For many people, this is a one-sided conversation because they don t realize that they are in a conversation. But we are, so it makes sense to hold up our end and get in our two cent s worth. For example- Think back to when you first read the opening paragraphs of this essay on hermeneutics. For many of you, it was the first time you had heard the word hermeneutics. Either way, what you thought to yourself was your end of the conversation.
All college students are spineless weenies.
I m sure you would have a reaction to that. You may even go so far as to think through an argument against the idea contained in the sentence. In other words, what we read causes reactions in us and those reactions are the very same reactions we have in live conversations. The only difference is that if someone you knew said that all college students are weenies, you would have an immediate opportunity to present your argument and try to change that person s mind. But in the case of the article, you would have to write a letter, which would take a little longer, but the result could potentially be the same.