#21 - Etiquette firmly opposes both obscene and malicious

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Must be True—Principle. The correct answer choice is (E)

In a nutshell, the stimulus engages in an explanation of etiquette’s relation to offensive speech.
The argument states that etiquette need not involve the restriction of speech by law, but that it does
demand that the expression of potentially offensive ideas be done in appropriate forums in a civil
manner.

Since you are asked to apply the principle in the stimulus, you should search for an answer that
conforms to these restrictions:

1. Etiquette opposes obscene and malicious speech.

2. Etiquette allows for civil discussion of possibly offensive ideas in the proper forum.

Answer choice (A): This answer choice very likely refl ects some aspect of etiquette, but this
particular aspect is not discussed in the stimulus. The correct response will involve potentially
offensive ideas or language.

Answer choice (B): There is no reason to suppose that the stimulus refers to this sort of etiquette.
The ideas expressed in a court room are not necessarily offensive. This choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (C): The stimulus does not give reason to believe there should be any legal
restrictions on free speech, and you should not conclude that etiquette is governed by “majority
rule.” In fact, considering what etiquette is, and what common opinion is, you should realize that it is
unwarranted to equate etiquette to popular opinion.

Answer choice (D): A news conference is precisely the forum in which a politician ought be
asked relevant questions of any sort, as long as the questioning is civil, so this choice contains
a recommendation that is possibly contrary to the principles in the stimulus. Further, assuming
the questions are posed in a civil manner, a question by itself is not necessarily offensive or
embarrassing even though the underlying topic may be offensive, and thus this answer does not
necessarily correspond to the principles discussed.

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. The principle of etiquette in the stimulus
allows us to oppose obscene, malicious, or uncivil speech. Name-calling is probably malicious, and
certainly uncivil. Since this response establishes the context as a panel on a “divisive moral issue,”
the ideas expressed may be potentially offensive and defi nitely controversial, bringing in the criteria
of civil expression in that proper forum, so the moderator would be correct in disallowing namecalling
under the principles in the stimulus.

[Nina]

I think the stimulus is mainly saying that, Etiquette doesn't necessarily oppose the expression of offensive ideas, as long as the expression complies with the civil custom (if i've understood correctly). Thus i chose answer A because i thought "gruff and unfriendly to one another when they meet on the street" doesn't comply with a civil manner. But why is answer A incorrect? and what's the point in answer D? Is it because "name-calling" isn't a civil manner?

Thanks a lot!

[Jon Denning]

Hey Nina - another tough one here. I'll break it down and look at those two answers as well.

In a nutshell, the stimulus engages in an explanation of etiquette’s relation to offensive speech. The argument states that etiquette need not involve the restriction of speech by law, but that it does demand that the expression of potentially offensive ideas be done in appropriate forums in a civil manner.

Since you are asked to apply the principle in the stimulus, you should search for an answer that conforms to these restrictions:

1. Etiquette opposes obscene and malicious speech.
2. Etiquette allows for civil discussion of possibly offensive ideas in the proper forum.

Answer choice (A): This answer choice very likely reflects some aspect of etiquette, but this particular aspect (friendliness) is not discussed in the stimulus so it doesn't correspond to the principles given. The correct response has to involve potentially offensive ideas or language, since that's the idea in the stimulus.

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. The principle of etiquette in the stimulus opposes obscene, malicious, or uncivil speech. Name-calling is probably malicious, and certainly uncivil. Since this response establishes the context as a panel on a “divisive moral issue,” the ideas expressed may be potentially offensive and defi nitely controversial, bringing in the criteria of civil
expression in that proper forum, so the moderator would be correct in disallowing name-calling under the principles in the stimulus.


Hope that helps clarify!