Jeff Brown Michelle Pultoraks Class CO2520T Aug.

20, 2013 Ethics Statement Unit 8 Assignment I believe Ethical communication to be the art of transmitting information, ideas and attitudes from one person to another. Communication is the process of meaningful interaction among human beings. A communicator is morally responsible for telling the truth and for the social consequences that result if the truth is not told. This critical statement is meant to include not only our words but all the nonverbals as well. He tells a lie who has one thing in his mind and says something else by words or by any signs whatsoever. (St. Augustine) Now I think that is right on, even for someone from so long ago. To some moral philosophers the natural end of speech is to communicate our thoughts, and a lie is evil because it frustrates the very end and purpose of speech. Being honest and fair to the facts are obvious moral obligations. We must play by the game rules and obey the law. I picked up on this when I read from my favorite book, Games people play. Using outright lies, manufactured facts, and dirty tricks are clearly unethical. Here we encounter some problems. Prudence is a virtue. Can the ethical person be honest without being unkind? Can he or she be both tactful and forthright? Are some broad mental reservations allowed? I dont know for sure, but in the same way that a defendant pleads not guilty, or a doctor, questioned about professional secrets, replies I dont know. Yes, they say, because they were afraid! That leads to my main point. Fear / shame! I think of them as both brothers of wrong doing. And they prove to be very good at their job. When we are faced with asking what is the right way or the best way to communicate in a given situation, we are dealing with the ethics of communication. If we seek to escape or ignore these questions, we have made a clear ethical choice.

Jeff Brown Michelle Pultoraks Class CO2520T Aug. 20, 2013 Consider these important questions about communication ethics: Is it ever appropriate to lie to someone? Should you confront a speaker in a public setting if you know his or her argument relies on false or misused information? Is it wise to tell your best friend that his partner is cheating on him? Should your campus allow all groups, even hate groups, to speak freely on campus? What is the best way to respond to a university employee who becomes verbally abusive when you ask to speak to her manager? Making these and other decisions about what is the right or appropriate communication in a given situation requires considerable wisdom and skill and makes communication even more complex!

Source: Aslanian, C. B. 1996. Adult learning in America: Why and how adults go back to school. Washington, DC: Office of Adult Learning Services, the College Board. Astin, A. W. 1985. and Human Communication in Society, by: Jess K. Alberts.