http://youtube.com/watch?v=eZkQYjciGzc
I watched a video on youtube about a person stranded on the plane. It was basically them getting off the plane after being on there for several hours. Even though I felt their anger, I didn’t see the point in all the cursing and complaining. I think the JetBlue staff was just looking out for safety reasons and were trying their best to please the passengers. After watching videos on youtube I always like to read the comments. Most of the people commenting felt the same way I did about the passengers being too rude to the flight crew. The behavior of these passengers certainly would not make me want to make their flight better. My work also may change due to their behavior toward me.
After reading about context and rhetoric, I realized how important a message
can affect an audience. The reading focused knowing your audience and thinking
about how they will react to your message. There were very helpful topics
within chapter 1 of the Thomson Handbook. This will be very helpful when thinking about the press release and the letter that will be addressed to the JetBlue customers. This letter and press release should relay the message to all JetBlue customers in a convincing and compassionate matter. I also think it is important to think about other readers who may not been a previous customer. Through a positive message the reader may become persuaded to travel with JetBlue.
The audience I will be addressing in the letter will be the passengers that anticipated a smooth flight on February 20, 2007 but were distraught after their flight turned for the worst. My goal in the release and letter is to persuade the customers that JetBlue is going to make changes, and that we were at fault in this crisis by not being prepared. I think using a tone that shows compassion will definitely show customers how sincere JetBlue is in their apology. Throughout the letter it will be important to relate to all the people involved in the crisis, and not just one set group of people. It will be important to think about how these people were affected and that they are not very fond of JetBlue at this time. The goal will be captivate my audience through this letter in a way that will gain their confidence in JetBlue.
Comments
Nice
I think you did a good job understanding where the people are coming from. And I think you did a good job at understanding what is important for the customers to get out of the letter. One thing that you should keep in mind is that these people are rightfully upset and therefore you should keep the letter short and concise. There is no point dragging on and on when the people have no interest in reading what you have to say. I like how you said that jetBlue is at fault in the crisis. I think is is important for people to realize that jetBlue understands where they went wrong. If they try and push this off as something that was through no fault of their own, people won't like that.
jetBlue
I agree with you that in your video the passengers were rude to the flight attendant just trying to get their job done. I think however that you need to dismiss this from your thoughts as you write the letter. The most important part of this letter is that the customers see that you understand where they are coming from and that you are sincere. If you have this situation in mind you may write a more defensive letter than one addressing the real issues. I also think that you should end you letter by describing some of the things that makes jetBlue different from other airlines. This will help persuade some of the people that you said have not been a customer before to give them a try.
Comment
I agree when you say that the TH did make us realize how important a message can affect the audience. Communication is a very delicate thing; it could bring many positive results as well as negative ones. As you mention in your reading response, customers did become persuaded to travel again with JetBlue due to the company's positive communication. They succeeded in identifying themselves with their customers and in apologizing, as well as offering safety (the customer bill of rights) which made them trust JetBlue's service. In this case, the audience reacted positively to the message. This should be a clear example of the importance of transmitting a positive message.
reply
I think it is a hard thing to judge when you see people yelling at the jetBlue staff for keeping them on the plane for a long time. I agree with you that cursing at the staff or yelling at them won't solve anything but it's hard to judge them without going what they went through. I've never had to sit on a plane for that long so I'm not sure how I would react. I think showing a lot of compassion in the business letter is a good way to go. Once again I've never been stuck on a plane that long before but I do know if I was I would appreciate a letter. I would also like the letter to be apologetic and show that the company is upset by the situation and I wouldn't hold them responsible since there is nothing that they really could of done.