Is Persuasion Dead? (NYT)

[Kire]

Is Persuasion Dead?

By MATT MILLER
Published: June 4, 2005

Speaking just between us - between one who writes columns and those who read them - I've had this nagging question about the whole enterprise we're engaged in.

Is persuasion dead? And if so, does it matter?

The significance of this query goes beyond the feelings of futility I'll suffer if it turns out I've wasted my life on work that is useless. This is bigger than one writer's insecurities. Is it possible in America today to convince anyone of anything he doesn't already believe? If so, are there enough places where this mingling of minds occurs to sustain a democracy?

The signs are not good. Ninety percent of political conversation amounts to dueling "talking points." Best-selling books reinforce what folks thought when they bought them. Talk radio and opinion journals preach to the converted. Let's face it: the purpose of most political speech is not to persuade but to win, be it power, ratings, celebrity or even cash.

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/04/opinion/04miller_oped.html?ex=1118548800&en=b428292ab088a0c8&ei=5070&emc=eta1

[Guy Fawkes]

1. I wrote a persuasion paper this morning.

Got me 8 extra cred on an exam. (8 out of a possible 5!)

[flaminbats]

2. but vengeance and spite can both persuade..

why bother voting, when we can call each other names and spit in another's face? why hope for something better in this country?
ahhh..so much effort, but too little pride!

Simply insult people with cancer, and they stop promoting the benefits of universal health care. Insult the writing style of a blue-collar parent and she stops pushing the merits of more funding for public education. Ask an empowered, unemployed campaign worker why he or she doesn't have a real job. Ask the protesting soldier why he betrays our country. Tell the critic of tax cuts to just donate that lost money. Supporters of stem cell research only kill clones to save themselves. Opponents to war could only support terrorism and hate democracy. Dreamers never get things done, thinkers are too good to work, and protesters love making our troubles even worse.

Sometimes I feel politics is only legalized bribery and voting is such a con. :puke:

[petgoat]

3. Here's an open link to the essay for all you non-registrants out there

http://www.mattmilleronline.com/articles.php?id=145

I can be persuaded of things if the argument is coherent and reasonably
consistent with other information I believe, or it makes a convincing
and authoritative case that my beliefs are false.

I've been convinced of a lot of things since I went to see Fahrenheit
9/11 a year ago in June--out of a sense of duty to expose myself to
another point of view. I was shocked by his assertions, but I didn't
believe they were true until I checked them for myself.

Since them I've been persuaded that my country is in grave danger, and
I've come to understand that Fahrenheit 911 didn't tell the half of it.