Final Post :)

Throughout the course of the semester my personal views on blogging has not changed very much, although I did learn more things that I do not like about blogging. I did not like having to read, then start my computer and get on just to write about what I read, when we always discussed it in class anyways. Nick did bring up a good point in saying that this is a writing class so I respect it in that way, but I would prefer to write what I thought about the reading in my own words, not forcing it to be 500 words or so when I feel that I covered the point in less than 500 words. I felt that I would get redundant and my writing would start to trail off when trying to achieve 500 words. I understand that this may be the only way people interact with others in the classroom by responding to others blog entries, but that is not teaching them people skills that they will need in the real world. I like interacting in the class room and talking to people face to face while discussing topics to get the full context from their facial expressions and body language, but with the blog you have to assume that language along with what they are trying to say. I feel it is easier to understand what a person wants to say in person.

A blog, to me, is still a portal for people to write whatever they feel like, whenever they feel like it. After writing about 20 blogs I still do not perceive them as a learning tool. I still see it as a myspace or facebook page. People decorate them all cute and post pictures; I just do not see how that relates to the classroom and the topics we discussed on here. I still agree with my first blog when saying that a blog is used mostly for hate crimes and people to discuss their personal views on others. I can see how some people use it to keep in touch with other far away friends and maybe family members, but not a learning tool. Even when our class used it for classroom purposes, people still personalized them and had discussions not related to class through responding.

I also had some problems with blogging when it came time to do the homework. I did not understand fully what I was to be writing about, or what exactly the point was that I was trying to make. When it came time to respond to other people’s in class it became very clear that I either was on the same page or not. Also when responding I did not like how it had to be formal writing and about 50 words. We use formal writing in the blog and in our papers, but when we are responding and making suggestions to others I do not understand why that writing had to be formal as well.

Discrimination is a Virtue

Robert Keith Miller's essay "Discrimination is a Virtue" is a good thing to read and consider before looking at the upcoming presidential candidates. Miller states in his essay that discrimination is used wrong in today's society. The actual meaning is "the ability to tell the difference", not "racist" as most people in this generation grew up knowing it to mean. It is important to consider how to use the word since both presidential candidates are "minorities" in America; Hilary Clinton being a female, and Barack Obama a African American male. In order to discriminate the right way in this situation would be not looking at their race, or gender, but really listening to what they are saying and "being able to tell the difference" in your opinion. People are discriminating in a wrong sense by judging baised race and gender, some of them not even listening to what they are saying before they make their accusation.

Visual Intrepretation

imgurl=http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8633/screenhunter5rs8.jpg&imgrefurl=http://micpohling.wordpress.com/2007/06/12/world-morale-euthanasia/&h=324&w=376&sz=29&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=tl-gbgyH0dbKYM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deuthanasia%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

The graph shown above represents different countries and their views on Euthanasia, 10 being they agree and 0 being they do not agree. As seen 17 of the countries listed on the graph are over a 5, meaning more of that particular country agrees, while the other 11 countries are below a 5. Also shown is that non of the countries are completely against Euthanasia since non of them are at a 2, 1, or 0. The graph is representing how more and more countries are becming more open to helping their citizens who are terminally ill and are in great pain.

If Black English isnt a Language, Tell me what is

James Baldwin writes about how language is everywhere. It is how we communicate with one another, whether it is spoken words, hand gestures, or even clicks with the tongue, it is a form of communication and is different through out the world. In Spain were Spanish is the native language, it is still different from the Spanish used in Mexico or even South America. In England they use different dialects depending on what area they are in. Some words do not even exist in the same places. Even in America we can see all the different dialects. We have the southerns and northers, easterners, and westerners, and within each segment there are even more dialects. If the Cajuns are able to speak their guttural language, Baldwin states why cant the black have their language. It becomes modernized or censored by the white folks. Everyone wants to pretend to be a hard core rapper in LA, when they live in Orange County. The whites take the words they say and use them in everyday language as well, only when they do it they hide the real meanings and make it sound not as bad. If everyone else is allowed to speak their dialect without other people trying to sensor it or modernize it, why cant black language be the same.

CRAAP Test

The article "Feline Reactions to Bearded Men" did not pass the CRAAP test by any means. The article was written in 1999 and the evidence they used to support their web site was over ten years old, and over forty years in some sources. They use idiotic things such as pictures of cats being shown pictures of bearded men, and they are said to have reactions to them as opposed to non bearded men. The headline on the web site is even "Research that makes you laugh then think", that does not sound formal or accurate. Also it would be interesting to know who wants to use this information. It does not seem like it would be very relevant to researchers or students, maybe for humor, but nothing else.

http://www.improb.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html

Right to Fail

In the article “The Right to Fail” I think the title speaks for itself. People do in fact have a right to fail. Society over the years has taught us that going to college and getting a huge luscious office is the only way to prove you are successful. Now people are starting to realize that they can have success in their own individual ways. There is no longer a definite “right” or “wrong” answer. People have the right to find happiness and succeed in the peace core, or in a prestigious corner office. They also have the right to fail as many times as it takes to find what suits them the best.

This article relates to my family and I because Zinsser uses the idea that people learn what is “acceptable” and “unacceptable” thru their parents, and their parents. When my mom wanted to be the first in her whole family to go to college the rest of the family looked down on her and said that it was a waste of time and money because she would not amount to anything anyways. My dad on the other hand had to apply to every college in the book and make straight A’s in order for his parents to consider them their son. The line Zinsser uses for this example is the kids whispering “What if I fail?” and the parents response being “Don’t”. My mother ended up getting more scholarship money for academics then my dad did for football, and she came out with a higher degree. She found her success in doing her school work and getting a good degree, while my dad found his success in playing sports and then focusing on getting a degree. When it came time for me to choose what I wanted to do with my life I took both of their stories into consideration to figure out my own individual outcome of what I thought of as success.

I have failed more times in my life that I would like to actually admit to, but the ironic thing was I did learn from every single slip-up. I am a product of my mother and take pride in my grades and doing well in school. I find success in working towards getting two masters degrees, just as much as a peace core person find success in helping other people.

Success is defined in many different ways and it is up to the individual to fail a couple times in order to find out what they truly consider their own success.

Logical Fallacies

In the article " Vegas clinic may have sickened thousands", the title already portrays a fallacy. MAY HAVE sickened thousands, says who?? This is an example of Begging the Question, Appeal to Improper Authority/ Appeal to Biased Authority, and Hasty Generalization. It is considered begging the question because the author is assuming that there are thousands infected. It is appeal to improper authority/ appeal to biased authority because the author never says where he got his facts from an authority that proved it was thousands infected. Also a hasty generalization because he could, and probably is, exaggerating.

The discovery led to the biggest public health notification operation in U.S. history.....
This sentence is also a hasty generalization because how does this author know this is the biggest public health notification in U.S. history?

Bell said such improper procedures appear to be more common in outpatient surgical centers like the endoscopy center. Unlike hospitals, such centers often do not have employees whose sole responsibility is to monitor and educate staff on best practices.
This is an example of Straw Man because the author is putting down the outpatient centers in a way saying this infection amoung thousands happened because it was an outpatient not a hospital where the staff is more responsible because they have less responsibilities.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5595894.html