And Reason
The Evengelical Outpost has a great post on hyperbole, exaggeration and metaphor. It is worth the read.
I think the View From the Right is addressing a similar concept when talking about highly emotional feelings which cloud a reasoned or reasonable argument. The example used here is: “I hate Islam… these people are a bunch of savages” deflects from the reasonable “Islam is our mortal enemy and we must defend ourselves from it”.
The Evengelical Outpost does the same deciphering. He quotes a writer who’s views on George Bush resort to “ George Busy is the worst President of the United States of America, ever. Hands down.”
When hyperbole, exaggeration and weak metaphors get in the way of the message, they seem to indicate a personal belligerence. Why should anyone listen to such violent language? As these writers point out, it personalizes the issues, putting the person (and his demons) at the center of the attention.
I’ve found that such style, if it is to be called such, is the language of liberal and female writers. For example, Ann Coulter has many points worth listening to, yet her anger is so palpable in every sentence she writes, that it is difficult to concentrate on her message.
I think most people are willing to listen to reasoned arguments from passionate speakers, not impassioned speakers who belie reasonableness.
