Comments on: The Written Voice

By: Marlene Affeld

Marlene Affeld — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:31:32 +0000

Very good advice. I follow your blog with great interest. I am building a new website and building traffic. Everyones comments and suggestions are welcome. I am starting to use social media, not many results so far. What is your advice on attracting links?

By: Knownhuman

Knownhuman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:03:46 +0000

Yikes, the coffee ain't kicking in today.

By: Knownhuman

Knownhuman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:03:28 +0000

Well, the origin of the phrase “begging the question” didn't actually have to do with the rhetorical fallacy, it was more of a chump move. Prior to a debate, each side would beg the other to dismiss certain questions ahead of time so that they debate could move along in a more timely fashion. Typically, these were matters of semantics, so that logical arguments could be grounded on a sense of truth. However, sometimes someone would be a real jerk and attempt to beg away the question that the debate revolved around.

In modern rhetoric, the term is more common in setting up a false argument.

By: Daniel Klotz

Daniel Klotz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:59:16 +0000

I'd be happy if you pulled out what you learned in rhetoric class… then I wouldn't have to police your posts for improper uses of “begging the question.” You could always argue against me with, “I'm begging the question, because the question is being begged by me.”

By: Knownhuman

Knownhuman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:55:53 +0000

Daniel, don't make me pull out the the rhetoric class forced upon us at the Academy. "Begging the question" is a form of rhetorical fallacy often called a circular argument. This is one of the favorite rhetorical fallacies used by politicians.

http://www.onegoodmove.org/fallacy/begging.htm

However, you are probably right, and I am technically incorrect in my use of the phrase...at this time.

By: Daniel Klotz

Daniel Klotz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:39:22 +0000

Same unexpected results here, Bradley: ESTJ, when I'm INTJ. Though when I ran my old personal blog through the analyzer, it came up with a different personality: ISTP.

I have to imagine that most blog writing (particularly the non-"personal"/diary type) leans ESTJ. Extroverted, because a blog is aimed outward, and usually *about* the outside world. S, because details and information are important, and more credible than intuitions. Thinking and judging, because blogs typically try to make sense of the world, as opposed to experiencing emotion with the world or simply leaving it as it is.

Oh, and no question is being "begged." It's simply being raised. (Sorry, I can't help myself.)