Top 5: Why use "Spin" as a Verb?
The cardinal rule of fasting is not to break your fast with something difficult to digest. I broke my news fast with the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates. Which I am now naming the Presidential Spins.
Having been a Lincoln Douglas debater in high school, I thought I understood the definition of debate which the Oxford Dictionary defines as a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward. I recall spending nights (I was not always the hardest worker) with my bed covered in research from the EBSCO database highlighting and rereading information on my pre-defined topic. I prepared myself for every hole I could think of in the opposing views theory. Oddly the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates reminded me more of a passive aggressive conversation with an ego driven person that focused on spinning the questions in a manner that answered the questions at least one candidate wanted to discuss.
So, I researched spin and learned it entered political discourse during the 1984 Presidential Election where Walter Mondale and Female running mate, Geraldine Ferraro ran against Ronald Regan. How interesting that, using spin as a verb to manipulate conversation came about when a woman was on the ticket.
When I was a kid, I could manipulate information and could get people thinking how I needed them to so that I would get what I wanted. But then I realized I didn’t feel good about myself working that way. So, I stopped using spin as a verb and now use it as a noun. Thereby allowing others to participate in the game of conversation. Top 5 Reasons We Spin as a Verb
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Forces others to focus on what the spin-doctor wants us to hear not on the question that was asked of us.
Breaks something whole into pieces. Sort of like when Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual harassment or was it hair es ment?
Creates the perception that other people are incapable of competing. But in reality reveals a lack of self-confidence via a smoke screen.
Makes us feel inadequate, turns the concept from something we knew and understood to something about which we don’t even think.
Breaks the covenant of a debate by adding an unnecessary layer of noise to the conversation.