The document discusses the unruly nature of the tongue and how it often disobeys orders and says things unintentionally. It argues that debates are examples where speakers can skillfully modify and "vandalize" their opponent's points to use the ideas against themselves. This is done through rhetorical techniques like rephrasing the ideas with ironic twists or graffiti-like modifications. The document suggests that good communication allows for some degree of "vandalism" through sense-making rather than just insisting on political correctness.

1. Alexander Chung
YOUR TONGUE IS A
VANDAL

2. The tongue is the most treacherous organ.

3. It’s constantly disobeying orders.

4. And it gets away with so damn much.

5. Imagine the social damage that a
Freudian slip of the bladder would cause.

6. All we want from our tongues is
cooperation. A reliable partner that allows
thoughts to leave the body gracefully.

7. But all we get is
unruliness.

8. We’ve tried so hard to contain our
tongues. Some bite lips, while others
prefer the muffling effect of socks.

9. But, what are we holding back?

10. What if we gave the
tongue more
opportunities to
explore its rouge side?

11. An opportunity to be uncooperative.

12. An opportunity to “rock out like you’ve
been paid to disturb the peace.”
Anis Mojgani

13. Should every conversation unravel like
a thread on 4Chan? No.
But, there are ways we can modify the ‘cooperative principle’

14. Make your contribution such as it is
required, at the stage at which it occurs, by
the accepted purpose or direction of the
talk exchange in which you are engaged.
“”
Paul Grice

15. There are ways to subvert the accepted
purpose of a conversation or the intended
meaning of a person’s words.

16. ALEXANDER CHUNG
Debates are perfect examples.

17. ALEXANDER CHUNG
I listened carefully to the debate:
“The Catholic church is force for good.”
John Onayekan
For Against
Ann Widdecombe
Christopher Hitchens
Stephen Fry
VERSUS

18. ALEXANDER CHUNG
I was most compelled when a speaker
served an opponent’s point back to them
after defacing it with some light graffiti.
I visualized a few examples

19. ALEXANDER CHUNG
26% of health institutions
that treat HIV are run by
the Catholic church.
John Onayekan

20. ALEXANDER CHUNG
The Catholic church is
100% responsible for
condemning condoms.
Christopher Hitchens

21. ALEXANDER CHUNG
View of the church as
dominated by hierarchy.
a
clutch
of hysterical
& sinister
VIRGINS
who are the only owners of
THE TRUTH
Followers & Victims
Christopher Hitchens’

22. ALEXANDER CHUNG
the
is not about
PRIESTS
its about a
in costume
LARGER
CHURCH
Community
View of the church as a
global community.
John Onayekan’s

23. ALEXANDER CHUNG
It’s a severe crisis. We need to
apply the most loving pastoral care
to these victims.
“
Joseph Ratzinger on the
institutionalization of rape in
Catholic churches :

24. ALEXANDER CHUNG
It’s a severe crisis. We need to
apply the most loving pastoral care
to these victims.
“
I’m sorry, haven’t they already had that?
Christopher Hitchens

25. In all these examples, it’s clear how the
speaker uses an idea against itself.

26. Kind of like that guy
who fucks with the
subway ads.

27. Some hypotheses

28. Good vandals are ironic.
Whether debaters or culture jammers.

29. Good tongues are not held back by bitten
lips but, rather, placed firmly in cheek.

30. Good communication environments treat
vandalism as sense making not insolence.

31. Good conversation is not about saying the
right or ‘nice’ thing.

32. Good decks shouldn’t need further explanation.

33. But then again,
interesting things
happen when ideas are
lost in translation.