to break free of any one of them can be very difficult. As for which is most difficult I would have to lean towards the submissive symmetry pattern. Because both partners are habitually submissive one of them would have to force themselves to become the assertive member to break the pattern. Since most willful submission is a reflection of a person’s personality characteristic it could be extremely difficult to bring about that change. It wouldn’t be the most damaging to a relationship however, because it would ultimately help to regain balance to the relationship while still feeding into the desire of the other partner’s submissive nature. I would think the most damaging pattern to a relationship would be competitive symmetry due to the constant struggle that exists between the partners, whereas the rigid complementary pattern would potentially be the most damaging to an individual’s self-esteem.

Language Barriers

I found the section of the book and culture and language style to be extremely interesting. It reminds us that it's more than just a difference in language but it's also in the meanings behind the words themselves that lend to the creation of culture barriers. Not everything translates directly from one language to another, but it's important to remember that it's more than just the words themselves that convey meaning. I think it is important how the book goes into how culture affects our communication patterns, both verbally and nonverbally. It covers what we do, how we use, and our shared understandings of communication through culture, including even the forms of speech we use and how they are valued.
I remember this being one of the hardest parts of language study. I could learn and remember the meanings of words, the ones that directly translated across anyway, what I found myself having a hard time with was the ways in which the link which is used the words in context. Once I was able to understand the style of the language it was easier to actually learn the language itself. Remembering and beginning to understand these nuances between languages is a key contributor in successful cross-cultural interaction.

Rationality, Perfectibility, and Mutability Premises

As much as I would like to deny that my basic belief system and that of our country can be so easily summed up by three basic beliefs I have to agree that the basis of our society are mostly centered around the premises of rationality, perfectibility, and mutuality. The rationality premise that most people are capable of discovering the truth through logical analysis is firmly rooted in our judicial system, especially since in our society ignorance is not a defense. We do not rule that just because you weren’t aware of knowledgeable of a law that you are freed of the consequence in breaking it. The mutability premise is exhibited through our educational systems and by how we as a society generally value a college degree over experience. The perfectibility premise, however, is the one I have the most issue with but at its core logic I would have to agree that people are judged in society based upon their deeds. We prove ourselves to be good by preforming and presenting ourselves in ways that are considered to be social good and acceptable. In most cases as a society we do not assume that are people are good unless they prove otherwise. We tend to be much more guarded and cautious. Not that this response to our society is necessarily unfounded, but it does differ from other cultural beliefs in other societies.

Cultural Limitations

In many ways I do agree that we are “creatures of our culture.” Realistically, we are influenced from birth by our surroundings. We learn to speak by imitating those that we hear around us. These early interacts make up our culture and shape our actions and communication patterns from an early age.  As we continue to grow and learn we absorb the information presented and begin to shape our beliefs off of the world around us. Our knowledge base tends to be limited by the opportunities that are presented to us along the way. If a person were to grow up in a small town with no access to information outside of that culture they would not know anything else and their belief system would be based on those around them. We break through these limitations by actively seeking out other cultural beliefs and knowledge to expand our horizons and challenge our beliefs with new found information. By opening ourselves up to different ways of thinking and culture we allow ourselves to expand and adapt our habits and beliefs counteracting the limited knowledge of our immediate surrounds.

Paralinguistics

I found the section on paralinguistics to be very intriguing. I think it may be one area of communication that is often taken for granted and often over looked. Because just as the delivery in a speech is important, so too are the characteristics in our everyday conversations. It’s important to remember that the way in which we vocalize our thoughts are of equal importance as the words in which we use to organize them. For instance, a sentence will take on different meanings depending on which words we choose to emphasize. Paralinguistics also accounts for the tone of voice that is used, as well as the pitch of a person’s voice. These often indicate the emotion behind the meaning of a sentence or illuminate the mood a person was in when the thought was vocalized. So many of these things seem to be overlooked but weigh heavily in our judgments and perceptions during the course of a conversation.

Gestures

There are many differences between nonverbal gestures in the United States and those in other countries. For instance, in most Asian cultures pointing with one finger is considered to be disrespectful and they normally will gesture with their entire hand to bring attention to an item. Most Asian cultures also regard the touching of another person’s head to be highly inappropriate as the head is considered to be a sacred part of the body. I hadn’t really thought about it much but we do have a tendency to lightly pat small children on the head or play with their hair as sign of friendliness or affection.  This would be considered highly inappropriate and very disrespectful. There is also a difference in how eye contact is viewed between cultures. Here direct eye contact is normally regarded as honesty or attentiveness, but in many places around the world direct eye contact is considered to be rude or aggressive. In some Middle Eastern cultures direct eye contact between opposite genders is even considered to be a sign of sexual interest.

Body Language

Nonverbal communication can often be difficult to interpret. As much as there are general guidelines or expected responses to give you clues as to what a person’s body language may be conveying it can often be misconstrued. I have found this to be the case more often in today’s society as we have become increasingly reliant on technology because a smaller percentage of our social interactions take place in person.

I, myself, tend to be socially awkward in many social situations which has led to being diagnosed with social anxiety disorder in my later teen years and has haunted me into my adult life. Due to this I spend more time “people watching” at social occasions then I do participating in conversation. In my experience I have noticed that a lot of body language depends on personality. Many times I have mistaken shy behaviors as negative nonverbal communication. Such as when a person looks down a lot while speaking can be construed as being untruthful, but too much direct eye contact can be construed as a sign of aggression. I think it’s best to remember that nonverbal communication is an extension of a person’s personality and as such should not be taken at face value because it can be just as complex.

What was that again?

I found the discussions on listening skills in chapter three to be important. I have always placed a lot of weight in the audience’s role when it comes to speaking because much of the responsibility of the message tends to lie within a person’s ability to interpret the message correctly. It’s not to take away from the necessity placed upon the speaker to present it clearly, but only an acknowledgement that the speaker can only do so much in their efforts to convey a meaning. In reading the reality of how many of us suffer from poor listening skills and how our culture has a tendency to promote this underdevelopment I found this point to be very alarming. With so much resting on the ability of the receiver, in terms of communication, how much information is lost in the inability for them to interpret a message if listening skills are not given as much, if not more, focus than those of speaking? And the more I thought about this concept it occurred to me that I spend more time attempting to drowned out surrounding noise and conversation in my everyday activities in order to concentrate on the task at hand than I do attempting to actually listen to the things I need to hear.

Communication Amongst Genders

I do agree that men and women use language differently in most cases. However, as with most things there are exceptions. The largest difference in how men and women communicate seems to be in regards to emotions. Women tend to communicate on a more emotional and personal level than men. I’m not just referring to discussing how we feel about relationships or things of that nature but also when it comes to everyday tasks. I notice this a lot when it comes to discussions between me and my husband. He has a tendency to be much more straightforward and logical in his view of things than I am. It’s not to say that I’m illogical or that he is unemotional as that is far from the truth. Where I notice the difference is in where we tend to focus our thoughts. The best example I can think of is when a remark is made we both process it differently. He is normally more interested in what the remark is in regards to and I find that I tend to focus on why the remark was made.

Perceptions

I think because we are consistently judging things in our environment, if even at a subconscious level, that is natural that we would judge and categorize other people as well. I don’t think this is necessarily the same as stereotyping however. It’s more to the point that as a social being we are constantly accessing situations that arise and surround us in our everyday life. For instance, you wouldn’t normally address a child in the same tone or manner as you would an adult. It is an immediate judgment on our part that the child is not as knowledgeable and would not be able to comprehend on the same level. For the most part that assessment of the situation would most likely be correct but not necessarily 100% of the time. There is the off chance that the twelve year old you are addressing is savant and unknowingly you automatically categorized him and accessed the situation as if he was like the majority of twelve year olds you’ve spoken to and addressed him as such. At any rate it was still a judgment and as such the most important thing is to remember that they are not always right. What makes the judgment unfair is when you stick to your initial perception of a person and are not open to the idea that you could have been mistaken. If after addressing the twelve year old initially and receiving a response that is non-conforming to my initial judgment to continue to categorize him incorrectly would be unfair. However, by continuously re-evaluating a situation it allows for my judgments to be ever changing, adapting to the situation around me. This allows for my judgments to be fairer, but still not perfect.

Characteristics

Most well-known speakers possess all three characteristics. In many cases the perceived strength is individual to the speech itself more than the individual speakers. As focused upon in a majority of the chapter public speeches are directed and written in the audience in mind. One speech may show stronger characteristics in power and the next given by the same speaker may be stronger in credibility because they felt the particular audience would relate better to one characteristic over the other. It also seems in modern times, where a lot of speeches are written by people other than the person who is actually delivering it, the speaker is chosen specifically to cater to the attractiveness characteristic. Whether it be because they are an expert in the area or because more people will want to listen to a perceived attractive person talk about beauty products than someone who may not seem beautiful by societal standards. I think the best ways to build ethos is to be knowledgeable in the topic you are speaking towards and to follow up your words with supporting actions in your life. In other words, practice what you preach.

Shaping Knowledge

When discussing the “Social Functions of Rhetoric” Sarah Trenholm states in the fourth function, referred to as “Shaping Knowledge”, that “truth is not something independent of communication; Instead, it is a product of communication.” This declaration, even in context of the functions, doesn’t seem to be a very logical train of thought. Truth is derived from facts and do not have to be presented through communication in order to still be the truth. Without those facts being communicated we as a society or collective group may not know them to be true, let alone exist, but that doesn’t change or alter whether a fact is truthful. I’m on board with the idea that communication is how individuals within cultures or societies come to accept things as fact; just not that fact is a product of communication. If it were an actual product of communication then anything could be true as long as enough people stated it to be. This is belief, not fact, and no matter how much I believe in something it doesn’t make it true.

Influencial Speakers

This is probably one of the most difficult questions for me to answer. I am not a fan of listening to people give speeches in any event or on any subject. I much prefer to read the actual words for myself and draw my own conclusions from the context covered within. Therefore, I cannot say I have ever been influenced by listening to a person speak. Instead I tend to take notes on facts and search for truth behind them.

One of the best speakers I’ve heard is Brian Cox. He is an English physicist who also has a show on the Discovery Channel called “Wonders of the Universe”. The speeches he gives regarding the physics of our universe are fascinating in subject matter and his passion in regards to the subject comes through in his voice. His speech is melodic in its quality and always delivered with an air of wonderment in regards to the material.

The worst speaker I’ve ever heard was actually a teacher of mine. His lectures were always monotone. There was no emotion in his voice as if he was as bored by the subject he was presenting on as the students were to have to sit through the lectures.

Psychological Perspective & Interpretation

I found it interesting how the four main perspectives discussed in the chapter all seemed to be incomplete in how they approached and covered communications. It seems more practical to combine two or more of the perspectives together in order to better encompass the breadth of communications as a whole.

Out of the four perspectives I felt that the psychological perspective may have been the most straightforward in its approach. That may be because it is the most familiar. This perspective takes into account both the sender and the receiver in deciphering each individual part of a conversation where the final communication is determined not only by the person sending the message but also by the way the receiver of the message decodes it. I found this fact to be very important due to the fact that the ultimate success or failure of a communication is in how the sender’s message is interpreted. Therefore it is important for the sender to know his audience and how his words may be interpreted.

The Bonds That Build Our World

If you view communication through the constructionist perspective it is our communications or interactions with one another that essentially has not only held our society together, but is also the basis of society as a whole. How we interpret our surroundings and share those interpretations with fellow human beings creates the fabric of our reality. In doing so it “builds a world” based upon those interpretations. Further, each individual’s reality is intertwined with another person’s reality through these interactions and communications which begin to weave and build the fabric of the world we perceive around us. It also defines an individual’s role within this newly constructed world.

There are many ideas that are unique to the culture we have built in the United States. One that stands out to me is the idea of equal opportunity. As a nation we promote and celebrate the pursuit of financial independence. Rags to riches stories are often romanticized and heralded as a possible reality for any to achieve. In its most positive light this concept leads to an increase in determination, ambition, and ingenuity within our society.

Pragmatic Communication Patterns

Communication as a patterned interaction between two parties does make sense in some regards. Some basic patterns can be compiled based on appropriate and inappropriate responses to an initiating question. For instance if someone were to initiate a conversation by saying “How are you today?” there are multiple appropriate responses, but it would be considered inappropriate to respond by saying “No thanks.” The same would be true in the case of a chess match. There are predictable moves in response to last move of an opponent. These moves or interplay between two participants become interdependent as the game or conversation continues because the subsequent action from the other party is dependent on the last action made.

Where the patterns fall short is in the ability to comprehend the meaning or interpretation of the subjects background. With games such as chess there are strict rules in which you have to adhere to in order to make appropriate actions. These rules are not left up to interpretation and are not moldable to the subject’s needs. Communication on the other hand can be molded and adjusted to fit different situations and the rules can vary depending on the subject matter as well as the relationship of the parties involved.

“…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke these words during his first inauguration as the 32^nd President of the United States. In front of a country that was deep in the woes of depression his words were up lifting and provided hope to a down trodden society. This was only the first of many memorable speeches Roosevelt would deliver in his lifetime. Strong and confident in his delivery his words were backed by an overwhelming conviction that commanded attention. As with all great speakers he was a master of all three methods of persuasion; however I believe the majority of his power was delivered through the ethos method. He was a very accomplished man before being elected president and his confidence in not only his abilities, but the abilities of this nation, were at the forefront of his delivery.

If I had to attempt to categorize what little power of persuasion I possess I think I would fall more in line with the pathos method. I have always considered myself to be a highly empathetic individual and will always try to consider the thoughts and feelings of others before I speak. Although I always try to be as logical and factual in my arguments as possible I believe that any persuasion I may hold would come from a place of emotional connection with those I am speaking to.

Aristotle's Persuasive Rhetoric

I found it interesting that Aristotle was focused on how successful arguments could be built upon persuasion. I have had persuasion described to me in many different ways in the past. Coming from a business environment in work it has been something that has had a lot of focus in leadership trainings. I’m very surprised that it has never been presented to me in the way Aristotle broke persuasion down into three categories: ethos, pathos, and logos. These three methods are eloquent in their simplicity. Ethos is said to persuade through personal character where a presenter would try to exhibit their qualifications to speak on a subject. Pathos is where a speaker would try to appeal to the audience’s emotions. Lastly logos is the use of logical facts to support an argument. Each method has the ability to stand on its own or be used in conjunction with one another. Persuasion is such a powerful tool in speech that it is often misconstrued and used for purposes of attaining desired outcomes instead of the truthful conclusions Aristotle focused on. It’s almost as if the mere mention of persuading another individual is scrutinized for its ability to mislead instead of being embraced for its ability to reveal.

Greek Beliefs Regarding Public Communication

Question:

The Greeks believed that to be an orator, an individual had to be morally good.  Comment on whether you agree or disagree.  What, if any, is the connection between goodness, truth, and public communication?
           

Answer:

I would like to agree with the Greeks that an orator needs to be morally good, however I feel that was more of an ideal rather than a requirement. I can see where this would be of utmost importance, especially in Greek society where most public speaking was conducted in the realm of politics or in search of legal justice. Ideally an orator would make his or her arguments based in truth, backed by ones belief and conviction in their statements. However, even in the classical period any requirement of morality was discredited by the sophists, who boasted about their ability to defeat strong arguments with weaker ones. They showed that speaking style could take precedence over facts or even logical arguments. A situation that is showcased in modern society especially in the case of law where lawyers are encouraged to use persuasion and distraction to alter the outcome of trials regardless of their personal beliefs in regards to the case they are arguing.

In most cases it becomes more about how the recipients identify with the speaker on a personal level, even if it is only superficially, then the logical or factual basis of the statements themselves. And although I would prefer that orators be of good moral standing, I find it hard to define or qualify an individual based on their morals. This is due to the fact that someone’s moral standing seems more subjective to the recipient than it is a factual set of requirements in which the individual can be compared.  

Introduction

Hello! For the purposes of this blog and class my name is Paige Turner. (I thought it sounded like a fitting pseudonym for writing.) I started my current journey at Sierra College in 2010 and I am working towards an associate degree in accounting. I am working full time which unfortunately means that my schooling is part time because I can only handle three classes’ maximum per semester. It makes completing my degree slow going but I hoping I will appreciate it all that much more when I am finally done. Outside of work and school I spend any spare time I can find with my husband, family, and friends. I also have two beautiful Siberian Huskies and three kitties that are my children and keep me busy.

This is the first communications class I have ever taken. I even steered clear of speech and debate in high school. I am your typical shy, wallflower type in gatherings and am usually referred to as the quiet one. I have been told however that when I do speak up, for example during business meetings at work, that I have a demeanor that seems to command attention. I find this fact to be both amusing and a little ironic whenever I hear it since the last thing I ever want to do is bring attention to myself. I live with an intense fear of public speaking and have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, so the thought that I "command" attention in anything I do is rather amusing to me.

It is my hope that this class will help me become more confident expressing myself, as well as teach me how to be more effective and efficient in my communications.