Trash Talk Tuesday:
Time once again for us martial arts bloggers to learn:
1) How NOT to make a case for or against someone or something
2) Why certain comments set our teeth on edge
3) How to stay focused when discussing our arts
Boys! Do you want to be real men?
Three months ago, this guy was a scrawny little nerd. He enrolled in Sensei Rockum Sockum’s Home Study Karate Kourse and look at him now! He can beat up anybody and chicks dig him. So what are you waiting for? Get off your duff and sign up!
The advertiser is hoping young men will transfer their positive feelings about the prospect of becoming big and strong to the product being sold. We still haven’t been given Sensei Rockum Sockum’s credentials, and he hasn’t proven the effectiveness of his teaching methods. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of transfer in advertising – but please be sure and include at least a modicum of proven benefit.
Transfer can also be used in an attempt to shift negative feelings about someone or something. Consider the following advertisement from Master Trik-Ki Woo’s Kung-Fu Kollege:
Don’t let this happen to you! Come to Master Trik-Ki Woo’s Kung-Fu Kollege and learn how to defend yourself from the upcoming Alien Zombie Invasion! Don’t be a victim!
If you’d like to learn more, you can follow along in the book _The Fallacy Detective_ by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn
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Trash talk is my go-to, #1 favorite self-defense weapon!
Ossu, Sensei Ando! [bow]
Hmmm, maybe I don’t have to end Trash Talk Tuesday after all! Maybe I could analyze not just arguments, but trash talk itself.
Master Trik-Ki Woo opens with ad hominem: Sensei Rockum Sockum, you got your belt from a Cracker Jacks Box
Sensei Rockum Sockum counters with transfer: Your sister is so ugly she wears a paper bag on her head.
Master Trik-Ki Woo feints with a red herring: Is that a Barney T-shirt you’re wearing under your gi?
Sensei Rockum Sockum attacks with post hoc ergo propter hoc: Your mother dropped you on your head when you were a baby, so that’s why you believe alien zombies are going to invade the Earth.
Hey, this could be fun 🙂
[bow]