Emotions play a huge part in human beings every day lives but where is the line drawn with being too emotional in civil discourse? Obviously one must use some emotion to get their point across. Otherwise, the speaker would lose their audiences' interest and would have no connection with them. There definitely is a point when emotions are used too much, therefore throwing the balance of logos, ethos, and pathos off. Emotion needs to play a role in civil discourse however this role needs to be on the same level as the other two aspects.
On the website The Atlantic, I read an article about the offensive banners hung by a frat at Old Dominion. Half of the commenters geared towards the idea that "frat guys being stupid wasn't news worthy" while the other half were outraged by these banners. Every person has a different opinion on subject matters and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However the line of using too much emotion in civil discourse is crossed when others begin name calling or bluntly saying that anothers opinion is "wrong."
Reading through the comments, when someone would disagree with another person they would write things such as, "you're stupid" or "anyone who thinks this isn't news is a low life." These comments lose peoples respect and are insulting. This is the perfect way to lose an audience or followers. By letting emotions get to you, it is easy to write inappropriate things. Instead of stating these rude comments, one should use statistics or other background information to support their argument. Therefore making their point come across more professional and credible.
By using ethos, pathos, and logos in a balanced manner, ones argument instantly becomes stronger. This allows the use of emotion, credibility, and it appeals to the audiences reason and logic. In order to have a successful opinion that others will agree with and respect, one must include a few of the following:
-personal stories
-respectful word choice
-visible arrangements
-humor
-images
-statistics
-historical records
-experts opinions
-clear transitions
If one balances all of these aspects, arguments are ultimately better, more interesting, and not too emotional.
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