While reading the last few chapters of Thank You For Arguing, I realized something interesting. This came to me while I was thinking of my own use of rhetoric in everyday life. I realized that I was developing a more sanguine view on my knowledge of rhetoric. I was starting to understand the arduous terms involved in rhetoric. Decorum, patheticness, seduction, emulation: they were all coming together. However, I still oftentimes find myself after certain situations that I had not used all the possible rhetorical skills I could have used. How the heck am I supposed to remember all this? Henrichs, however seems to think this is all a walk in the park. As stated by him  in regards to a certain rhetorical technique: You can apply the same method yourself. Simply claim you used to hold your opponent’s position." (Henrichs). But is it really that easy?

I mean, I'm not saying that it is impossible. Let alone the possibility of me implying that these skills are useless. No, not at all. I am just having a hard time remembering to make my friend sympathize with me before trying to convince me to lend me a pencil. Possibly I just need to be exposed to these techniques longer, pound them into my brain. Try to use at least one once a day. I don't know.

Maybe I’ll try some of these and see how it goes. And while it may sound like I am leading towards some type of epiphany here, this would not be the case as surprising as it may sound. Most of the time for students, this type of essay results in some kind of culmination of their problem. To show how they have mastered the topic. But nope, not me. In this essay, I am not showing a solution. I am realizing a problem. However, on this account hopefully the statement that accepting there is a problem leads to its resolution comes true. And while it still sucks that I can’t make my real life audience bend to my will (yet), hopefully one day I will reach that point. 

I See What You Did There.

When asked about the benefits of understanding the art of rhetoric, undoubtably the first response you may receive would pertain to leading you're audience to you're side of the argument. However, an equally important skill, in my eyes at the very least, is to recognize when others are using the same skills against you. For example, I have now been able to pick up on many rhetorical tricks Jay Heinrichs uses to convince you that using such rhetorical tricks is important.

This first occurred to me while reading chapter five of Thank You for Arguing with my father. Near the beginning of the chapter, Henrichs describes Eminem's abilities with decorum. I was please as I enjoy a few of Eminem's songs. MY father though could care less. I had begun to like the book a bit more as I was sympathizing with the Author. He knew where I was coming from and therefor I felt more compelled to listen to this mans advice. He had practiced one of his tactics on me without me even knowing it.

I didn't know it at least until my dad suddenly seemed delighted when Henrichs began discussing this Captain Kangaroo show I had never heard of. My dad, though, had defiantly heard of the show. He, upon noticing the reference to his childhood era suddenly began remarking how good he thought this book was.  And suddenly it had hit me... Henrichs was using such a broad spectrum of references to ensure that he brought in every possible reader of his book. I, for instance, may not care in the slightest if Henrichs names a section: Captain Kangaroo’s Fashion Tip (Heinrichs, 1188), but my dad sure did. And he on the other hand wouldn't care in the slightest if Henrichs began discussing Eminem, but I did.

Henrichs had succeeded in making two vastly different members of his audience open up to his suggestions. In convincing two people from vastly different time periods that he knew where they were coming from. And while  I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise to find Henrichs using his own strategies in his own book, it is very interesting. And in the future, not only will I look for this while continuing reading Thank You for Arguing, but also in other reading. It will be very interesting which authors have been molding my sympathies without me even knowing it.

It wasn’t until I started reading Thanks for Arguing that I realized that I have rarely if ever argued in my whole life. Which comes as a huge surprise to me as I have 2 siblings who are far from angelic to say the least. This is not to say that we never disagree though. In fact, it is far from it. While I rarely argue with my siblings, it is not uncommon for us to fight. For you see, up until this point in my life, I have always argued to win. And it turns out that this is not truly arguing at all. For “you succeed in an argument when you persuade your audience” (Heinrichs, Jay). However, persuasion had never crossed my mind. I was playing for the win. And “you win a fight when you dominate the enemy” (Heinrichs, Jay).

However this did change when I left home. Win, Win, Win: that was all that mattered. To show my audience that I was right, and my opponent wrong. It was always black and white, never gray.  When I look back now, I realize that conceding to the opponent can actually be a good stepping stone for getting what you want in the end. As Henrichs describes in his fictional confrontation with a cop: acknowledging your wrongs and appealing to his authority may make it seem as if you have lost. When in reality, you have won as in the end you get what you are looking for: exemption from a ticket.  As a result I have come to think of arguing as I do sports. It does not matter how many times you lose matches as long as you get what you want in the end: a championship.

However, Henrichs takes this a step further by stating that arguing is often more than getting your way. A good argument will result in your opponent being satisfied with a solution in which you get what you want. This is also something I consider an invaluable skill to learn. For fights are generally known to destroy relationships. Arguments, on the other hand, can enhance them. As stated by Henrichs when discussing marriage and argumentation: “the couples who stayed married seemed to use their disputes to solve problems and work out differences” (Henrichs, 383). This I would consider invaluable as I can say myself that I have come close to losing friends over fights. Something I learned can be completely avoided through the art of rhetoric.

In the end, I have come away with this. Rhetoric is far more than a skill I can use to impress my English teacher or a potential employer. Rhetoric is in fact something that can be used to enhance my life. It is a tool in which I can use to get my way in arguments and to augment my relationships. Currently I am a 4 year old which has just been given an Iphone. I now have a powerful tool under my control. However, I still am unsure how to use it skillfully. I will however, (much like the 4 year old with the iphone) learn. And once I have mastered how to wield this new weapon, I will be sure to

reap many benefits.