A reporter gives one side of the story and then, to be 'fair', finds an advocate for the opposite side. But what if the truth lies somewhere in the middle? Why do we see everything as either / or? In the media, in politics (particularly in the House of Commons), in our classrooms and courtrooms, issues are taken up in adversarial debate between opposite extremes rather than discussed and explored. This pervasive warlike atmosphere encourages us to believe that opposition is the best way to get anything done: the best way to explore an idea is to set up a debate; the best way to settle disputes is litigation; the best way to show you're really thinking is to criticise and attack. Tannen once again brilliantly identifies a mode of communication - the argument culture - that is getting in the way of understanding and needlessly polarising us.
- ISBN10 1860494722
- ISBN13 9781860494727
- Publish Date 5 November 1998 (first published 1 March 1998)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 23 January 2013
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
- Imprint Virago Press Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 352
- Language English