Allye Baker

ENG 2010

Due 2-9-17

Argument in Digital Genres

The two genres I have chosen to represent my argument for the legalization of medical marijuana

are a blog and a comment on a YouTube video. I do not have a blog, nor do I typically comment

on YouTube, however I am familiar with their constructs. For the purposes of this assignment my

imaginary blog will be one of typical content, such as ranting, reviews, and life analysis, much

like a journal. The audience of my blog will consist of three-hundred people from around the

world, with moderate viewing consistency depending on the tendentiousness of the topic. None

of these viewers will be people I know personally, but I will have established some form of back

and forth communication with them; responding to comments, and viewing, and commenting on

their blogs.

The second genre, a comment on a YouTube video, will be based off the current state of my

actual YouTube account. As Ive said, I do not usually comment on anything, but when I do its

usually a question or a sarcastic observation. I havent posted any videos, and I have no

followers to my knowledge, however each time I have commented on a video I have received a

response from at least one individual, but I have yet to respond to any of them.
Blog
What are people so afraid of with weed? Dont say, because its illegal, therefore its bad.
Not everything that is legal is harmless either. Pot seems to be more frowned upon than
cigarettes, despite the research of cigarettes causing many different types of cancer, and
marijuana having the ability to dull cancers painful side effects, as well as curing other
diseases like glaucoma.

People against marijuana frequently claim, theres no valid medical research proving pot
has healing properties. Well, if we legalized the shit there would be. There would also be
more valid reasons for being against pot as well. All Im saying is, lets give weed a chance,
and if it turns out to be more harmful than opiates or cigarettes, then you can tell me, I told
you so.

I think there is an underlying issue here that a lot of people for it and against it are
overlooking. I think the main reason that marijuana hasnt been nationally legalized for
recreational, or medicinal purposes is because of the money, and political and social pressure
given to congress from tobacco, and alcohol companies, as well as the bloated green pigs
that run the pharmaceutical industry. I would bet anything that if marijuana was legalized
liquor sales would go down, and opiate use would plummet in the ground where it belongs.
That means less money in the pockets of the disease creating and maintaining corporations
that feed off our sickness like vampiresreal vampires, not the cute and sparkly ones that
teenage girls obsess over. People smoking weed would subsequently be able to ween off
their psycho-active medications that are pumped into us like the guinea-pigs we have been
socialized to be.

Below there is a link to a Harvard study stating 1 in 10 Americans are on some anti-
depressant. A second Harvard analysis says that anxiety affects 40 million Americans, and
this is before this damned election period that has gotten everyones panties in a bunch.
Using marijuana has yet to kill anyone, but many legal medications have, and continue to do
so. With pot, I think we have an option to illuminate these needless, prescribed deaths.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/astounding-increase-in-
antidepressant-use-by-americans-201110203624
 This woman makes me feel like I am getting an aneurism, and I would trust a
bottomless cup more than her. I dont like rap, but I dont need to, to stand
behind 2Chains. He is absolutely on point; these videos dont show the harm of
marijuana itself, they show soulless and lobotomized adults that have no business
managing a lighter, let alone a child. The propaganda movie, Refer Madness was
less of an insult than this blatant blame-game journalism. The worst thing Ive
done while on pot is put my shoes on the wrong feet, and not even that is fair
since Ive done that sober too. Keeping weed illegal is basically for the same
reason that shows like Nancy Grace exist: to keep us from our own thoughts and
freedom.

https://youtu.be/ecMRLYgfRhA
 YouTube
Comment
Analysis of the two genres:
What is your purpose in the argument of the blog genre?
The purpose for the blog I wrote was to address several contradictions made by people who are

against the use of marijuana either recreationally or medicinally, as well as offering several

points explaining why pot shouldnt be judged as harmful, especially in comparison to legal

substances.

How does the relationship between the writer and the readers affect how the argument is made?

Blogs can be read by anyone under the digital sun, but for the purposes of this assignment I have

around 300 consistent viewers to my overall blog. Again, these viewers I have no personal

affiliation with, and therefore I feel no need to hide any emotion as to not offend anyone by

using obscene language, such as, shit, or talking about others, such as congressmen and

BigPharma, in a negative light. With this verbal freedom, I can freely express my views toward a

certain subject without hesitation. This does not mean I will write short hand, or illegibly,

because if I want to keep a consistent viewer rate then I need to make my words clear, accurate to

the best of my capability, and interesting. Through these needs, I have made references to

seemingly credible sources, such as the Harvard Medical website, as well as citing it at the end

of the blog.

How do ethos, pathos, and logos appear in the argument?

The second statement points out that cigarettes are proven to kill people, or at least cause cancer,

while pot does not. Applying to both ethos and pathos, I kept the reader in mind assuming what

some of them may be thinking, and gave another rebuttal to the statement, theres no valid
medical research proving pot has healing properties. I then answer this frequently made

argument by suggesting that if we did legalize marijuana then there would be valid medical

research toward it. I then appeal myself to ethos by extending an olive branch, stating there

would also be more valid reasons for being against pot as well; subtly suggesting that arguments

against the use of marijuana are just as invalid as arguments for marijuana when used in the

context of medical research legally funded and approved by the government.

In regards to pathos I state how Americans (at this point I exclude potentially many viewers of

the blog, as the blog is spread throughout the world, not the nation) are being used as guinea pigs

of prescribed socialization by having medications pumped into us. After this vivid, and hopefully

controversial and sensitive statement, I thereby add ethos to my argument, by relating to

Harvards research department, explaining how many Americans are on anti-depressants.

I also include another Harvard study regarding anxiety in America, and point out that the study

was written before this recent election that has everyones panties in a bunch; appealing to

both ethos and pathos again.

Pathos is also used throughout, by describing the major pharmaceutical companies as being,

bloated green pigs, and congress as being a part of disease creating and maintaining

corporations that feed off our sickness like vampires. Imagery is important in getting the reader

to feel or imagine what you are saying to have a better, more clear understanding of where you

are coming from with your argument.

Starting out with a question, and an immediate rebuttal to a typical answer given to said question

is an aspect of logos that keeps the audience involved and in mind. I wrap up the blog with a

bold statement, using marijuana has yet to kill anyone, but many legal medications have, and
continue to do so. This statement may leave the question of well should marijuana be

legalized? Is it perhaps a good alternative? This being a subtle way of persuading the audience

that what is legal now isnt necessarily the right, or at least only option.

Lastly, I leave the blog with, with pot we have an option to illuminate these needless, prescribed

deaths, giving the reader a sense of urgency, and importance to the overall subject of my

argument, as well as appealing to pathos by assuming they have the power to change or make a

difference somehow, and that the deaths related to legal prescriptions are no accidents, in regards

to pharmaceutical companies.

Below the blog, I posted a well-known figure, at least in America, Willie Nelson. In the picture,

there is a quote from him that relates to my point regarding anxiety, and the benefits of

marijuana. After the Willie Nelson picture, I then include the reference links to my Harvard

points. These two aspects of the blog appeal to ethos, logos (and pathos if you like Willie

Nelson), by giving a quote to a well-known advocate of marijuana, backing up a previous

statement of mine, as well as references showing I did at least some research while writing my

argument.

How does the style/format of the arguments address the rhetorical conventions of the genres?
I addressed the rhetorical conventions of a typical blog by making my argument less than a page

long (although some blogs seem to qualify as short novels), using my own creative writing,

making statements, and using examples that I felt people could relate to, such as frequently made

arguments like, there is no medical research proving marijuana has medicinal/healing

properties, and relating to pictures and quotes. Perhaps something unconventional for a blog

that I used was the use of references to Harvard medical research articles, but I have seen

references to YouTube videos and famous peoples Twitter posts. Most blogs are not complex,
and in fact a lot of blogs have obvious typos and grammatical errors, perhaps because the person

who was writing it was passionately angry. A lot of blogs consist of peoples rantings and

opinions, with little to know research involved besides their own experiences. I feel like my blog

post fit that category, save for the haphazardly implemented Harvard Medical reference. Many

blogs have no structure, and some dont have a goal other than to just write down their thoughts.

However, if this blog was put within a category outside of a personal blog, then it would appeal

to several groups, such as drugs, politics, and, protest.

What is your purpose in the argument of the YouTube comment genre?

My purpose was to agree with the person being interviewed that was in support of the

legalization of marijuana, as well as make a point against the interviewer who was against

marijuana in general. My other purpose was to make a statement why marijuana should be

legalized, and why it hasnt been, to keep us from our own thoughts and freedom.

How does the relationship between the writer and the readers affect how the argument is made?
You never know who, if anyone is going to read your comments on YouTube, so in my opinion

you should be able to say whatever you want, even if it doesnt make any sense. Its just another

outlet to use instead of doing something really stupid, like committing a violent crime because

youve got pent up emotions youre not sorting out. As long as youre not intentionally hurting

someone or claiming to have answers you dont have, anything goes. That being said, some

people comment on other peoples comments, but in this assignment I did not. I made my own

statement that may or may not be read by anyone. On the off chance that someone does take the

time to read my slightly unconventionally long comment, I made it a little humorous, and used

some descriptive words, as well as a picture from controversial comedian, Bill Hicks.

How do ethos, pathos, and logos appear in the argument?

The ethos used is through referencing the names of each subject in the video accurately, as well

as using a quote and picture of Bill Hicks, showing my familiarity with the subject and people

who have argued on the same position as me. Another example of ethos I used in the YouTube

comment genre was giving a personal example to my experiences with the dangers, or lack-

there-of, of using marijuana, as well as comparing it to being sober. The pathos I used was

appealing to some amount of humor with, This woman makes me feel like I am getting an

aneurism, and I would trust a bottomless cup more than her, when referring to Nancy Grace. I

also incorporated pathos by using visual imagery, such as, soulless and lobotomized adults to

describe the deplorable actions used by specific people that are shown in the videos within the

YouTube video I was commenting on. This appeals to pathos because of the emotion that is

derived from using harsh and meaningful words such as soulless, and lobotomized. The logos

used in this genre is the format of statement, observation, explanation, example, statement, and

referenced example; giving the form some direction and purposeful flow.

How does the style/format of the arguments address the rhetorical conventions of the genres?
The comment I made is fairly brief, though not as short as most YouTube comments, however it

is not a long analytical paper in regards to the video, and the topics within the video that are

being addressed. It is not overly serious, and is written so that anyone can read it without

difficulty, and it is addressing the video directly, as oppose to some off-topic rant.