Wartość wielokulturowości w dialogu społecznym a kreacja etosu w sieci
The value of multiculturalism in social dialogue and the creation of online ethos

Author(s): Anna Bendrat
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Cultural history, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Studies of Literature, Philology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: online ethos; deliberative rhetoric; diversity; knowledge versus experience; suasio; dissuasio; United States of America
Summary/Abstract: One of the basic arguments of Onno Bouwmeester (2010, 17) regarding the use of rhetoric in the practice of giving advice is a seemingly simple statement that “giving advice requires argumentation.” However, Aristotelian deliberative rhetoric is based not so much on scientific theories as on the art of deliberation on future events, which is difficult to categorize. To achieve the goal of persuasion, deliberation requires a solid line of argumentation based primarily on human experience and less on theory. The difference between theory and experience is particularly evident on websites devoted to the issues of race and ethnicity in the United States. The analysis of selected argumentative practices as well as rhetorical tropes and figures applied by Internet users on the Race Card Project website (theracecardproject.com) proves that the effectiveness of advice on problems arising from functioning in a multicultural society is related to the type of advisor’s ethos. People responding to the stories posted on the Race Card Project website who base their ethos on experience rather than on theoretical knowledge are more likely to generate a message promoting the value of multiculturalism, which in general perception may seem more convincing in a general discussion about improving racial relations in America.

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