Arguments – Let’s Argue About Them!

In light of several tragedies in Orlando, Florida, the digital age we live in was on fire! Discussions about blame, what we could learn, equality, guns, President’s, and you name it weren’t off the table. (Author Note: I graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Communication Studies that focused in online and social interaction and viral messaging if you’re looking for my line of thinking).

With that said there were a lot of arguments, but not a lot of smart ones. I know what you’re thinking, “Duh Ben. It’s the Internet.” You’re right. It is the Internet. There’s two things I look to discuss, 1)  the power social media can truly do in shaping the debate and 2) how too many people argue terribly online (early warning: I will reference examples about specific issues, but this is not a discussion about the issues so save your nonsense).

Social media and the good it does 

Let’s look at the good social media can do. In wake of the Orlando Terrorist Attack, the handful of friends I had in Florida checked off that they were ok on Facebook. Which poses the question, how many of you knew Facebook had that feature? I was notified that they were ok and abruptly liked and commented on their safety. News stories are another big medium for social media. I was on Twitter to quickly learn of the Planned Parenthood shooting I believe last year, that rocked the news shortly after. The point being that social media was ahead of reporting the news. Notices about events like this can lead people to be safe, as many news outlets won’t run with the story until they have substantial facts. I make these points to argue against those who say social media is worthless in the realm of a living and breathing society. It does more harm than good despite a perceived lack of necessity.

Straw man arguments

Now let’s talk about arguments. There’s a common example of terrible debating called a straw man argument. This is simply when a person commits a logical fallacy by ignoring a person’s actual position, and substituting it with something the other person didn’t say and argue that. Sound familiar? You see this the most common when people argue about mainstream media. “Fox News is a Conservative news network!” and  the person you yell this to says “The same goes for MSNBC when it comes to liberals”. See how that doesn’t address the argument of Fox being a conservative network? The argument I’ve heard go the other way just as quickly.

Presidential Race

This argument will be blatantly clear when it comes to this year’s presidential race. People will say “How can you vote for Hillary?”, which many Hillary supporters will refute with “How can you vote for Trump?”. These are two very valid questions that don’t belong in the same argument. What I mean is that if the question is why would you vote for Hillary, then why would you discuss Trump’s policies at all.

Orlando Terrorist Attack

Let’s apply this to the Orlando Terrorist Attack. Again, I’m not arguing specific issues just juxtaposing how arguments can’t get muddy when done poorly. The pro gun reform folks immediately asked how could a man like this get a gun, when he was investigated by the FBI several times and had a history if abuse against his ex wife. A natural response to a situation like this, and they are well within their right to do so. Some of the pro gun crowd’s natural response was to point out the enemy is ISIS and not the gun itself. This is reflecting from the initial arguement of how did this ma get a gun. Again, two different arguments falling into a Straw Man Argument.

Abortion

Let’s apply this to abortion. That’s right. Abortion. Likely the most hot topic on any form of social media and rightfully so. Pro Life folks generally believe life begins at conception and many believe the fetus can feel just like any human inside the womb. With this belief it’s not that crazy to see why they are pro life. Does that mean every person who is Pro Life wants to control women’s bodies? Yes. Yes it does. You still with me? Because I don’t mean that. You silly billy. Just wanted to see if you we’re paying attention. That’s a strawman argument. In my estimation, what most want, is to make sure if someone is choosing an abortion that they are educated and prepared to understand what this means.

The Duggar Family Scandal 

Let’s apply this to the Duggar Scandal. This was the now infamous family of 19 kids on the TLC network. The line I kept hearing in conservative media and social media is “People are waging a war on Christians”. People aren’t waging a war on Christians, they’re waging a war on hypocrites. If you call homosexuals pedophiles and support arguably anti-gay legislation, and then it turns out the act you committed was arguably in the realm of pedophilia that makes you a hypocrite which people don’t like. (Author’s note: I took more of a personal stance on this one but the point is still made about a logical fallacy). 

The Cincinnati Zoo Tragedy

Let’s apply this to the Cincinnati Zoo Tragedy that killed an endangered Gorilla. The Internet was split immediately you could say three ways. Some called for the parents to be arrested, and other’s deemed the parent’s not at fault and a true tragedy, and other’s called for the zoo to be investigated (and some still denying the parents of any wrong doing). Several folks who were against the parents argued that she should have been watching her kids better. The response by many in support of the parents was that the zoo should have had better safety measures to stop the kids from falling in. Two arguments that don’t belong in the same conversation, but people used these as their fuel to the fire.

The Disney Alligator Tragedy

Let’s apply this to the Alligator attack at Disney World Resort. In a very mirroring situation, a young boy was tragically killed by an alligator at Disney’s lake outside of the resort. Similar to the zoo incident, one side of the arguement was that the parents should’ve kept a better eye on their kid who was reported playing in the water when signs said no swimming. The side that supported the parents argued that Disney should have a Beware of Alligators sign up, and some even arguing in addition to the sign how we’re the parents supposed to know about Alligators. The two arguments don’t go together. Another fallacy. How does Disney having not having Alligator signs up, deny any culpability to the parents? And vice versa.

WITH ALL OF THIS I SHOULD NOTE, THAT ALL OF THESE ARGUMENTS HAD NUT JOB VIEW POINTS IN ALL OF THEM! Which is the point of this essay. That we let the extreme view points in these arguments dictate how we judge the viewpoint holistically. It’s one of the oldest arguments, that liberals are always this and conservatives are always that. That’s a fallacy. A fallacy designed by small minded thinkers to hope you don’t argue otherwise.

My name is Ben Campbell. I hope you enjoyed this, and I encourage you to argue with me on Twitter @zenlikefury!

 

 

 

Xbox Congratulates Sony-A PR Look

Xbox congratulated Sony recently on their social media pages in a competitive celebratory congratulations of Sony’s console launch. What makes this move interesting in this generations “console wars” is Microsoft’s been taking most of the PR punching bag from Sony. I applaud Sony’s strategy for staying aggressive in using Microsoft’s PR failures to make them appear more stable when it comes to their product. However, I feel Sony has done too much jabbing at Microsoft and hurt their brand. While it is easy to say the Internet disagrees, I would argue don’t trust the internet. Ever.

In speaking with consumers, and analyzing social media keywords, consumers certainly are paying attention. Many are still on board with buying the Playstation 4, but have taken a nicer stance towards Microsoft. Many understand that competition breeds innovation. Look at wrestling. For those unfamiliar with how wrestling was operated in the 90’s and early 00’s, they had what is very similar to the console wars dubbed Monday Night Wars. The two major wrestling brands WCW (World Championship Wrestling) and WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) we’re constantly fighting to stay on top when it came to their premier Monday night show’s ratings. WWE eventually bought WCW and became the major player in the Wrestling promotion brand. With no direct competition it has lead to them, arguably, becoming stale with their storytelling and innovation.

In a comment to undermine Microsoft’s changes to their policies and console features, Sony President Andrew House explained in Gamescon that, “While others have shifted their message and changed their story, we were consistent in maintaining a message that is fair and in tune with consumer desires.” While an aggressive move, it undermines what most consumers hate about big companies: THEIR INABILITY TO CHANGE! Consumers cheered and applauded when Microsoft changed much of their dubbed “anti-consumer policies”. For Sony to see this as a fault of Microsoft is a bad move. Many did not see this as a bad move for Microsoft, but simply a necessary move to align with what the gaming community wanted. Consumers took notice of Sony’s jab, and while many shunned it as a continuation of the console war, many thought the move was in bad taste (after looking at social media trends and speaking with consumers).

I applaud Microsoft and the Xbox team for staying humble in this new “console war”. One could argue that they need to be like this in order to regain the trust of consumers and gamers alike. I myself will be picking up an Xbox One next week and a PS4 in the Spring. My opinion on the two, is that Xbox One is simply trying to innovate with more features so they get my money. That combined with their refocus on games and exclusive content made it an easy choice. I’ll still buy the PS4, because the next Uncharted and God of War definitely will be on my radar.

So the question I have to many of you, what’s a better approach for a product launch, stay true to what you first present, or change to the will of what the consumers want? Sound off in the comments my PR gurus! Gaming trolls need not apply!

That’s it for now!

Ben

“If you’re not …

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original”-Sir Ken Robinson

Why PR is so Critical in a Product Launch

PREFACE: I am a huge gamer, and I have no favoritism of any platform. This is just simply my two cents on Microsoft’s Public Relations (PR) blunders. 

You could count for days when it comes to the number of articles published about Microsoft’s errors in launching their new console later this year. Their reveal, while full of innovative ideas, was plagued by poor messaging and explanation. Getting the “THIS IS WHY YOU NEED THIS” part across should be your priority. When you fail to achieve that, you need a solid PR plan to stop the bleeding which Microsoft did not do. Not even in the slightest, and the video game community burned them for it. Sony on the other hand took advantage of this, and used Microsoft’s PR blunder for their own gain. 

The issue I take with Sony though is they’ve become a corporate bully of sorts. When Microsoft starts to change their policies, for what many would argue for the better, Sony again went on the offensive and explained they have had a clear vision for their console since day one. It’s plain and simple, a disguised attack at Microsoft. Some experts would argue (which I am not) to take advantage of any misstep by your rival for your gain. In this case I would argue it backfired. It alienated some consumers, who know that competition breeds innovation and was glad to see that Microsoft was doing what a majority of the fans wanted. 

Why I find all of this interesting, is at it’s very core an awesome case study for PR students in the years to come. When the dust settles after the consoles launch it will be very interesting to see the steps and missteps going forward. This is the first post of many about this so subscribe for more, and sound off in the comments below about the PR analysis!