Rant

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A rant or harangue is a speech or text that does not present a well-researched and calm argument; rather, it is typically an attack on an idea, a person or an institution, and very often lacks proven claims. Such attacks are usually personal attacks. Compare with a dialectic.

In some cases, rants are based on facts and concrete information, but the key ideas expressed are what the individual personally feels.

However, some rants are used not to attack something, but to defend an individual, idea or organization. Rants of this type generally occur after the subject has been attacked by another individual or group.

Contents 1 Rants in social settings 2 See also 3 References 4 Links

[edit] Rants in social settings

Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park is a famous public space in which rants are legitimately allowed.^[1].

Rants have been prohibited and still are in places where freedom of Speech or political protest is discouraged or outlawed.

Rants are discouraged or prohibited in some scientific and decision-making groups. The prohibition of rants has a long history in Europe.

Rants are used often in situations requiring monologue. Comedians, such as Lewis Black or Rick Mercer, use rants as a way to get their message or punch-line across to the listening audience. A good example of a public speaker who add rants in his act is Dennis Miller, a political satirist and comedian.

Rants are commonplace on the internet. Many people may have different opinions on certain matters online than they do offline, mainly because of the anonymity. Several websites allow people to rant freely online.

[edit] See also

• Debate
• Rhetoric
• Albert O. Hirschman's The Rhetoric of Reaction
• Ranter
• Hate Speech

[edit] References

1. ^ "Even Speakers' Corner has been gagged" John Edwards, Daily Mail, March 29, 2006

[edit] Links

• Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, Britain.

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