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Blog Post 8-Chapter 9

            In chapter 9, the authors discuss credibility as a form of support.  Credibility may serve as a claim in argumentation, but it is mostly used to support a claim as it helps to grant adherence.  Competence and trustworthiness are forms of credibility, and often times decision makers find an argument to be more worthy of adherence when it is advanced by a competent and trustworthy person on a subject.  Also, credibility can be gained in various ways such as reputation, sincerity, values, evidence, and organization. 
             Often times, whether I am involved in an argument or I am the decision maker, I assess the use of credibility in order to better understand the argument.  If the credibility is weak, I am less likely to believe or side with that argument; but, if the credibility is high, I am more likely to believe the argument and support that argument.  So, credibility is important in arguments as it can make or break arguments.  Occasionally, when I am listening to debates or I am getting involved in arguments and the credibility is weak, I am more likely to completely disregard the argument based on weak credibility.  So, high credibility is essential in providing support for an effective argument. 
            One way credibility can be assessed is through reputation. Reputation is the credibility that one has with the decision makers before they argue.  It may be influenced by the success that they are perceived to have or based on perception.  I think that reputation can have a big influence on a decision maker as often times we are less likely to believe people if they have poor reputations and more likely to believe people with excellent reputations.  Personally, I have a harder time believing arguments of those who often lie and have poor reputations.  

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