What three considerations should one account for when developing a communication ethic? Provide an example (a personal one, that of a friend, from media, or the text) and describe how each consideration applies to this example

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

First, ethical evaluations of absolutism compared to relativism should be taken into consideration. Absolutism is the belief system in which one contends there is a rationally correct moral standard that holds true for everyone in every instance. On the other hand, relativism is the belief system where moral behavior varies by context, individual and cultures. Generally one is not a "true" absolutist or relativist, but falls somewhere in between.

Second, one should consider how language and word choice influence communication, behavior, and perception. Racial and ethnic slurs, sexist and homophobic language, and word that degrade others (i.e. idiot, monster, fascists) make open and constructive communication difficult and often cause individuals to be closed minded.

Third, receivers have an ethical responsibility to respond to unethical comments and communication. Unfortunately, sometimes power differentials make responding to unethical communication a difficult choice. For example, a female might want to respond to her boss' sexual comments and indicate that she is offended, but will remain silent in fear of the consequence of losing her job.

One example of ethical communication is provided by the text. Charee could tell her dad the truth that she was accepted at ASU, but then she will have to explain why she wants to leave Arizona to attend another school away from her family. If she chooses to lie, her life would be easier but she might damage her relationship. In this example, she decides to tell the truth. This choice probably places her closer to the absolutist end of the continuum. She also talks respectfully to her father, avoiding language that might degrade his education, knowledge, or relational position as parent. Finally, she takes the parent–child power difference into consideration in selecting a comfortable context, responding to nonverbal feedback (as a responsible receiver), and speaking respectfully to her father.