Argument vs Fight

In chapter two we learn the distinction between a fight and an argument: an argument is used to persuade while in a fight you want to dominate your opponent. This is unquestionably true.

We, in high school tend to fight instead of attempting to persuade. In fact, I doubt that many of us have an argument with our parents. We might start off attempting to have an argument when we ask them for permission to go to a party or event, but when they say no, this argument may end with a "I never want to speak to you again, you don't understand me" or a "God, no one in this family gets my feelings." This has certainly turned into a fight and guess what? Against parents, no matter if your points are valid, you will never win.

My mother always taught me that there are three people/things that you cannot go against because you will hardly ever win: the government or law, teachers, and your parents. This book has proven her wrong. Apparently, with argument and it's tools we may manage to convince our audience into believing what we think.

Commercials use argument to convince us that the product/service their selling or providing is the best for us. One perfect example of this is the pepsi commercial in which our favourite artists of the time participated: Beyonce, Britney, Pink, and Enrique Iglesias. The commercial clearly uses argument as it manipulates ethos to convince us that Pepsi is the best soda option for us since everyone wants it, even those that are supposed to be fighting in the colosseum.

So if instead of intimidating your opponent or losing to a fight, why not argue? Your opponent doesn't realize you're manipulating him, you basically end up winning discretely.