taking stock

I'm still definitely not sure about the whole audience vs. discourse community thing. (or, in question form, What is the difference between audience and discourse community, and why do I need to know this as a professional writer, if I'm writing for whoever is reading?)

I now know about rhetorics a lot better than I thought I did before this week. Or, at least now when I think of the word it does not have a negative connotation to it-or maybe the negativity is in how so many people view it, as they shouldn't. Anyway, I'm glad when I hear "political rhetoric" when the Republicans are slamming the Democrats or vice versa, I know that they don't really know what they are talking about.

I kind of feel rushed, and all my thoughts go mute.