As an emotional and sympathetic person, I definitely can see how pathetic proof can be quite effective. Many nonprofit groups are excellent at appealing to human emotions. An example of this would be the various commercials wanting money for needy children in poor countries. According to the authors, “Emotions can also move people to action; if someone feels compassion for someone else, he helps the suffering person” (250). As the viewer, I hate seeing poor and filthy children walking around half clothed in a dirty village because I it is obviously beyond sad. The worst part is when the cameras zoom in on an incredibly sad face with a fly buzzing on the nose of this hungry child. The abused animal commercials are right up there as well. I cannot stand to see the innocent, injured animals. To top it off, there is always a sad song playing in the background as images of mutilated and neglected animals appear on the screen. In fact, I hate watching these commercials so much because I find them so depressing that I immediately change the channel, so I am not sure how effective that advertising gimmick (if you can call it that) really is?

Another part of the chapter that struck a chord was the section on Characters of Audiences. The authors discuss the importance of reaching the audience and in order to do this “a rhetor must also feel the emotions that he wants to arouse in his audience” (258). Al Gore’s speech addressing the challenges posed by hurricanes and global warming was effective because he knew the audience was interested and well informed on the subject. He quotes a well respected president and uses emotional appeal to reach those listening. These same ideas are expressed in the famous acceptance speech given by Jimmy Valano when he was presented with the Author Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the ESPY Awards Show in 1993. Jimmy V was a basketball coach and was dying of cancer when he was awarded this honor. His speech was inspiring and effective for various reasons. He already had a sympathetic audience of sports enthusiasts. Those in the live audience and those watching knew who Jimmy V was and what kind of man he represented. This speech allowed the audience to view him on a personal level as a husband and father in addition to the inspiring coach that the listeners already knew he was. Those in the audience and those watching were interested and understood the sports references. Jimmy V also made it very clear that he was there to talk to the people; he wasn’t concerned with the general rules and regulations that coincide with television award show acceptance speeches. Overall, he touched those watching by using pathetic proof. Jimmy V unfortunately passed away less than two months after giving this speech, but his words still resonate with those who carry on his legend.
http://www.jimmyv.org/remembering-jim/espy-awards-speech.html