Tannen's Argument Culture
Communication in the Modern World
The article “The Argument Culture”, written by Deborah Tannen, the tendency of the American culture to encourage aggressive two-sided debates over issues is examined. Tannen proposes that communication and effective listening in our society needs to be more productive .In the past, a conversation among people did not need to have a purpose other than to inform each other, but now conversations are presented as a standoff between two opposing parties. However when a conflict between parties occurs, it is shocking to see how badly people distort the tradition of debate. During debates people find it necessary to attack each other instead of being open to each other’s ideas. “The Argument Culture” states that in our society, winning is the ultimate goal.
Tannen refers to the American culture as becoming an atmosphere of litigation where people square off against the other person attacking them. She elaborates on this idea by saying that technology and the media has added to this problem in our culture by people becoming less personable and more argumentative. Technology has evolved to an extent that people prefer phone and computer communications over face to face interaction allowing for more anonymous and harsh communication. This behavior can be misinterpreted and can ensure arguments between parties. Our generation today has been educated and encouraged to think critically of other’s views. By encouraging the need to be critical and argumentative, our culture is very biased. One example I have seen of this is watching presidential debates, when watching these so called debates it feels more like watching a boxing match. Each opponent will take verbal jabs at each other without listening to the opposing viewpoint of another. During these presidential
debates all rules are out the window and each candidate has their own agenda. Their criticisms of each other are displayed when presented with a valid question; the two
The article “The Argument Culture”, written by Deborah Tannen, the tendency of the American culture to encourage aggressive two-sided debates over issues is examined. Tannen proposes that communication and effective listening in our society needs to be more productive .In the past, a conversation among people did not need to have a purpose other than to inform each other, but now conversations are presented as a standoff between two opposing parties. However when a conflict between parties occurs, it is shocking to see how badly people distort the tradition of debate. During debates people find it necessary to attack each other instead of being open to each other’s ideas. “The Argument Culture” states that in our society, winning is the ultimate goal.
Tannen refers to the American culture as becoming an atmosphere of litigation where people square off against the other person attacking them. She elaborates on this idea by saying that technology and the media has added to this problem in our culture by people becoming less personable and more argumentative. Technology has evolved to an extent that people prefer phone and computer communications over face to face interaction allowing for more anonymous and harsh communication. This behavior can be misinterpreted and can ensure arguments between parties. Our generation today has been educated and encouraged to think critically of other’s views. By encouraging the need to be critical and argumentative, our culture is very biased. One example I have seen of this is watching presidential debates, when watching these so called debates it feels more like watching a boxing match. Each opponent will take verbal jabs at each other without listening to the opposing viewpoint of another. During these presidential
debates all rules are out the window and each candidate has their own agenda. Their criticisms of each other are displayed when presented with a valid question; the two