In a society where productivity determines success, Devon Price challenges the common belief that “laziness” is to blame. Price’s essay, "Laziness Does Not Exist, But Unseen Barriers Do,” claims that what we often dismiss as “laziness” is a response to unmet needs and hesitation towards unseen obstacles. Price draws upon his knowledge as a psychology professor and employs a blend of rhetorical strategies, including ethos, pathos, logos, tone, and word choice, to construct a compelling argument. By examining and analyzing these rhetorical strategies, Price tears down unconscious bias and preconceived notions about “laziness” and raises awareness about certain people's daily hardships.
Price establishes his credibility early in his essay through ethos by presenting himself as a knowledgeable and experienced professor in psychology: "I’ve been a psychology professor since 2012" (Price, Paragraph 1). Price creating a platform of authority early on is crucial as it lends weight to his arguments and tells readers to trust him as he is a professional. By giving readers a summary of his extensive experience with diverse students of all ages and backgrounds, Price illustrates his familiarity with the behaviors he discusses, encompassing his credibility. His first-hand experience as an autistic individual further solidifies his credibility; it allows him to perceive and analyze situations differently, giving him a unique perspective to recognize the underlying factors often mislabeled as “laziness.” He mentions, "I’m a neuroatypical psychologist. I know how unfair my field is to people like me" (Price, Paragraph 24), displaying his relation to the subject. His autism and professional expertise uphold his authority and strengthen his insights.
Price utilizes pathos to connect with readers emotionally by sharing personal stories of mislabeled “lazy” students. A poignant example is his account of a student who, despite appearing “lazy,” has mental health issues, struggling to manage therapy and medication side effects. Price writes, "She was busy with therapy and switching medications... She didn’t dare tell her other professors... But she trusted me to understand" (Price, Paragraph 25). This account shows empathy and understanding, directing the misconception of “laziness” into a relatable and emotionally impactful issue. Price encourages readers to reevaluate their assumptions and, instead of degrading and judging “lazy” people, approach them with compassion and help lift them.
Price’s use of pathos extends beyond personal stories to address broader social issues. He details the harsh realities faced by people experiencing homelessness, explaining how their behavior, often labeled as “lazy,” is a survival mechanism. For instance, he recounts how a homeless person might resort to alcohol or cigarettes as a coping mechanism to distract themselves from their harsh realities. Price explains, "If you’re laying out in the cold, drinking some alcohol may be the only way to warm up and get to sleep" (Price, Paragraph 9). Most readers can relate to feeling cold, hungry, or uncomfortable while trying to sleep, even if only occasionally. Price uses these shared experiences to bridge the gap between the reader’s life and those of homeless individuals. He discloses, "Few people who haven’t been homeless think this way. They want to moralize the decisions of poor people, perhaps to comfort themselves about the injustices of the world" (Price, Paragraph 10). Price’s line fosters a more empathetic and nuanced approach for readers to understand homeless individuals' behavior.
Price also strengthens his argument through logos, supporting his claims with logical reasoning and evidence. Price references research that has long explained procrastination as a result of anxiety about performance or uncertainty about how to start a project (Price, Paragraph 16). By citing studies and expert opinions, he deconstructs the facade of “laziness” with a scientific basis and reasoning. This logical approach appeals to the readers' intellect and reinforces his argument. Price’s use of logos is further evident in his discussion of executive functioning challenges. He explains that many struggle to break down big tasks into smaller, specific, and ordered steps. This difficulty is often mistaken for “laziness.” Price shares a personal account of how he completed his dissertation efficiently and effectively by breaking it down into smaller, manageable tasks. He contrasts this with his students' experiences, who might need the external structures, organizational tools, and extra support to succeed. By providing real examples and backing them up with research, Price uses logos to demonstrate the complexities of behavior often mislabeled as “laziness.”
Tone and word choice are pivotal in conveying Price’s message. His tone of compassion and understanding aligns with his ubiquitous message. His choice of words, such as “unseen barriers” and “needs,” shifts the focus from pointing fingers and blaming individuals for their “laziness” to understanding their circumstances. His word choice mirrors an empathetic approach, using terms such as "barriers" and "needs" instead of "excuses" or "failures." Using this type of word choice cements his argument that people are trying to do their best in their circumstances.
However, Price’s tone and word choice also pose flaws. At times, he appears full of himself, even elevating and praising himself for being more trusted by marginalized students than his colleagues. For example, he describes how he allowed a student dealing with mental illness to miss classes and still thrive academically (Price, Paragraph 25). While this example shows his compassion and empathy, it might also come off as bragging, alienating readers who feel he's acting morally superior. Additionally, Price's use of vulgar language in passages such as, “It’s a lot of fucking work to be homeless. And when a homeless or poor person runs out of steam and makes a ‘bad decision,’ there’s a damn good reason for it” (Price, Paragraph 7), "In that chronically uncomfortable, over-stimulating context, needing a drink or some cigarettes makes fucking sense" (Price, Paragraph 9), and “She was a fucking badass, not a lazy fuck. I told her so” (Price, Paragraph 26) showcase his immaturity and can turn away his intended readers who may be more conservative or hold traditional views towards marginalized individuals.
In conclusion, Devon Price's essay "Laziness Does Not Exist, But Unseen Barriers Do" successfully uses a combination of rhetorical strategies such as ethos, pathos, and logos to challenge the notion that “laziness” is to blame for lack of success. Price raises awareness to be more empathetic in understanding “laziness” and support these “lazy” individuals instead of looking down on them. Although Price makes a compelling case for his theory on “laziness,” he is not wholly successful in accomplishing his purpose. Unfortunately, Price’s unprofessional word choice discredits and jeopardizes his work, questioning whom he wants to help and convey his message to.
Moreover, Price’s aggressive, arrogant tone discourages and potentially shuts down further discussion, giving readers no room to question his intellect and adopt his way of addressing so-called “lazy” behavior. While Price’s arguments are valid, a more respectful approach might better engage readers to ponder the factual issues of perceived “laziness” and help create more viable solutions to tackle “laziness.”
Works Cited
Price, Devon. “Laziness Does Not Exist, But Unseen Barriers Do.” Human Parts, 23 March 2018.