Reflective Blog Post

     Ratcliff tries to defines the issues of rhetorical listening and how that differs from many of the other rhetoricians we have heard from. Ratcliff tries to interpret rhetorical listening as an invention to be used by the public. I think that in fairness she is trying to insist that by listening rhetorically you will better understand and you will make the person speaking feel acknowledged, but I do think that by listening you put yourself at the mercy of the people talking. You have to give them your full attention and completely understand what they are saying. You do get a better understanding to what the person has to say but you must listen to them use their own rhetoric. The think here is that you have to make your decision and decide if you disagree or agree with what they are saying. Ratcliff is trying to show that you have to first understand before you can interpret and make up your own argument.