When reasoning with an argument, ridicule is a form of reasoning that is irrational and needs to avoided. Epstein describes ridicule as a "worthless device in rational discussion." (Epstein 151). It mocks others and minimizes the length of an argument because of the belittlement involved in ridicule.
I've heard conversations amongst teens in high schools and even college students that involve ridicule. Some of the ridicule I hear in conversations make me disgusted and shocked that such words and thoughts could come out of a person's mouth. I can try to reason with the person initiating ridicule, but sometimes that person may be stubborn and stuck with their old habits. This stubborness often leads me to end the conversation because it's not worth getting frustrated with arguing with such a person.
An example of ridicule I have witnessed dealt with generalizations about ethnicity:
Jace: My work hired 15 new Indian employees that are really good at creating semi-conductor boards.
Rich: They must also be good at stinking up the whole company and they probably leave a stench on the boards too. Whose going to want to buy those?
Jace: They're really nice and don't need to be insulted like that Rich. I don't need to listen to your judgments like this.
It was extremely unnecessary for Rich to insult and generalize Indians as smelly people that stink up Jace's workplace. This in turn made Jace irritated with Rich and cause him to be intolerable with Rich's irrational and rude comments.
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