I get purpose and fun writing my blog. So, I urge my friends to do the same thing. However, if they do, I will certainly try to read what they write and respond to it, at least some of the time. The situation would be similar to having a group of student papers that need to be read and graded. Much of the time, a simple grade is not very helpful or interesting. It is usually better for the student if there is also a comment or clarification that helps the student know why that grade was given.
That is what I was thinking about when I wrote Monday's blog post entitled "Why I would appreciate it if you didn't read this". A friend thought I might be using some of the rhetorical devices used by one of the current presidential candidates. I sent her comments to another friend who studied and taught rhetoric and persuasion. Since that exchange, those two have helped me become aware of this article
https://thinkprogress.org/donald-trump-may-sound-like-a-clown-but-he-is-a-rhetoric-pro-like-cicero-ac40fd1cda79#.nctc1xrop and of this list of rhetorical 'devices' or speaking strategies
http://phrontistery.info/rhetoric.html
The next time I say to a person that I simply can't allow myself to pick on someone of very low intelligence, the next time I tell you about an incident and simply stop in the middle, leaving the impression that I am overwhelmed and just can't continue, think of the ancient orators.
