Cough Cough

I wonder if mastering rhetoric will really result in the individuals immunity to advertising. I wonder if Heinrichs is using rhetoric in these first chapters of introduction to sell us his book. I wonder if by reading it I am, like his seventeen year old son George, losing. Am I being played by accepting the challenge of learning and attempting to master the art of peruasion, through and beacuse of the art of persuasion itself?

That's something to think about, isn't it?

On the other hand, I am absolutely, irrevocably, fatuously and engrossingly fascinated. Having an opinonated and highly critical prone personality, I find this book brilliant. In it I sense the key to my rise to power and irrefutable respect, atleast in my house. World domination comes later.

I spend most of my time trying to persuade those closest to me. I have learned to work them according to their specific personality and character, their mood and temper.

For example: If I am sitting at the kitchen isle, in need of a spoon for my bowl of cereal, across from my younger, tantrum prone, acceptance seeking sister, and behind me lies the drawer where the spoons are kept, my lazy ass will go about like this to get a spoon without using anything other than my vocal cords and lips.

I will continue looking intently at my book or computer screen and do as follows.

Me: "Jose, can you get me a spoon?"
A few years ago, Jose would have just smiled and fetched the spoon. Today, she's onto me.
Jose: "They're right behind you."
Me: "I know but you're just sitting and eating, and Senior year is so hard and I have all these blogs to do and --"
Jose: Okay, okay, whatever, just stop talking."

I for a fact know that nothing bothers Josefina more than when I talk too much. At times it is so irritating because it makes any kind of discussion impossible, because she will simply shut down and agree in order to get me to shut up. Other times (cough cough, most of them since it's normally me and her in the kitchen isle), it's the absolute best.

When facing Heinrichs I may be george fetching tubes of toothpaste, but against Josefina I am definitely the Boss. In our confrontation (or conversation, whichever you prefer), I am using the three forms of rhetoric.
I'm implying a choice: if you get me the spoon I'll shut up about it.
I'm placing blame: It's your fault you feel annoyed by me because you decided not to get me a spoon immediately.
I'm using values: I'm busy doing important stuff (blogs), you aren't. Why won't you help me?

Did you see what I did there? I'm literally writing my blogs in Heinrichs style. I'm guessing that's a form of rhetoric, using a style I know you recognize and like, in order to convince you of my understanding of these first two chapters of Thank You for Arguing, and that I deserve a four, of course.