| I don't think attempting to block decoupling is a "rhetorical device". "Rhetor" means teacher. A rhetorical device is a way to explain, communicate, teach. Blocking this was is an attempt to prevent explanation, communication, and learning. That isn't a rhetorical device - it's an anti-rhetorical device. Perhaps better called an argumentative tactic. A good discussion is one where ideas are most fully-examined, questioned, and understood from the maximum number of angles. If the goal is to have a good discussion, you must encourage and support devices that increase understanding. If the goal is simply to win for a specific agenda, you don't care about having a good discussion, and you should use whatever argumentative/blocking/interruption tactics you can. Ultimately it's a question of whether you value finding truth and mutual understanding, or the dominance of your pre-existing beliefs. |