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Rhetoric and Decorum on the Web
18 Dec 02 | TPartyType

Posted on 12/18/2002 9:04:40 AM PST by TPartyType

After getting frustrated with the incessant flaming, and rather degenerative quality of discourse here at FR, I put together |this web page|.

Decorum is the hallmark of civil discourse. Many people who participate in online discourse show a deplorable lack of decorum, IMO. I don't really care what goes on at other sites, but I'd sure like this forum to engage in civil discourse. Why? Because I believe conservatives should value it, and I know the founding fathers considered civility an indispensible support to free society. |Read this|

Enjoy the links!

just a minute here . . .

Okay. . . . Flame away!


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1 posted on 12/18/2002 9:04:40 AM PST by TPartyType
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To: TPartyType
I can't fault your desire for a degree of civility, but... you are of course aware that there were FISTFIGHTS at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia, yes?
2 posted on 12/18/2002 9:08:23 AM PST by demosthenes the elder
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To: TPartyType
"Compromise is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a big rock."

I have no idea who said that (or something like it) but I keep it posted on my fridge.

3 posted on 12/18/2002 9:15:15 AM PST by Bikers4Bush
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To: demosthenes the elder
But did they use Marquis de Queensbury rules? :o)
4 posted on 12/18/2002 9:16:01 AM PST by TPartyType
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To: Bikers4Bush
check out the links, friend, then you'll have some more stuff to put on your fridge!
5 posted on 12/18/2002 9:18:16 AM PST by TPartyType
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To: demosthenes the elder
Drunken brawls at that!
6 posted on 12/18/2002 9:19:14 AM PST by conservativemusician
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To: TPartyType
Franklin's Motion for Prayer at the Constitutional Convention
7 posted on 12/18/2002 9:20:06 AM PST by Remedy
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To: TPartyType
Good idea. Bookmarked.
8 posted on 12/18/2002 9:20:52 AM PST by johniegrad
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To: TPartyType
I like this website for describing the various types of flamers.

<|:)~

9 posted on 12/18/2002 9:21:12 AM PST by martin_fierro
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To: Remedy
Thanks for the link!
10 posted on 12/18/2002 9:22:53 AM PST by TPartyType
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To: martin_fierro
kewl! Handy glossary!
11 posted on 12/18/2002 9:24:29 AM PST by TPartyType
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To: TPartyType
My father told me once "It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice." He was such a wise and wonderful man.
12 posted on 12/18/2002 9:24:47 AM PST by Quilla
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To: TPartyType
This ought to be a good one. :-)

Bump for later reading.

13 posted on 12/18/2002 9:26:15 AM PST by Polybius
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To: TPartyType
I like the Franklin quote:

"Whenever I was solicited to insert any thing of that kind, and the Writers pleaded as they generally did, the Liberty of the Press........."

We hear that plea a lot!
14 posted on 12/18/2002 9:33:35 AM PST by SBprone
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To: Bikers4Bush
"'Compromise is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a big rock.'"

It was Will Rogers, and you have it wrong:

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

And I will spare myself the effort of flaming you, unworthy smelly and ignorant biker.

--Boris

15 posted on 12/18/2002 9:33:38 AM PST by boris
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To: boris
Diplomacy sounds much better anyway.

Thanks!

16 posted on 12/18/2002 9:35:20 AM PST by Bikers4Bush
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To: Quilla
"My father told me once "It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice." He was such a wise and wonderful man."

He was also a plagiarist. In this case, he stole it from Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart) who delivered the line in the movie "Harvey", and did it much better.

Here is the correct quote:

"My mother used to say to me, 'Elwood'--she always called me Elwood--'Elwood, in this world you must be oh-so clever, or oh-so pleasant.' For years I was clever. I'd recommend pleasant--and you may quote me." -- as Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY.

--Boris

17 posted on 12/18/2002 9:37:08 AM PST by boris
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To: Bikers4Bush; TPartyType
"Compromise is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a big rock."

It was Will Rogers and he said, "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a big rock." How true.

TPartyType: you're going to find yourself as an internet nanny, constantly slapping hands and saying, "No, no, be good". The internet is far from perfect because it's made up of people, not all of whom would behave as you want. Your website sounds too steralized already. However, good luck.

18 posted on 12/18/2002 9:38:22 AM PST by xJones
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To: TPartyType
Pfffffffft! Who asked you anyway? :-)
19 posted on 12/18/2002 9:38:50 AM PST by michigander
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To: TPartyType
The page you put together is excellent. I bookmarked it and will mention it to others. If only everyone would remember it, on and off the web. Great summary too:

"Classical rhetoric, in its most ethical and ancient manifestation, was a way of discussing the truth with one's fellows in a manner that respects their freedom and dignity, and attempts to move them toward the Good.

Crafting good, civil, arguments involves (click on any topic for further treatment):

Knowledge of the Fundamentals of Rhetoric (Why? Intuition vs. Art!)
An appreciation of the Ethics of Rhetoric (one ought persuade one's audience toward the good).
A grasp of Basic Logic (two reasons: the quality of one's arguments will be improved, and the sound one's reasoning processes, the less threatened one is by other points of view. Hence, the less need for flaming one's interlocutor.)
Getting informed. (Nobody likes to argue with persons who are ignorant of the facts about that which they speak.)"
*******

Please note that your "Basic Logic" link is going nowhere "Page not found, error 404" Maybe you haven't gotten around to it, but at least you know read your page and clicked on the links. :)
20 posted on 12/18/2002 9:39:56 AM PST by FairOpinion
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