Sunday, February 10, 2013

More Facebook



“It was the best of times, it was the worst of time, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”
                                                    --Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities


Facebook and other Social networking sites have entwined and entangled their selves into all of our lives more than we may realize it. But is it for the good?? .  Social Nerdia proposes the same question in a blog asking is this media transformation “for the better or the worse.” Forbes writes telling its audience three reasons why “you should quit social media in 2013.”

Both of the authors take a strong viewpoint against the use of social media listing persuasive logos of the negative impact that these websites have had on society. Easteban Contreras of Social Nerdia describes life as almost being unlivable in today’s world with the many interactions everyone has day to day with the internet. The logos that he presents give the audience a good understanding short of a time these sites have been able to take over our lives.

Forbes also uses these same rhetorical techniques to convince readers but manly focuses on the pathos side of the argument; listing examples of Facebook hurting self-esteem and increasing blood pressure. This technique captures the reader’s attention and makes the m think that possibly the source of their stress is social media. He then challenges everyone to quit social media in the year 2013 and see for yourself. This seems tough but do you think you could take on this challenge?

These two different approaches to the same issue have different effects on the audience and could influence their opinion? Which do you think does a better job of influencing your opinion?

2 comments:

  1. I agree with what Forbes has to say about social media. People find it really hard to live without their cellphone for a day and I can attest to this. Constantly checking for updates and text messages has become a norm.

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  2. I agree with Forbes because it is true that many of us are seemingly addicted to their cell phones or social media outlets without even realizing it. Forbes also uses the "hurting self esteem and increasing blood pressure" to draw readers in and actually scare them into something, which is typically and effective tactic.

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