critical thinking blog #4

The best chapter that i have read so far in Jacoby's book is chapter 10. "The Culture of Distraction" is the only chapter that has made me think about life. I get distracted so easily that its not even funny. I am currently doing this with my roommates in the living room chatting up a storm and i can barely focus. Our society is so distracted with other things like the lives of celebrities, as Jacoby focused on in chapter seven, and other events that are not necessary.
Jacoby always expresses her opinion in the most opinionated way that it almost reminds me of myself. I have both likes and dislikes about reading her book. I love how she will always put her point of view out for the world to read, but i cannot stand it sometimes because i believe that we are too much alike. It is the same relationship that my father and i have. We are so much alike that i cannot see him everyday or we will fight. In the future i will read more of Jacoby's books if she chooses to write more, but i am not sure if i will be able to finish it.

What would our country be like if everyone was as opinionated and honest as Jacoby is?

Pre Reading Blog #4

What is “junk thought”? Is it thinking that is worthless? What is that, exactly? What examples can you find in your experience? In your opinion, how does it influence people? Please end your blog with at least one good critical question.

Personally, i believe that "junk thought" surrounds us every single day. Information that is useless or information that we know we will forget in 5 minutes is JUNK. Most people like to continuously fill themselves with useless information that could be used to store something useful. In my spare time i actually like to read a book instead of spending countless hours in front of the tv watching a pointless show or watching a movie that only has one funny scene.

Junk thought influences people on a daily basis. Rumors for example, are mostly junk thought flowing around a high school campus that i constantly hear my younger sister and her friends talking about when they get home from school. Most of it isn't even true and i always hear them saying "Oh well i didn't believe it anyways." while talking about the other new rumor going around when they should be doing something productive. Junk thought is just another way to pass the time and fill in the extra space in our brain that could be used for something useful, like how to change a flat tire, which i should actually learn how to do!

How does one choose to analyze the "junk thoughts" that we hear? Do they eventually go away as we grow up or are they always going to be a part of our life?

Critical Thinking Blog #3

Consider the current youth popular culture compared to those of the past. What movements do you have in your youth culture? How are you a part of your youth culture?

Youth popular culture in my opinion, has not changed much from the popular culture of the past. When i spoke to my mom about the popular culture from when she was growing up, it wasn't too different at all. She told me all about the break dancing, Run DMC, Michael Jackson, and fashions while she was in high school. All of the teenagers seemed to copy all aspects of popular culture, just as we seem to do today. The different styles of dancing that we have today come from the different celebrities and music videos that we all watch. All of the popular music is played in the clubs and in everyones cars and homes. The certain fashions that we see on a daily basis all come from certain influences in our culture. Today, we have the same types of culture, but with different people. Run DMC and Michael Jackson are no longer the strongest influences on youth, their places have been filled by people like Lil Wayne and Rihanna. Walking through the mall you can see all of the similar styles worn in music videos and on television. Seeing all of the trends that are being followed today makes me realize that i am also one of the people who follow them. I constantly listen to music and follow the different trends that are currently popular. I look forward to seeing the ruture trends that my younger siblings will be following just as i have done, and am currently doing.

Pre Reading Blog #3

How do you perceive your popular culture? What does popular culture consist of in your world? Music? TV? The Web? Fashion? What attracted you to this particular section of popular culture? Why do you like it? How do you understand its history? Please end your blog with at least one good critical question.

In my life, popular culture is part of my daily routine. While i get ready for work, school, or to go out at night with my friends i always have my ipod playing. Music seems to make things go by so much faster and also makes getting ready fun. I don't watch too much tv, but when i do i have fallen into the same trap that most of us have, and watch reality tv. I am on the internet constantly, but have a hard time checking my email, which is why i have it forwarded to my phone. I know, its sad. I always have my phone on me at all times, which is why i do this. I even have GPS, and a whole bunch of other unnecessary things on my phone that only someone stuck in the wilderness would need. Fashion is also another story. Looking through magazines i constantly find something new to buy or incorporate what i already have in my wardrobe to fit the same style. Popular culture today has taken over almost everyone's lifestyle. We have come a long way since the tv's with big knobs and huge cell phones. It seems to make life a whole lot easier being able to carry everything with me at all times. The only issue that has came up as i wrote this blog is this "How would my life be different if i didn't have all of the luxuries that i have on a daily basis?"

How would the youth in today's society react if all of these luxuries tomorrow?

her'es my critical thinking & pre reading blog #2...since i have two accounts for different classes and posted them on the wrong one. oops.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Respond to the following prompt: This is always a tricky discussion, but Jacoby presents some sharp arguments about the debate between evolution and creationism. For this blog, create your own discussion about this debate. Where do you stand and why? What critical criteria have you used to consider this issue (if at all -- maybe it's the first time you've thought about it)? Where does this issue stand among the issues of the day?Here we go with creationism and evolution. Although Jacoby does argue her point very well, I am still unsure about how I feel about the situation. All in all, I am confused! Evolution seems to be the most logical explanation and arguments for evolution always seem to catch my attention. Evolution, in a Biology perspective, has to do with a change in inherited traits, or genes. This explanation is the reason for all of the life we have surrounding us from people to animals, etc... Creationism is more religious and has to deal with how things were created by a “god”. Even though evolution did seem persuasive with passing along information or genetics from person to person and so on, Creationism also has a strong argument in my eyes. Like I previously stated in my last blog, I am not too religious but some of my family members are. When I was younger I went to church and this explanation also seems logical to me. The main question that I have for both theories is this “If we are created from another being, whether it is a god like individual or from a biological perspective, who or what initially created that being?” It seems to be a constant confusing situation that I cannot seem to take a stand on yet.
Posted by valerie.e at 9:52 PM 0 comments

Sunday, February 8, 2009

pre reading blog #2
When i see the word pseudoscience i honestly don't know what to think. I know that the prefix "pseudo" means fake or unreal, but when the word science is added to the word, i get a negative definition in my head. There are so many different religions and studies in the world today that it is hard to take certain people or ideas seriously. Although i am not as religious as the rest of my family, i cannot agree with any certain situation completely. The argument between evolution and creation is another battle i cannot take a side on. Jacoby, as always, expresses her opinion and it is not always positive. I agree with some of her views, but others seem too far overdrawn for me. How are we supposed to believe something indefinitely when new theories are being proven or tested everyday?
Posted by valerie.e at 10:45 PM 0 comments

Critical Thinking Blog #1

I believe that critical thinking involves finding different ways to solve problems and improves ones skills through the thought process. I constantly use critical thinking within my criminal justice courses. In an investigation class I had to think of different situations and different reasons to explain the events I had seen in pictures. I’ve also had plenty of situations where I did not have to think critically. One of those situations was, as ironic as it may sound, was during work. There were certain days that were not busy at all and all I had to do was sit around. When I think of intellectualism, I think of a very educated answer. It has a positive connotation for me because it implies a higher level of thinking just at critical thinking does. When I think of logic and reason I also have a positive connotation. Logic and reason are both needed in critical thinking and problem solving. The basis of the answer which is reason and logic gives the correct reasoning for an answer.

Pre-Reading Blog #1

Here you are in college. How’s that working out for you? Consider your educational experience to this point. What are your impressions of education? What do you seek to gain from education? Have you enjoyed your educational experience through high school? Why or why not? Please end your blog with at least one good critical question (refer to "How to Develop a Critical Question").Define the following: Rationalism, Anti-Rationalism, Fundamentalism

College is going really well for me. I graduate in May, and will have two AA degrees. My current impressions on education vary from class to class. Each and every teacher i've had had a different style of teaching which gives me a different impression on education. Certain classes make education fun and make me eager to learn while others make me dread going to class and dread the education i'll be getting from it. I seek to gain the knowledge that will help further my career from the education i receive at school. Without knowledge for certain aspects of ones career, one cannot succeed. During high school i had a great educational experience. Being around all of my friends throughout the day helped make learning fun, and all of the school spirit activities took away from the stress of being a student. Education is an important part of today's lifestyle, without it where would we all end up and how different would our country be?

Rationalism: The principal or habit of accepting reason as the supreme authority of matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.

Anti-Rationalism: not accepting reason as the supreme authority.

Fundamentalism: Strict adherance to any set of basic ideas or principles.