Blog Post 3: Invitational Rhetoric Through Offering

 The idea of invitational rhetoric is very important to understand. Invitational rhetoric stems from the idea that there is value in building relationships that are "rooted in equality, imminent value, and self-determination" (5).  Invitational rhetoric allows for a variety of answers to be valid and heard by seeing things from the speaker's/rhetor's point of view. There is so much gray area in the world, and using invitational rhetoric will allow for greater understanding of the gray spaces to be understood. Although there is so much gray area, our society tends to push and favor rhetoric that is persuasive and focused on pushing one narrative. Persuasive rhetoric ignores the fact that not everyone is going to have the same perspective to understand or agree with the speaker/rhetor. If invitational rhetoric is at play, then one is being invited to explore the speaker's/rhetor's point of view and opinion. It is not a demand that the listener or reader agree with the rhetor, but a call for attention to how they see things. As the speaker, you must be weary of the idea that many people may disagree with you. By acknowledging this, you may share your opinion while appreciating the differing perspectives. 

The way that invitational rhetoric looks and functions differs from the mechanics of "traditional rhetoric" (another way that the article addresses persuasive rhetoric). The main mechanic of invitational rhetoric is offering. Offering is the means by which one conveys their perspective. The idea of offering perspectives in detail and with care allows for listeners or readers to fully immerse into the experience and remain open to understanding the given perspective. Offering is vulnerable and non-invasive, it is an open share of information rather than imposing information. Both the speaker and listeners learn form one another at the same time. The speaker does not address under the assumption that their opinions are superior in the room. 

Over the summer amidst the protests in support of human rights, there was a particularly high volume of "perspective pushing" or persuasive rhetoric occurring on social media. A time came where I found myself personally in an argument with people that I know over the politics of what was going on, and I had the most frustrating and unproductive "debate" ever (as many of us have). The other person that I was speaking to had very strong and loud opinions about the protesting going on. When I saw what they were saying, I came hard from the other way, but as a Black person I inserted my personal and vulnerable perspective in hopes that they would gain more perspective of the gray area that has made people quick to judge and view the situation in black and white. Instead of trying to meet each other somewhere in the middle and acknowledge one another's opinions, we both were adamant that we were right. Had I felt more heard by the other person, I would have been more willing to have a productive discussion. They were purely focused on forcing their opinions as opposed to offering and on the other hand, listening. 

References: 

Foss, S. K., & Griffin, C. L. (1995). Beyond persuasion: A proposal for an invitational rhetoric. Communication Monographs, 62(1), 2-18. doi:10.1080/03637759509376345