I get into a lot of debates during an average week, sometimes I win and sometimes I loose. The problem I have usually when I loose is that I am arguing with a stupid person and that I am using a strong logos appeal, when the people I am arguing don’t care about logic. They are looking for a pathos or ethos appeal, perhaps even a mythos appeal. So even though I am giving sound evidence that most college students understand I make no ground, because I am using the wrong appeal.
So I end up having to tailor the type of approach to my audience, which is not always easy because I am more comfortable with a logos approach most times. However, it gets me farther to make a semi-decent appeal with pathos and for the target audience to be semi-receptive, then for me to us a logos appeal and not get anywhere.
I have the same problem whenever I get into a conversation on something controversial. Like you said, you have to go with the type of appeal that person is looking for. I've given straight proof and never made much ground with some people. A lot of the time, in face-to-face conversation people want emotional and logical evidence. However, its hard to argue a case when someone is being egocentric or bias with their point of view.
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