Uses of "Rhetorical"

Question

I have difficulty grasping some uses of this word:
So, I know what a rhetorical question is. But if someone is asking it and another person interrupts him and then the first person responds by saying "Do not interrupt me while i am asking a rhetorical question" Why is this an insult to the second person?
Also what does the phrase "The rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation" means?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
I have difficulty grasping some uses of this word:
So, I know what a rhetorical question is.

But if someone is asking it and another person interrupts him and then the first person responds by saying "Do not interrupt me while i am asking a rhetorical question" Why is this an insult to the second person? I wouldn't call it an insult, as 'insult' is a very strong word. But it is rude.
The reason it is rude is not related to the rhetorical question, but to the fact that Person A should not usually give such a direct order to Person B. However, if for example they are good friends and Person A smiles and says 'please', there would be no rudeness.

Also what does the phrase "The rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation" means? Without any context, I have no idea.

Clive

Fahd Sultan · Answer

But if person, infact is able to give such an order? Actually I've heard this dialogue in a movie "Mission Impossible 3". Though I saw it a long time ago, this particular piece of dialogue just kept nagging at my mind. It is a scene where Laurence Fishburne who is a playing a high ranking official and is saying something to a person during which his subordinate inturrupts him. So he responds by saying "Do not inturrupt me while I am asking a rhetorical question". And the other guy backs down from the conversation, seeming hurt.

The other sentence is a quotation by Lewis Mumford. I dont know the context but it is extensively quoted on the web when giving an example sentence for the word "Rhetorical".

Clive · Answer

Hi,
But if person, infact is able to give such an order? Actually I've heard this dialogue in a movie "Mission Impossible 3". Though I saw it a long time ago, this particular piece of dialogue just kept nagging at my mind. It is a scene where Laurence Fishburne who is a playing a high ranking official and is saying something to a person during which his subordinate inturrupts him. So he responds by saying "Do not inturrupt me while I am asking a rhetorical question". And the other guy backs down from the conversation, seeming hurt. In my culture, no-one likes to be given a direct order in this way without 'please', even by their boss, particularly where the order means basically 'Don't speak'. As I said, it's not really the wod 'rhetorical' that is annoying to the listener.

The other sentence is a quotation by Lewis Mumford. I dont know the context but it is extensively quoted on the web when giving an example sentence for the word "Rhetorical". It seems like a needlessly difficult example to me.

Clive

Fahd Sultan · Answer

Ok. I get it. But the quotation still is a puzzle. Anyway thank you for the help.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
"The rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation"

Without any context, it might mean that it is very bad rhetoric to simply use a variety of words that all have the same meaning.
eg I love you! I adore you! I am enamoured of you!

Clive

Uses of "Rhetorical"

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