These last 5 chapters have really given me a lot to think about. There are so many instances in daily life where we encounter different methods of rhetoric without even realizing it. There is the illusive concept of Kairos; illusive for its nature of being most identifiable after it has past. Or the effects that new technologies have on those who were born in the last 30 years, during the swell of inventions. However, the most noticeable aspect of rhetoric in our daily culture is the way we use language everyday, either to gain something or to argue a point. In this way, modern rhetoric is sublimely different than the original ways of the Greeks. Their ancient methods and beliefs have mostly been lost to most people nowadays. Most notably is what John Stewart pointed put about CNN's show, Crossfire. The people on that show just yell at each other, with no apparent care about actually being heard. Argument is no longer about listening to what your opposed has to say and possibly seeing things from their perspective. Recently, it seems to be about yelling your opinions at someone until you're blue in the face, forcing them to believe what you believe.
Social medial has made this much easier, you can put your opinions out into the online void and sit back and wait for the responses to roll in. You could say whatever you want with little to no repercussions; the web has made people no longer accountable for what they say. Obviously, the ancients never had to deal with this, so it is a whole new form of rhetoric that has no set rules or boundaries.
Even so, people are like that face to face. They will say what they want when they want, even if it is offensive or ill timed. To that end, Kairos is a huge factor in both modern and ancient rhetoric. However, I feel as though there are instances where Kairos can be bad. You wait for that perfect moment, and when you see it pass you lament about missing it instead of going along with the new topic. Often, you try so hard to recreate it that you effectively ruin the flow of conversation.
Social medial has made this much easier, you can put your opinions out into the online void and sit back and wait for the responses to roll in. You could say whatever you want with little to no repercussions; the web has made people no longer accountable for what they say. Obviously, the ancients never had to deal with this, so it is a whole new form of rhetoric that has no set rules or boundaries.
Even so, people are like that face to face. They will say what they want when they want, even if it is offensive or ill timed. To that end, Kairos is a huge factor in both modern and ancient rhetoric. However, I feel as though there are instances where Kairos can be bad. You wait for that perfect moment, and when you see it pass you lament about missing it instead of going along with the new topic. Often, you try so hard to recreate it that you effectively ruin the flow of conversation.
