Posted by trouble on March 28, 2002, at 8:48:04
In reply to Re: Right you are? » Cass, posted by beardedlady on March 28, 2002, at 5:37:29
Hey Beardy,
I really appreciate your posts, they round out my top 5 Who-to-turn-to-when-lost-list, and I mostly give you the last word on dilemmas
Anyway, my question concerns this statement:
>
> I know; I express opinions strongly, as if they were fact. I always tell my students to do the same because saying, "I think," "I feel," or "I believe" waters down your argument.Whoa.
You know how I run my mouth, how I really want my unconventional assertions to be taken seriously but it's hard, especially in school, I can always tell when I'm coming across like a flake, can pinpoint the exact second when my credibility crashes, so lately, in an effort to strengthen my position I've been adding those very qualifiers you say water down the argument.Shit.
Is it good or bad to begin a statement by saying-
"In my opinion" or
"Current research finds," or
"Conventional wisdom dictates," or
"To paraphrase Gloria Stienem," or
"Statistically speaking," or
"History shows", etcI just want to COME ACROSS, w/out being disingenous, pompous, strident, humorless, castrating, over-educated, or womanish. Is this possible?
I'm very worried that my new Civility Practice might diminish the strength of my personality too, but I'm sticking w/it for now.
I've come a long way from throwing textbooks and kicking over desks to emphasize a point, now where's my authority?
thanks Beardy,
trouble
poster:trouble
thread:20996
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020325/msgs/21112.html