Karen Tracy, University of Colorado-Boulder<\/p>\n
"Reasonable Hostility"<\/p>\n
Some background questions: Is there such a thing as reasonable hostility? Is that an oxymoron? If there is such a thing as reasonable hostility in argument, then are the constraints of civility improper in some cases?<\/p>\n
A rough version of reasonable hostility. First, there's a difference between speaker-hostility and listener-perception of hostility (you can get a non-hostile question, but perceive it as hostile). Second, reasonable hostility must be to a perceived wrong, but not to initiate a wrong. Third, whatever hostility manifested must be from care for the issue, not hating a speaker. There must be the required face-work in the midst of that hostility.<\/p>\n
Some examples of hostility (and reasonable hostility) from the Hawaii Same-Sex Civil Union debates. Some features: Passionate speech, some attention to face but still causing insult (e.g., calling opponents to Same-Sex Marriage bigots, face-saving by opponents to Same-Sex opposition… "it's not about hatred…", Opponents to same-sex marriage point out that the proponents don't apologize for their tone, Proponents responding that they can't apologize because they've been the ones who are being wronged)<\/p>\n
One thing to remember: to distinguish between what's persuasable and what's not. Reasonable hostility must take account of what can and cannot be argued in a culture at a time. <\/p>\n
Q1: What's the role of critical thinking? What, other than argument, changed the culture so that gay-rights issues are arguable now?<\/p>\n
Q2: What's the tipping point between arguable and non-arguable? Or is it a matter of degree?<\/p>\n
Q3: Why so much face-work? Is it because of the fact that an issue is becoming non-arguable?<\/p>\n
Q4: Is reasonable hostility a norm, or is it a description of how folks are actually manifest hostility?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Karen Tracy, University of Colorado-Boulder "Reasonable Hostility" Some background questions: Is there such a thing as reasonable hostility? Is that an oxymoron? If there is such a thing as reasonable hostility in argument, then are the constraints of civility improper in some cases? A rough version of reasonable hostility. First, there's a difference between speaker-hostility … Continue reading OSSA Day 2: Reasonable Hostility<\/span>