If You're Going To Be Different, Know How To Be Different

"To move people away from their current opinion, you need to make them feel comfortable around you." (49)

I loved this sentence the second I came across it in chapter 5.  The accuracy of this sentence astounded me since I had never really thought of the idea.  Usually one would think that it's better to agree with the person.  You are considered a God, in their eyes, if you tell them what they want to hear.  However, a person can change their opponent's opinion.  Once the person succeeds in doing so, they can follow the proper form of decorum.  However, this is not the common decorum "seen in leaders" today. It is actually quite a different one.  The book would probably disagree with me, but I promise I have a valid point.  Once the person succeeds in persuading the other, he can act however he wants.  It is expected from him to act that way.  Therefore, he is acting the way the audience expects him to.  It may not have been suitable in the beginning, but now it is.

The perfect figure/celebrity to back up this idea is Johnny Depp.  He is a phenomenal actor and is liked by all ages.  His hilarious movements, facial expressions, and sayings can even make a
90 year old giggle.  In the eyes of society he is not considered normal.  However, in the eyes of the people he is considered amazing.  How did he ever manage this? Simple.  He made the directors, co-workers, and audience comfortable with himself.  Actually, better yet, his acting skills.  What a  stud.

Once a trailer makes it certain that he will star in the movie, it will probably have a good audience.  The theaters will most likely be full and the movie will make a profit.  His craziness attracts his beloved audience.  Since his hilarious and lunatic ideas are constantly seen in his films, why would the audience expect him to act differently in reality? This is where decorum fits in.  His personality fits the Romans' definition.  It is "an agreeable ethos" that "matches the audience's expectations for a leader's tone, appearance, and manners" (46). He may not be a political leader, but he is certainly a social leader.

He is a wise God in the eyes of a teen.  He is the perfect figure that stands up for what they believe in.  One of his most famous sayings is:

"The problem is that everybody treats teenagers like they're stupid."

This is exactly how EVERY TEENAGER FEELS! Someone finally understands! Quotes like these are what make him attractive to his audience.  He understands. He appeals to his audience's values. That is the definition you can find on page 65 for the term virtue.  This is exactly how he gets people to brag about him.  Isn't that what any leader would wish for?! His ideas are spread around the world and he is absolutely adored.  Something I admire is that he isn't fake.  He does not try to make people like him.  He does not say what people would like to hear.  He is just honest. This allows his fans to accept him for who he is.  He proves it in another famous quote:

"I think everybody is weird.  We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it."

Here is a link to his hilarious awkwardness as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Breaking News: Arguing Is Considered An Art!

I never thought I would ever believe that arguing was an art.  When a person mentions the word art, the first thing that comes to mind is dancing, painting, sculpturing, etc.  Arguing with someone is definitely not the first idea that comes to mind when the word is mentioned.  As shocking as it may seem, the art of argumentation (aka rhetoric) was invented by the famous philosopher Aristoteles.  How he conjured up the factors that help a person win an argument is beyond me.  I would have never been able to do it on my own.  Any who, according to Aristoteles, you must realize if you want to change the person's "mood, mind, or willingness to carry out what you want" (26).  

If you are talented in rhetoric, than you can do all three.  By doing this, you will most likely win your argument.  They key idea in rhetoric is that an argument is not a fight. "The basic difference between an argument and a fight: an argument gets people to want to do what you want. You fight to win; you argue to achieve agreement" (Page 17). Now, back to the topic. The only problem a person may face while quarreling with their opponent is them knowing the art of rhetoric.  If they know rhetoric than they most likely know how to argue.  The three steps a person should follow are:

"1. Stimulate your audience's emotions.

 2. Change its opinion.

 3. Get it to act." (22)

I guess you could stimulate your audience's emotions by "seducing" (23) them.  However, I feel like seducing a person is strongly frowned upon in our society.  Oh well. According to this book, Thank You For Arguing, "changing the mood is the easiest goal" (23).  I had never thought about that.  In an argument, a person enjoys using the facts.  You're most likely going to win if you are right.  However, wouldn't a person be considered more of a winner if the person were to completely change his opinion on the subject? Something that I have never noticed is that we "seduce" people every day.  Every action and motion have an intention.  

After reading these two chapters I realized that I have used this form of arguing many times.  Whenever I want to do something I just change my tone and open my eyes.  I usually get what I want.  These things vary from getting permission to go to a party to dancing at one.  It's a girl's most useful weapon.  However, something I never realized is that there are other ways to "seduce" a person in order to get what you want.  Seducing a person can range from "allowing your opponent to score points" (20), making the person feel bad for you, or by doing what I usually do.  The term "seducing" does not only have a sexual definition.  It also has a more proper definition which may help you win an argument.  The key is knowing how to use it!

A Video Based On the Life Skills Rubric- Worst Assignment Ever

Sorry Shanaynay :D

The Only Way To Escape Darkness Is By Turning On the Light

I do not understand Elie Wiesel.  I would be ecstatic f I were to survive the Holocaust and a traumatic accident.  Wiesel, on the other hand, only wants to die.  Everything he sees and thinks about relates to death or suffering.  Everything in the novel is dark and cold.  One evening he is on a balcony looking at the sea during a celebration.  A man finds him and asks him what the sea reminds him of.  "The sea makes me think of death", he replies to the man.  The man tells him that "the sea has a power of attraction." He tells Wiesel that "one must not look at the waves for too long.  Especially at night.  Especially alone." (37)

Later on in the memoir, Wiesel expresses his fear of day.  "At night" he finds "all faces familiar, every noise sounds like something already heard." (39) It is quite opposite for him during the day.  This is ironic since his memoir has the title Day.  Could this mean that Wiesel will overcome his fear of day? Will he finally decide to live his life as a happy man? Will the doctor help him make this decision? It's difficult to believe so due to his obsession with death and suffering.  I mean, he writes a whole paragraph about it on page 41.

If I were him, I would skipping around like an idiot.  I would be so happy to be alive! How can one only focus on death? How does he have friends? How does Kathleen love him? I would not be able to be around someone like that. How depressing! I can't even be around people who aren't happy for one day! Then again, all of my friends deal with me on my bad days.  The point is, will he finally become a happy man? The only way a person can escape darkness is by going to the light.  However, the person must find the light inside of him and turn it on.  As cheesy as it may sound, I like to think that the light in us would be our happy memories.  Light, in my opinion, is when we smile, laugh, are optimistic, etc.  Hopefully Wiesel will finally understand it because if not, he may end up with no friends.  I'm surprised he even has his coworkers and Kathleen to visit him!