Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by hnriot 5002 days ago
"That day in the Family Restroom I threw a fit. Hurled my water bottle at the wall and screamed, "This is not OK!""

How exactly after this do you expect anyone to take you seriously?

Gender equality isn't about having just as many women programmers, and it certainly isn't well servered by having tantrums over the bathroom arrangements.
3 comments
bryanlarsen 5002 days ago
She had a tantrum in private, which is the correct place to throw a fit. After you've calmed down, then you can do something about the problem, which she's doing.
link
rmc 5002 days ago
You have just used the "Tone Argument" which derails the argument. It's a common response (it's in Derailing for Dummies http://www.derailingfordummies.com/complete.html#angry ). Please try to stay on topic.
link
Locke1689 5002 days ago
You're right, but for the wrong reasons.

There's no such thing as a "tone" argument. Recall your freshman year Greek rhetoric course -- what are the three main elements of argumentation? Logos (logic), pathos (appeal to emotion), and ethos (morality or "greatness" of character).

If you start yelling at someone, chances are you're going to destroy your pathos and ethos. Being persuasive involves more than just logos, it involves convincing your audience that you are on the right side.

This, by the way, is why many technical people are awful at arguing. They don't understand that argumentation is about convincing people, not having a bullet point list that you haughtily defend to the last.

The real reason you're right is that the author was clearly adding a bit of dramatization and flair to the piece, rather than blowing up and insulting their opponent.

link
rmc 5002 days ago
The "Tone argument" doesn't apply to the person who's being annoyed (they are not making a tone argument), but to someone who 'replies' to them.

Think of "tone argument" like "ad hominem", it's a reply to what someone says, but you don't actually respond or address what they said, instead you address how they said it in a very angry manner ("tone argument"), or based on what sort of person they are ("ad hominem")

link
hack_edu 5002 days ago
For what its worth, that line is clearly hyperbole.
link