When_aa reading_aa through_aa chapter_aa 4_aa I_aa found_aa that_aa using_aa
different_aa languages_aa to_aa describe_aa the_aa same_ event_aa was_aa very_aa
interesting._aa It_aa show_aa us_aa how_aa something_aa can_aa be_aa viewed_aa
in_aa so_aa many_aa different_aa ways,_aa even_aa though_aa it_aa is_aa the_aa
same_aa thing._aa This_aa tells_aa us_aa that_aa we_aa are_aa all_aa different_aa
people_ and_ don't_ see_ or_ hear_ things_ the_ same. _aa
Overcoming_aa these_ issues_a can _aa be _aa dealt_ with _a by _aa using _aa
sense_aa of_a knowledge_aa and_aa thinking_aa things_aa though.I_aa have_a a_aa
hard_aa time_aa thinking_aa of_aa a_aa time_aa when_aa I_aa had_ an_aa
argument_aa that_aa turned_aa out_aa that_aa I_aa was_a mistaken._aa However_aa
I_aa have_ let_aa people_aa know_aa about_aa something_aa happening_aa and_a
it_aa turned_aa out_aa that_aa I_aa did_aa not_aa have_aa all_aa the_aa facts_aa
and_aa was_ wrong._aa I_aa admit_aa that_aa this_aa is_aa not_ a_a good_aa
feeling,_aa knowing_aa that_aa your_aa word_aa isn't_aa what_aa you_aa say_aa
it_ is_ damages_ your_ reputation_ and_ people_ will_ not _aa
take_aa your_aa word_aa for_aa anything_aa in_aa the_aa future.I_aa do_aa enjoy_aa
the_aa videos_aa every_aa week_aa and_aa especially_aa this_aa week._aa These_aa
videos_aa and_aa exercises_aa within_aa the_aa video_aa are_ a_aa good_aa way_aa
to_aa get_ the_a point_aa across._aa As_aa for_aa having_aa any_aa questions_aa
about_a things_a learned_aa this_ week._ As_aa I_aa read_aa all_aa four _aa
of_aa the_ social_ errors _aa and _aa biases_ I _aa would_ have _aa to _aa
say_aa that_aa I_aa am_aa guilty_aa of_aa "one_ of_aa us/One_aa of_aa them"_aa
way_aa of_aa thinking._aa In_aa just_aa thinking_aa about_aa when_aa I_aa am_aa
describing_aa a_aa person_ in_aa a_a particular_aa situation_ I_aa tend_aa to_aa
first_aa describe_aa their_ origin_aa or_aa nationality;_aa their_aa gender_aa and_aa
lastly_aa some_aa characteristic_aa about_aa them._aa However,_aa being_aa Puerto_aa
Rican,_aa I_ tend_aa to_aa do _aa it_aa everyone. _aa Which _aa makes _aa no _aa
sense._aa I_aa can_aa overcome_aa this_aa social_aa error_aa by_ thinking_aa
before_aa I_aa speak_aa and_aa take_aa a_aa moment_aa to_aa cognitively_aa
think_aa about_aa how_aa I_aa describe_aa a_aa person_aa when_aa speaking._aa
These_aa chapters_aa have_aa been_aa very_aa eye_aa opening_aa to_aa me._aa
My_aa entire_aa family_aa including_aa myself_aa are_aa known_aa for_aa displaying_aa
"ad_ hominem"_ fallacy._ By_ using_ critical_ thinking_ skills _aa
such_aa as_aa listening_aa to_aa understand_aa and_aa not_aa just_aa listening_aa
to_aa reply._aa Ask_aa questions_aa in_aa order_aa to_aa gain_aa the_ person's_aa
perspective._aa Do_aa not_aa be_ too_aa quick_aa to_ respond,_aa do_aa my_
own_ research_ in_ order_ to_ make_ an_ educated_ reply. _aa
Honestly,_aa I_aa really_aa enjoyed_aa learning_aa about_aa the_aa different_aa
types_aa of_aa fallacies_aa that_aa we_a encounter_aa on_aa a_aa daily_ basis._aa
It_ is_ very_ intriguing_ how _aa I _aa have_ lived_ all_ this _aa
time_aa and_a never_aa knew_aa about_a these_aa concepts._aa After_aa reviewing_aa
the_aa reading_aa for_aa this_a week_aa I_aa realize_aa that_aa out_aa of_aa all_aa
of_aa the_aa skills_ that_aa come_aa with_aa critical_aa thinking_ the_aa one_
I_aa struggle_aa with_aa on_aa this_aa weeks_aa reading_aa is_a "knowledge"_
I_ tend _aa to_ lean_ on_ experiences_ versus_ knowledge._ I _aa
have_aa never_aa been_aa one_aa to_a read_aa or_aa dig_aa too_ deep_aa into_aa
books_aa or_aa finding_aa the_aa truth_aa in_aa things._aa I_aa have_aa always_aa
felt_a life_ experience_ was _aa the_aa best_a teacher._aa I_aa plan_ to _aa
continue_aa to_aa read_aa and_aa open_aa my_aa mind_aa to_aa learn_aa more_aa
for_aa knowledge_aa .When_aa it_aa comes_aa to_aa fallacies_aa the_aa one_aa
that_aa sticks_aa out_aa and_aa hits_aa home_aa to_aa me_aa is_aa the_aa accent!_aa
I_ am_aa an_ emotional_ thinker_ by_aa nature_ so_ my_ facial _aa
expressions_aa or_aa the_aa words_aa that_aa I_aa say_aa may_aa have_aa more_a
emphasis_ than _aa others._ I_ like_ to_ consider_ this_ my _aa
"passionate_aa tone"_aa but_aa I_aa no_aa see_aa that_aa this_aa can_aa also_aa
come_aa across_aa aggressive_aa and_aa create_aa a_aa lot_aa of_aa
misunderstanding._aa Something_aa I_aa definitely_ need_aa to_aa work_aa
on.Again_aa the_aa most_aa important_aa take-away_aa from_aa this_aa week_aa
is_aa the_ fallacies_aa -_aa manipulation_aa comes_aa to_aa mind._aa I_ need_aa
to_aa really_a dig_aa deeper_aa into_ thought_aa and_ knowledge_aa instead_aa
of_aa leaning_a on_aa my_aa own_ thoughts,_aa emotions_aa and_aa opinions._a
Life_aa is_aa hard_aa but_a one_aa thing_aa I_aa have_aa learned_ and_aa I_aa
say_aa this_ all_a the_aa time_aa is_ that_aa "it_aa may_a be_aa a_ bad_
day_ but_ it's_ not_ a_ bad_ life"_ Learning,_ reading, _aa
understanding_aa and_aa finding_aa knowledge_aa will_aa set_aa you_aa free_aa to_a
truth._aa After_aa reviewing_aa the_ Four_aa Social_aa Errors_aa and_aa Biases_aa
presented_aa in_ this_aa week's_aa lesson,_ the_aa social_aa errors/_aa biases_aa
that_aa significantly_aa affects_aa me_aa is_aa social_aa Expectations._aa _aa
Social_aa expectations_ have_aa a_aa significant_aa influence_aa that _ can _aa
lead_aa to_aa collective_aa delusions_aa in_aa which_aa people_aa attempt_aa to_aa
fit_aa the_a evidence_aa into_aa their_aa cultural_aa worldview._aa
Because_aa I_aa have_aa a_aa strong_a sense_aa of_aa faith_aa and_aa integrity,_aa
and_aa I_aa believe_aa in_aa rules_aa and_aa structure,_aa which_aa could_aa
cause_aa me_aa to_aa have_aa errors_ or_aa biases_aa in_aa particular_aa
situations._aa
To_aa overcome_aa and_aa help_aa minimize_aa this_aa social_aa error,_ I_aa
need_aa to_aa be_aa aware_aa of_aa my_aa thinking_aa and_aa biases._aa I_
need_aa to_aa make_aa a_aa conscious_aa effort_aa to_aa implement_aa safety_aa
measures_a by _aa using_aa my_aa critical_a thinking _aa skills_aa to_ bring _aa
awareness_aa to_aa my_ thoughts_ and _aa opinions,_ evaluate_ my _aa
thoughts,_aa implement_aa reason_aa and_aa logic,_aa and_aa broaden_aa my_aa
relation,_aa perspective,_aa and_aa understanding._aa
A_aa fallacy_aa is_aa an_aa argument_aa that_aa appears_aa to_aa be_aa correct,_aa
but_ there _aa is _aa a _aa fault _aa found _aa with _aa additional_ analysis. _aa
There_ are_ numerous_ types_ of_ fallacies,_ and_ I_ have _
seen_aa or_aa have _aa used_aa before._ The_a one_aa I_a identify_aa with _aa
and_aa use_aa most_aa is_aa fallacies_aa of_aa relevance._aa Fallacies_aa of_aa
relevance_aa contain_aa one_aa or_aa more_aa premises_aa that_aa are_aa logically_aa
irrelevant_aa or_ unrelated _aa to _aa the _aa conclusion._ Fallacies_aa of_aa
relevancy_aa include_aa personal_a attacks,_aa appeals_aa of_aa force,_aa appeals_aa
to_aa pity,_aa popular_aa appeals,_aa appeals_aa to_aa ignorance,_aa hasty_aa
generalizations,_aa straw_aa man_aa fallacies,_aa and_ red_aa herrings._aa Effective_aa
critical_aa thinking_aa is_aa the_aa antidote_aa to_aa combating_aa fallacies_aa
because_aa it_aa requires_aa a_aa more_aa in-depth_aa examination_aa of_aa the_aa
information_aa presented._aa Using_aa critical_aa thinking_aa tactics_aa and_aa skills_aa
allows_a me _ to _a spare _aa my _aa emotions, _ opinions, _a and _aa biases _aa
from_ my_ argument._ Critical_ thinking_ requires_ questioning, _aa
evaluation,_aa logic/factual_aa supportive_aa evidence,_aa which_aa will_aa enable_aa
me_aa to_aa identify_aa disagreement_aa and_aa fault_ in_aa reasoning,_aa
protecting_aa me_ from_aa being_aa influenced_aa or_aa accepting_aa of_aa false_a
information._ It_ also_ allows_ me_ to_ determine_ if_ the _aa
fallacies_aa were_aa deliberate_aa or_aa unconsciously_aa .Reflecting_aa upon_aa
the_aa learning_aa activities,_aa concepts,_aa ideas,_aa and_aa topics_aa covered_aa
this_a week,_ I _aa identified_aa fallacies_ as _ the _aa most_aa intriguing. _aa
Learning_aa the_aa differences_aa and_aa identifying_ fallacies_aa is_aa the_aa
most_aa beneficial_aa lesson._aa I_aa will_aa implement_aa my_aa knowledge_aa
gained_ to _aa be_ a_a well-informed,_ educated, _aa effective_ critical _aa
thinker._aa Another_aa concept_aa presented_aa in_aa this_aa week's_aa notable_aa
lesson_aa is_aa the_aa different_aa types_ of_a cognitive/perceptual_ errors, _aa
including_aa self-serving_ biases._ I_ believe_aa that_aa I_a am_aa most _aa
affected_aa by_aa the_aa Social_aa Errors_aa and_aa Bias_aa “One_aa of_aa us/_aa
one_aa of_aa them”._aa Throughout_aa my_aa life_aa when_aa playing_aa sports_aa
and_aa attending_aa school_aa students_aa were_aa taught_aa to_aa sperate_ us_aa
from_aa the_aa students_aa from_aa the_aa other_aa school._aa We_aa were_aa
taught_aa that_aa they_aa were_aa the_aa outsiders_aa or_aa students_aa that_aa
were_aa not_aa as_ cool_aa and_aa smart_aa as_aa us._aa Though_aa sportsmanship_
was_aa taught,_aa I_aa believe_aa that_aa more_aa emphasis_aa could_aa have_aa
been_aa applied_aa to_aa better_aa values_aa when_aa it_aa came_aa to_aa
competitive_aa sports._aa To_aa overcome_aa this_aa bias_aa and_aa to_aa learn_aa
from_aa my_aa experiences,_aa it_a is_aa best_aa to_aa identify_aa if_aa I_aa
am_aa feeling_aa the_aa same_ way_aa and_aa change_aa my_aa lessons_aa
taught_ to_ the_ younger_ generation._ It_ is_ adamant_ that _aa
educators_a and_aa public_ servants_a set_aa a_aa higher_a standard_aa to _aa
eliminate_aa bias_aa that_ are_aa taught._aa We_aa must_aa show_aa that_aa all_aa
students_aa and_aa persons_aa are_aa equal,_aa and_aa we_ must_aa show_a
respect_aa even_ if_aa respect_aa is_aa not_aa given._aa Fallacy_aa of_aa
Composition,_aa when_ a_aa person_aa assumes_aa that_aa one_ bad_aa person_aa
in_aa a_aa group_aa must_aa represent_aa the_aa entire_aa group._aa Examples_aa
of_aa Fallacy_aa of_aa Composition_aa can_aa be_aa seen_aa when_ observing_aa
a_aa group_aa of_ minority_aa young_aa males._aa A_aa person_aa can_aa might_aa
view_aa most_aa of_aa a_aa group_aa as_aa “thugs_aa or_aa gangsters”_aa and_aa
will_a not _aa involve _aa themselves _aa with _aa the _aa group. _aa A _aa person _aa
will_aa not_aa see_aa that_aa its_aa possible_aa that_aa the_aa “thugs_aa and_aa
gangsters”_aa only_aa look_aa and_aa dress_aa a_aa certain_aa way._aa The_aa
persons_aa in_aa the_aa group_aa may_aa be_aa outstanding_aa citizens_aa and_aa
could_ possibly _a contribute _ to _ the _ community. _aa You _ must _aa
always_aa use_aa your_aa critical_aa thinking_aa skills_aa when_aa listening_aa to_
any_aa fallacy._aa It_aa is_aa best_aa to_aa think_aa though_aa the_aa layers_aa
of_aa information_aa that_aa is_ given_a to _aa you_a and _aa not _aa make _aa
assumptions_ from_ the_ fast_ limited_ information_ that_ is _aa
provided_aa in_aa the _aa beginning. _a Learning _ and _aa discussing _a biases _aa
is_aa probably_aa one_ of_aa the_aa most_aa sensitive_a topics_aa to_aa discuss._aa
More_aa than_aa likely_aa people_aa that_a are_aa less_aa confrontational_aa will_aa
have_aa difficulty_aa talking_aa to_aa someone_aa about_aa their_aa bias_aa and_a
will_ be_ uncomfortable_ explain_ their_ reasoning._ I_ enjoyed _aa
exploring_aa the_aa topic_aa of_aa biases_aa because_aa everyone_aa could_aa
benefit_a to _aa learn _aa more_aa about _aa themselves. _ I _aa believe_aa that _aa
I_ am_ most_a affected_aa by_ the_ Social_ Errors_a and_aa Bias _aa
“One_aa of_aa us/_aa one_aa of_aa them”._aa Throughout_aa my_ life_aa when_aa
playing_aa sports_ and_a attending _aa school_ students_ were_ taught _a
to_aa sperate_aa us_aa from_aa the_aa students_aa from_aa the_aa other_aa school._aa
We_ were_ taught_ that_ they_ were_ the _aa outsiders_ or _aa
students_ that_ were_ not_ as_ cool_ and_ smart_ as_ us. _aa
Though_ sportsmanship_ was_ taught,_ I_ believe_ that_ more _aa
emphasis_aa could_aa have_aa been_aa applied_aa to_ better_aa values_aa when_aa
it_aa came_aa to_aa competitive_aa sports._aa To_aa overcome_aa this_aa bias_aa
and_aa to_aa learn_aa from_aa my_aa experiences,_aa it_aa is_aa best_aa to_aa
identify_a if_ I_aa am_aa feeling_aa the_aa same_ way_ and_aa change _aa
my_ lessons_ taught_ to_ the_ younger_ generation._ It_ is _
adamant_aa that_aa educators_aa and_aa public_aa servants_aa set_aa a_aa higher_aa
standard_aa to_aa eliminate_aa bias_aa that_aa are_aa taught._aa We_aa must_aa
show_aa that_aa all_aa students_aa and_aa persons_ are_aa equal,_ and_aa we_aa
must_aa show_aa respect_aa even_aa if_a respect_aa is_aa not_aa given.
Fallacy_aa of_aa Composition,_aa when_aa a_aa person_aa assumes_a that_ one_aa
bad_aa person_a in_aa a_ group_a must_aa represent_aa the_aa entire_aa group._aa
Examples_aa of_aa Fallacy_aa of_aa Composition_aa can_aa be_aa seen_aa when_aa
observing_aa a_ group _aa of_a minority _aa young _aa males. _aa A _aa person _aa
can_aa might_aa view_aa most_aa of_aa a_aa group_aa as_aa “thugs_aa or_aa
gangsters”_aa and_aa will_aa not_aa involve_aa themselves_aa with_a the_ group._aa
A_aa person_aa will_aa not_aa see_aa that_aa its_aa possible_aa that_aa the_a
“thugs_ and_ gangsters”_ only_ look_ and_ dress_ a_ certain _aa
way._aa The_ persons_aa in_aa the_aa group_ may_aa be_aa outstanding_aa
citizens_aa and_ could_ possibly _aa contribute _aa to_ the _aa community. _aa
You_aa must_aa always_aa use_aa your_aa critical_aa thinking_aa skills_aa when_aa
listening_a to_aa any_ fallacy._a It_aa is_aa best_ to_aa think_aa though _aa
the_a layers_a of_ information_aa that_aa is_a given_aa to_aa you_a and _aa
not_aa make_aa assumptions_aa from_aa the_aa fast_aa limited_aa information_aa
that_aa is_ provided_a in_aa the_aa beginning.
Learning_aa and_a discussing_aa biases_a is_ probably_ one_ of_ the _aa
most_aa sensitive_aa topics_aa to_aa discuss._aa More_aa than_aa likely_aa people_aa
that_aa are_aa less_aa confrontational_aa will_aa have_aa difficulty_aa talking_aa
to_aa someone_aa about_aa their_aa bias_aa and_aa will_aa be_aa uncomfortable_aa
explain_aa their_ reasoning._aa I_aa enjoyed_aa exploring_aa the_aa topic_aa of_aa
biases_aa because_aa everyone_aa could_aa benefit_aa to_aa learn_aa more_aa about_aa
themselves._aa Diffusion_aa of_ responsibility_aa effects_aa me_aa because_aa I_aa
do_aa not_aa pay _aa much _aa attention _aa when_a in _aa a _aa large _aa group. _aa
I_aa have_aa been_aa working_aa on_aa that_aa though_aa because_aa if_aa I_aa
were_aa struggling_aa and_aa needed_aa help_aa moving_aa something_aa for_aa
example_aa I_aa would_ hope_aa people_aa in_aa a_aa group_ would_aa help_aa
me_aa move_aa the_aa objects._aa The_aa one_ fallacy_aa I_aa see_aa used_aa
almost_aa everyday_aa in_aa my_aa line_aa of_aa work_aa is_aa appeal_aa to_aa
force._aa Being_aa in_aa the_aa military_aa you_aa always_aa have_aa someone_aa
who_ is_ a_ higher_ ranking_ who_ tends_ to_ use_ their _aa
rank_ or_ position_ to_ over_ power_ junior_ soldiers_ when _aa
corrected._aa Critical_aa thinking_aa comes_a into_aa effect_aa when_aa I_aa listen_aa
to_ the_ higher_ ranking_ individual_ and _aa just_ take_ a _aa
moment_aa to_aa process_aa the_aa reasoning_aa and_aa so_aa called_aa facts_aa
used_aa in_aa the_aa argument,_aa if_aa there_aa is_ no_ actual_ facts _a
or_aa reason_ behind_aa their_ argument_aa I_aa will_aa not_aa take_a place_aa
because_aa it_ will_ only_ lead_ to_ them_ to_ use_ appeal _aa
to_aa force_a with_aa me_aa or_aa the_aa junior_aa soldiers._aa Personally_aa I_aa
enjoyed_aa how_aa social_aa error/bias_aa and_aa fallacies_aa were_aa well_aa
broken_aa down_aa to_aa understand_aa the_aa actual_aa meanings._aa Going_aa
more_aa in_aa depth_aa with_aa each_aa one_aa actually_aa gave_aa me_aa a_aa
better_ understanding_ of_ how_ each_ of_ them_ is_ used _aa
which_ provided_ more_ knowledge._ In_ reviewing_ the_ 4 _aa
Social_aa Errors_aa and_aa Biases_aa One_aa of_aa us/None_aa of_aa Them,_aa
Social_ Expectation,_ Group_ Pressure_ and_ Conformity_ and _aa
Diffusion_aa of_aa Responsibility._aa Group_aa Pressure_aa has_aa the_aa most_aa
effect_aa on_ me_aa in_aa my_aa work_aa environment.
I_aa can_ help_aa overcome_aa Group_aa Pressure_aa by_aa taking_aa the_aa
time_aa to_aa speak_aa to_aa each_aa of_aa the_aa team_aa members_aa individually_aa
and_aa educate_aa them_aa to_a help_aa them_aa understand_aa facts_aa to_aa
form_aa their_ own_ opinion_aa and_ be_aa less_ persuaded_aa by_aa the_aa
group._aa For_aa each_aa team_aa member_aa to_aa have_aa their_aa own_aa
informed_aa response_aa to_aa be_aa an_aa individual.I_aa personally_aa have_aa
seen_aa Ad_aa Hominem_aa in_aa an_aa argument_aa in_aa the_aa presidential_aa
debates._aa The_aa debates_aa had_aa each_aa of_aa the_aa candidates_aa attack_aa
others_ personally._ Candidates_ involved_a others_ families._ There _aa
was_aa no_aa direct_aa fact_aa to_aa what_aa they_aa were_aa stating_aa it_aa
was_aa to_aa avoid_aa answering_ a_aa question_aa they_aa did_aa not_aa want_aa
to_a answer_ or_a did_a not_aa have_ the_ answer_aa to_aa possibly. _a
Critical_aa thinking_aa skills_aa will_aa make_aa you_aa less_aa likely_aa to_aa
be_aa influenced_aa by_aa arguments_aa that_aa are_aa based_aa on_aa fallacies_aa
and_aa faulty_aa reasoning_aa because_ you_aa will_aa investigate_aa to_aa make_aa
sure_aa that_ you_aa have_aa facts_aa and_aa if_aa you_aa should_ let_aa it_aa
influence_aa you_aa or_aa you_aa are_aa right_aa to_aa disagree_aa and_aa not_aa
be_aa influenced._aa The_aa learning_aa activities_aa this_aa week_aa were_aa very_aa
detailed._aa There_aa were_aa many_aa types_aa of_aa fallacies._aa Many_aa that_aa
were_aa very_aa similar_aa in_aa meaning_aa by_aa changing_aa a_aa word_aa
you_aa change_aa the_aa meaning_aa .The_aa most_aa interesting_aa to_aa me_aa
was_ the _aa video _aa "The _aa Red _aa Herring _aa and _aa Ad _aa Hominem _aa
Attack"._aa It_aa explained_aa the_aa fallacies_aa in_aa detail_aa and_aa gave_aa
real_aa life_ examples_aa of_aa how_a they_aa were_aa used.I_aa feel_ that_aa
all_ the_ fallacies_ are_ a_ little_ confusing_ as_ to_ how _aa
to_aa they_aa are_ used._aa I_aa will_aa need_aa to_aa spend_aa some_ time_a
reviewing_aa them_aa for_aa further_ knowledge_aa to_aa know_aa the_ name_aa
and_aa to_aa be_aa able_aa to_aa identify_aa them_aa easier._aa Self-serving_aa
bias_ affects_ me_ the_ most_ in_ my_ life._ My_ career _aa
is_aa predominantly_aa male_aa driven,_aa which_aa requires_aa me_aa to_aa be_aa
extremely_aa confident_aa and_aa controlling._aa A_aa lot_aa of_aa my_aa male_aa
colleagues_aa are_a intimidated_aa by_aa my_aa personality,_aa which_aa hinders_aa
our_aa professional_aa relationship._aa _a I_aa must_aa remind_aa myself_ that_aa
I_aa no_ longer_aa have_aa complete_aa control_aa over_aa situations,_aa allowing_aa
someone_aa to_ lead.
Equivocation_aa is_aa a_ fallacy_aa I_aa have_aa personally_aa experience_aa a_a
lot_aa in_aa my_aa life._aa A_aa company’s_aa rules_aa and_aa regulations_aa are_aa
written_aa in_aa “black_aa and_aa white,”_aa but_aa not_aa all_aa situation_aa can_
be_aa determined_aa by_ the_aa rules._aa There_aa are_aa gray_aa areas_aa in_aa
situations,_aa that_aa a_aa critical_aa thinker_ must_aa reason_aa about_aa before_aa
deciding._aa As_aa a_aa manager_ you_aa must_aa ask_a how_aa or_aa why_aa
a_aa situation_aa arose_aa to_ terminate_aa an_aa employee,_aa otherwise_aa you_aa
could_aa destroy_aa a_aa life._aa In_aa reference_aa to_aa the_aa Social_aa Errors_aa
and_aa Biases_aa presented_aa in_ the_aa book,_aa I_aa am_aa most_aa affected_aa
by_aa the_aa bias_aa of_aa “One_aa of_aa us/One_aa of_aa them.”_aa I_aa am_aa
affected_aa in_aa several_aa aspects_aa of_aa my_ life._aa I_ am_aa affected_aa
in_aa the_aa “Blue_a States/_aa Red_aa States_ in_aa the_aa church_aa where_aa
the_aa church_aa is_aa the_aa “Red_aa States”_aa and_aa my_aa wife,_aa and_aa
I_ are_a in_a the_a “Blue_ State”_a How_a do_aa y0ou_aa overcome _aa
this_aa bias._aa That_aa is_aa a_aa good_aa question._aa The_aa idea_aa is_ to_aa
pray_ for_ the_ people_ that_ cannot_ see_ the_ truth_ of _aa
what_aa is_aa happening_aa can_aa change_aa their_ minds._aa The_aa second_aa
idea_aa would_aa be_aa to_aa take_aa the_aa higher_aa road_aa and_aa talk_aa
to_ the_ people _a involved _aa to _aa help _aa see _aa to _ a _aa better _aa
understanding_aa of_aa how_aa we_aa can_aa fix_aa this_ and_aa move_aa on.I_aa
think_aa we_aa all_aa have_aa had_aa the_aa opportunity_aa to_aa use_aa one_aa
or_aa more_aa of_aa these_aa fallacies_aa in_aa an_aa argument_aa at_aa one_aa
time_aa or_aa another._aa I_aa believe_aa in_a my_aa case_aa I_aa would_aa
have_aa to_aa go_aa with_aa the_ Fallacy_ of_a Division._a The_aa fact _aa
is_aa that_aa with_a my_aa membership_aa with_aa an_aa organization_aa
automatically_aa makes_aa me_aa a_aa member_aa of_aa a_aa “Red_ States”_aa
group_aa when_aa I_aa am_aa not_aa that_aa type_aa of_aa member_aa by_aa
any_aa means._ I_aa am_aa guilty_aa of_aa inclusion,_aa not_a by_aa choice._aa
This_aa class_aa on_aa Critical_aa thinking_aa has_aa really_aa opened_aa my_aa
eyes_aa to_a the_aa problems/fallacies_aa of_aa a_aa lot_aa of_ things_aa that_aa
I_aa was_aa not_aa aware_aa of._aa I_aa will_aa now_aa be_aa warier_aa of_aa
these_aa situations_aa and_aa will_aa do_aa better_aa to_aa make_aa better_aa
decisions_aa down_aa the_aa road.Reflecting_aa on_aa what_ was_aa covered_aa
this_aa week._aa I_aa believe_aa everything_aa was_aa well_aa covered_aa this_aa
week._aa However,_aa the_aa videos _ were_aa a _ useful _ source _ of _aa
work_ on_ fallacies._ The_ book_ was_ also_ source_ in _aa
showing_aa the_aa differences_aa in_aa Social_aa Errors/Biases,_aa and_ the_aa
fallacies_aa in_aa arguments._aa In_aa time._aa I_aa will_aa be_aa working_aa on_aa
these_aa Social_aa Errors/Biases,_aa and_aa fallacies_aa to_aa make_aa better_aa
decisions_ ._ I_ feel_ like_ I_ am_ more_ susceptible _aa to _aa
group_aa pressure_aa and_aa conformity._aa I_aa have_aa always_aa been_aa a_aa
person_aa who_aa wanted_aa to_aa be_aa included_aa in_aa the_aa group_aa so_aa
I_aa socialized_aa by_aa doing_aa what_aa they_aa did_aa whenever_aa they_aa
asked_aa me_ to._aa Even_aa though_a I_aa sometimes_aa try_ to_aa resist,_aa
it_a is _aa very_aa easy _aa for_aa me_ to _aa give _aa in _aa to _aa whatever _aa
other_aa people_aa are_aa doing_aa at_aa that_aa moment_aa and_aa as_aa a_aa
result,_aa I_aa had_ picked_aa up_aa some_aa bad_aa habits_aa for_aa a_aa
couple_a of_ years _aa that _aa became _aa almost_aa routine. _aa One _aa way _aa
I_aa could_aa avoid_aa this_aa is_aa by_aa just_aa avoiding_aa the_aa people_aa
who_aa are_aa bad_aa influences,_aa I_aa have_aa tried_aa setting_aa limits_aa for_aa
myself_aa whenever_aa I_aa was_aa around_aa these_aa people_aa but_aa in_aa
the_aa end,_ when_aa they_aa wanted_aa to_aa do_aa more,_aa I_aa did_a as_aa
well._aa one_aa thing_aa I_aa see_aa often_aa if_aa you_aa can_aa call_aa it_aa
a_aa fallacy,_aa is_ the _aa over-exaggeration_aa of_aa a_aa story,_aa many_aa
times_aa I_aa have_aa seen_aa people_aa take_aa a_aa story_aa that_aa was_aa
mostly_aa true_aa and_aa exaggerate_aa the_aa results_aa to_aa obtain_aa more_aa
sympathy_ or _aa respect._ people_ will_ often _aa add_ to_ the _aa
story_ or _ leave _ parts _ of _ a _ story _aa out _ to _ make _aa
themselves_ look_ better_ in_ other_ peoples_ eyes,_ this_ is _aa
very_aa hard_aa to_aa avoid_aa but_aa is_aa also_aa something_aa to_aa look_aa
out_aa for._aa More_aa often_aa the_aa individual_aa will_aa add_aa parts_aa to_aa
the_aa story_aa after_aa they_aa have_aa already_aa told_aa it_aa the_aa first_aa
time_aa and_aa this_aa usually_aa helps_a me_aa tell_aa if_aa someone_aa is_aa
over-exaggerating._aa when_aa someone_aa is_aa trying_aa to_aa gain_ sympathy_aa
from_aa a_ story,_aa they_aa will_aa usually_aa keep_aa it_aa short_aa and_
toss_ in _aa an_ additional _aa detail_ after _aa they _aa are _aa finished _aa
telling_aa it_aa or_aa try_aa to_aa make_aa a_aa big_aa thing_aa seem_aa like_aa
it's_aa not_aa a_aa big_aa deal._aa by_aa analyzing_aa a_aa person's_aa posture_aa
and_ tone_ you_ can_ usually_ pick_a out_ what_ part_ of _aa
the_aa story_aa was_aa the_aa fallacy._aa one_aa thing_a that_a has_aa confused_aa
me_aa about_aa chapter_aa 5_aa is_aa the_aa use_aa of_a fallacy_ recruitment,_a
it_aa also_aa interested_aa me_aa because_aa I_aa questioned_aa whether_aa such_aa
a_aa group_aa actually_aa believes_aa what_aa they're_aa doing_aa is_aa right,_aa
or_aa if_aa they_aa know_aa what_aa they_aa are_aa doing_aa is_aa wrong_aa
but_aa use_ reasoning_aa to_a get_aa other_aa people_aa to_aa believe_aa them._aa
Also,_aa why_aa would_aa such_ a_a group_ want_aa to_aa grow_aa and _aa
disassociate_a from_aa their_aa family_a just_aa to_aa be_ part_a of_a a _aa
different_aa family,_aa the_aa whole_aa idea_aa seemed_aa very_ counter-intuitive._aa
Chapter_aa 4_aa talks_aa about_aa Diffusion_aa of_aa Responsibility_aa as_aa an_aa
error_aa in_aa thinking,_aa and_aa it's_aa one_aa that_aa I_aa had_aa never_aa
really_aa thought_aa about_aa before._aa After_aa reviewing_aa it_aa (and_ the_aa
other_aa three),_aa it's_aa definitely_aa the_aa one_aa I'm_aa most_aa affected_aa
by._ More_ often_ than_ I'd_ like_ to_ admit,_ I'll_ see_aa
something_aa happen_aa at_a work_aa that_a I_aa could_aa fix_aa or_aa address,_aa
but_aa elect_aa not_aa to_aa on_a the_aa grounds_aa of_aa "well,_aa it_aa isn't_aa
my_ responsibility*. _aa In_ order_ to_aa overcome _ it _ I'll _ need _aa
to_aa stop_a focusing_aa so_aa much_aa on_aa a_aa "required"_aa versus_aa "not_aa
required"_aa dichotomy,_aa and_aa make_aa room_ in_aa my_aa thinking_aa for_aa
a_ "should _aa even _aa though _aa it _aa isn't_ required"_ category.The _aa
fallacy_aa of_aa division_aa led_aa to_aa an_aa enormous_aa drop_a in_aa Verizon_aa
stock_aa prices_aa (around_aa 10%_aa in_aa just_aa one_aa week)_aa at_aa the_aa
end_aa of_ 2018._aa For_aa years,_aa users_aa of_aa the_aa website_aa Tumblr_aa
(owned_ by_ Verizon)_ complained_ about_ the_ prevalence_ of _aa
"Bots"_aa -_aa accounts_aa run_aa by_aa a_aa computer_aa program_aa that_aa
served_aa no_aa purpose_aa other_a than_aa to_aa post_a enormous_aa numbers_aa
of_aa links_aa (often_aa claiming_aa to_aa be_aa "Free_aa Porn"_aa to_aa entice_aa
users_aa to_ click_ them) _aa that_ would _ redirect_ to_ malware _aa
and_aa scams._aa The_aa Verizon_aa staff_aa took_aa the_aa characteristics_aa "our_aa
users_aa don't_aa like_aa Bots"_aa and_aa "Bots_aa often_aa post_aa adult_aa
content"_aa and_aa drew_aa the_aa incorrect_aa conclusion_aa "our_aa users_aa
don't_aa like_aa adult_a content"._aa As_aa a_aa result,_aa they_ banned_aa all_aa
adult_ content_ on_ the _aa website,_ despite _aa the _aa fact _a that _aa
many_aa of_aa the_aa website's_aa internal_aa communities_aa were_aa built_aa on_a
the_aa sharing_aa of_aa adult _ content. _aa Users _aa left _aa the _aa site _aa by _aa
the_aa thousands,_aa and_aa it_aa became_aa almost_aa entirely_aa unprofitable_aa
overnight._aa If_aa the_aa executives_aa had_aa exercised_aa some_aa critical_aa
thinking_aa skills_aa when_aa making_aa the_aa decision,_aa it_aa would_a have_aa
occurred_aa to_aa them_aa that_aa there_aa are_aa other_aa factors_aa besides_aa
the_aa nature_aa of_aa the_aa advertised_aa content_aa that_aa would_aa cause_aa
users_aa to_aa dislike_aa the_ bots_aa ._aa After_aa reviewing_aa the_aa Four_aa
Social_aa Errors_aa and_aa Biases_ the_aa one_aa I_aa am_aa most_aa affected_aa
by_aa is_aa "Diffusion_aa of_a Responsibility"._aa This_aa is_aa something_aa I_aa
have_aa recently_aa noticed_aa about_aa myself_aa especially_aa in_aa the_aa work_aa
place._aa I_a work_aa in_aa a_aa restaurant_aa so_ they're_aa are_ plenty _aa
of_aa little_aa things_aa to_aa do_aa if_aa I'm_aa not_aa busy._aa The_aa problem_aa
is_aa that _aa if_aa the_aa job_ hasn't_aa been _a assigned _ to _aa me _aa I _aa
wont_aa take_aa initiative_aa to_a do_a it._aa In_aa the_aa past_aa week_aa at_aa
work_aa I_aa have_aa been_aa putting_aa in_aa all_aa of_a my_aa effort_ to_aa
get_ what_ needs_ to_ be_ done_ with_ out_ my_ boss _aa
asking_aa me_aa to._aa I_aa do_aa dishes,_aa sweep,_aa roll_aa extra_aa silverware_aa
etc_aa and_a it_aa feels_aa a_aa lot_aa better_aa than_aa acting_aa lazy.
One_aa fallacy_aa I_aa have_aa seen_aa in_ an_aa argument_aa recently_aa was_aa
between_aa my_aa mother_aa and_aa brother._aa The_aa type_aa of_aa fallacy_aa
was_aa 'Fallacy_aa of_aa Accent"._aa Since_aa it_aa has_aa gotten_aa cold_aa in_aa
Michigan_aa my_aa brother_aa has_aa gotten_aa lazy_aa with_aa bring_aa in_aa
the_aa garbage,_aa leaving_aa it_aa in_aa the_aa front_aa yard,_aa instead_aa of_aa
the_aa back_aa yard_aa where_aa it_ goes._aa My_aa mom_aa always_aa asks_aa
him,_aa "I_aa told_aa you_aa to_aa bring_aa the_aa garbage_aa in,_aa why_aa
didn't_aa you?"_aa and_aa his_aa answer_aa is_aa always,_aa "What_aa do_aa you_aa
mean_aa mom?_aa I_aa did_aa bring_aa it_aa in,_aa it_aa is_aa in_aa the_aa
front_aa yard."_aa Even_aa though_a he_ knows_aa that_aa is_aa the_aa wrong_aa
spot_aa for_aa it_aa and_aa that_aa it_aa will_aa irritate_aa my_aa mom,_aa it's_aa
an_aa excuse_aa for_aa his_aa action.Critical_aa thinking_aa will_aa make_aa you_aa
much_a less_ likely_aa to_ be_ influenced_aa by_ arguments_ based _aa
on_aa fallacy_aa because_a it _aa allows _aa you _aa to _aa think _a for _aa your _aa
self,_aa rationalize_aa ideas,_aa find_aa factual_aa evidence.
The_aa most_aa interesting_aa activity_aa this_ week_ was_aa learning_aa about_aa
social_aa errors_aa and_aa biases_aa because_aa it_aa taught_aa me_aa a_aa lot_aa
about_aa myself_ and_aa others,_aa also_aa humbled_aa me_aa a_aa bit._aa The_aa
four_aa social_aa errors_aa and_aa biases,_aa I_aa hate_aa to_aa admit,_aa are_aa
all_ very _aa relatable _aa and _ habits _aa I _ have _aa done. _aa However, _aa
out_aa of_aa the_aa four_aa the_ most_aa relatable_aa to_aa me_a is_ group_
pressure_ and_ conformity._ Group_ pressure,_ also_ known_ as _aa
peer_ pressure_ in_ high_ school,_ gravely_ affected_ me._ I _aa
struggled_aa to_aa fight_aa for_aa my_aa own_aa opinion_aa and_aa rarely_aa
even_ formed_ my_ own_ opinion_ the_ majority_ of_ my _aa
childhood._aa My_aa past_aa has_aa given_aa me_aa a_aa drive_ to_aa overcome_aa
this_aa social_aa error._aa I_aa look_aa back_a and_ realize_aa how_aa unhappy_aa
I_aa have_ been_aa in_aa the_aa times_a I_ have_a just_aa followed_aa the_
crowd._aa Due_aa to_aa this_aa I_aa fight_aa harder_aa to_aa make_aa sure_aa I_aa
have_aa overcome_a conformity;_aa I_ fight_aa harder_ now_aa for_aa the _aa
voice_aa I_aa didn't_aa have_aa back_aa then._aa I_aa did_aa not_ realize_aa
until_aa reading_aa this_aa that_aa fallacies_aa are_aa everywhere._aa Unfortunately,_aa
I_aa feel_aa that_aa fallacies_aa and_aa stereotypes_aa are_aa very_aa intertwined_aa
._aa For_ example,_aa in_a the_a past_aa it_aa has_aa been_aa said_aa that_aa
african_aa americans_aa are_aa involved_aa in_aa more_aa criminal_ activity;_aa
this_aa seemed_aa true_aa due_aa to_aa the_aa higher_aa population_aa of_aa
african_aa Americans_aa in_aa prison._aa However,_aa it_aa has_aa been_aa shown_aa
that_aa these_aa communities_aa were_aa being_aa over_aa policed_aa leading_aa
to_ more _aa arrest._ It_ had _a nothing _ to _ do _ with _aa one _aa
race_aa being_aa more_aa criminal_ than_aa the_ other,_aa it_aa was_a due_
to_aa the_aa lack_aa of_aa policing_aa in_a white_aa neighborhoods_aa ,_aa and_aa
over_aa policing_aa in_aa black._aa With_aa critical_ thinking_aa you_aa are_aa
able_aa to_aa form_aa your_aa own_aa opinion._aa If_aa you_aa just_aa went_aa
by_ the_ prison_ stats_ it_a would_ seem_ true_ but_ with _aa
critical_aa thinking_aa you_aa can_aa dig_aa deeper_aa and_aa see_aa how_aa the_aa
variables_aa make_aa the_aa results_aa unreliable._aa You_aa can_aa only_aa come_a
to_aa this_aa conclusion_aa by_aa thinking_aa for_aa yourself_aa and_aa using_aa
reasoning._aa After_aa reading_aa the_aa four_aa social_aa errors/_aa biases,_aa
One_aa error_aa that_aa I_aa was_aa most_aa affected_aa by_aa was_aa the_aa
One_aa of_aa us_aa /_aa One_aa of_aa them_aa error._aa I_aa picked_aa this_aa
error_aa because_aa it_ stood_aa out_ the_aa most._a This_aa error_a affected_aa
me_aa because,_aa people_aa in_aa the_ world_aa today_ treat_aa others_aa
differently_aa for_aa many_aa different_aa reasons._aa For_aa example_aa due_aa
to_aa the_aa number_aa of_aa cases_aa we_ have_aa had_aa with_aa police_aa
and_ citizens_ killing,_ it_ has_ caused_ citizens_ to_ treat _aa
people_a who_ work_a in_aa law_aa enforcement_a different._aa It_a has _aa
caused_aa people_aa to_aa feel_aa as_ all_aa law_aa enforcement_aa officers_aa
are_aa bad_aa people._aa And_aa this_ so_aa far_aa is_ not_ true._aa Even_aa
with_aa so_aa much_aa going_aa on_aa there_aa still_aa some_aa good_aa law _aa
enforcement_aa officers_aa in_aa the_aa world._aa I_aa think_aa no_aa one_aa be_aa
judge_aa or_aa biases_aa against_aa a_aa person_aa because_aa of_aa there_aa
race,_aa job_aa title,_aa sex,_aa or_aa religion._aa Everyone_aa should_aa be_aa
treated_ the_ same._ Everybody_ should_ be_ held_ accountable _aa
of_aa there_ own_aa actions._a One_aa way_a I_aa can_aa overcome_aa this_a
error_aa is_aa by_aa stop_aa looking_aa at_aa one_aa person_aa actions_aa and_aa
holding_aa it_aa against_aa everyone.Fallacy_aa is_aa known_aa to_aa be_aa found_
in_aa a_aa argument_aa when_aa it_aa appears_aa to_aa be_aa correct_aa and_aa
incorrect._aa Informal_aa and_aa formal_aa fallacy_aa is_aa found_aa to_aa be_aa
different._aa Informal_aa Fallacy_ is _aa when_ an _aa argument _aa is _aa
psychologically_aa or_aa emotionally_aa persuasive_ logically_aa incorrect._aa With_aa
formal_aa fallacy_aa it_aa is_ when_aa argument_aa itself_ is_aa invalid._aa I_aa
can_aa relate_ to_aa informal_aa fallacy_aa because_aa when_aa thinking_aa with_aa
emotions_aa can_aa cause_aa you_aa think_aa something_aa or_aa a_aa problem_aa
can_ be_a more_ than_ it_ appears._ And_ that_ can_ lead _aa
to_aa an_aa argument_aa due_aa to_aa incorrectly_aa thinking_aa or_aa making_aa
assumption_aa to_aa something_aa that_aa appears_aa to_aa be_aa going_aa on_aa
and_aa that_aa is_aa not._aa There_aa have_aa been_aa times_aa when_aa I_aa
have_aa done_aa this_aa because_ I_aa was_aa thinking_aa based_aa on_ my_aa
emotions._ The_ Bias_ video_ was_ very_ good_ because_ it _aa
described_aa how_aa people_aa can_aa treat_aa others_ different_aa for_aa many_aa
different_aa reasons._aa The_aa social_aa errors/bias_aa in_aa the_ book_aa that_aa
I'm_aa the_aa most_aa affected_aa by_aa is_aa one_aa of_aa us/one_aa of_aa them_a
errors._aa Unconsciously_aa at_aa times_aa we_a tend _ to _aa treat _aa people _aa
who_aa are_ similar_aa to_aa us_aa a_aa little_aa bit_a better_a and_ with_aa
more_aa respect_aa than_aa we_aa treat_aa others._aa We_aa tend_aa to_a
automatically_aa treat_aa others_aa who_ are_aa different_aa from_ us_aa with_aa
suspicion._aa My_aa example_aa is_aa when_aa I_aa meet_aa someone_aa that_aa
speaks_aa the_aa same_aa language,_aa I_aa automatically_aa feel_aa like_aa we_aa
have_aa a_aa connection_aa because_aa we_aa have_aa something_aa in_aa common._a
In_ my_ mind_ it_ seems_ like_ they_ would_ be_ easier _aa
to_aa trust._aa However_aa logically_aa I_aa know_aa that_aa it's_aa not_aa the_aa
case._aa A_aa way_aa to_aa overcome_aa would_aa be_aa by_aa increasing_aa self-
awareness_aa and_aa letting_aa go_aa of_aa many_aa assumptions_aa .Fallacy_aa
of_a equivocation _aa is_aa the_aa fallacy_ that _aa I've _aa personally _aa seen _aa
used_aa in_aa an_aa argument._aa Especially_aa right_aa now_aa more_aa than_aa
ever_ with_ the_ recent_ presidential_ election,_ social_ unrest _aa
and_aa COVID-19_aa related_aa topics._aa It_aa can_aa be_aa really_aa easy_aa
to_aa get_aa wrapped_aa up_aa into_aa reading_aa something_ and_aa automatically_aa
assuming_aa it's_aa true_aa especially_ if _aa it's _aa from _aa your _aa trusted _aa
news_aa source._aa You_aa can_aa prevent_aa from_aa falling_aa for_a fallacies_aa
by_aa critically_aa thinking_aa and_aa gathering_aa all_aa the_aa facts_aa on_aa
the_aa matter._aa Educating_aa yourself_ on_aa the_aa topic_aa by_aa gathering_aa
information_aa from_aa different_aa sources_aa and_aa people._aa Not_aa confusing_a
but_aa fallacy_aa of_aa accent_aa is_aa one_aa that_aa I_aa still_aa need_aa to_aa
get_ more_ familiar_ with._ The_ most_ interesting_ part_ of _aa
this_aa week_aa was_aa learning_aa of_aa all_aa the_aa different_aa types_ of_aa
social_aa errors_aa and_aa biases._aa I_aa would_aa say_aa the_aa social_aa
errors/biases_aa that_aa I_aa am_aa most_ effected_aa by_aa is_aa "One_aa of_aa
Us/One_aa of_ Them"_ and_ "Diffusion_ of_ Responsibility"._ I _aa
believe_aa I_aa can_aa overcome_aa this_aa social_aa error/bias_aa by_aa letting_aa
go_aa of_aa assumptions_aa and_aa to_aa learn_aa acceptance_aa in_ different_aa
situations._aa One_aa fallacy_aa that_aa I_ have_aa seen_aa in_aa an_aa argument_aa
is_aa when_ my_a boss_aa made_aa the_aa statement_aa "you_aa must_aa not_aa
want_aa a_aa break_aa because_aa its_aa break_aa time_aa and_aa you_aa have_aa
not_ went_ yet'._ Critical _aa thinking _aa skills_ can _aa make _aa you _aa
less_aa likely_aa to_aa be_ influenced_aa by_aa arguments_aa based_aa on_aa
fallacies_aa because_aa you_aa will_aa think_aa things_aa all_aa the_aa way_aa
through._aa The_aa most_aa interesting_aa concept_aa I_aa learned_a this_aa week_aa
was_aa about_aa fallacies_aa and_aa social_aa error._aa The_aa social_aa error_aa
were_aa very_aa interesting_ because_ I _aa didn't _aa realize_ that _aa it _aa
was_ actually_ effecting_ me._ I_ honestly_ think_ I_ have _
fallen_aa under_aa each_aa of_aa those_ categories_aa of_aa social_aa errors/biases._aa
I_aa am_aa going_aa to_ read_aa more_aa on_aa it_aa because_aa I_aa want_aa
to_aa learn_aa more_aa on_aa how_aa I_aa can_aa overcome_aa those_aa social_
errors/biases._ This_a week_ activities_ made_aa me_aa gain_ a_ lot _aa
of_aa knowledge_aa on_aa different_aa things._aa I_aa am_aa personally_aa affected_aa
by_aa emotional_aa errors._aa Embarrassed_aa to_aa say_aa it,_aa but_aa I_aa am_aa
an_aa extremely_aa emotional_a person._aa Anything_ that_aa I_aa see_aa that_aa
appeals_aa to_aa my_a emotions,_aa I_ am_aa drawn_ into_a it._aa This _aa
can_aa be_aa a_a positive_aa and_aa a_aa negative_aa thing._aa For_aa instance,_aa
a_aa few_aa years_aa back,_aa I_aa went_aa to_aa a_ local_aa animal_aa shelter_aa
just_aa to_a see_aa about_aa volunteering_aa there,_aa and_aa after_a I_aa saw_a
all_ of_ the_ posters_ that_ said,_ "When_ you_ adopt_ a _aa
furry_aa friend,_aa you_aa give_aa them_aa a_aa forever_aa home",_aa I_aa ended_aa
up_aa going_ home_aa with_aa a_aa dog_aa of_aa my_aa own._aa The_a best_a
way_a to_a overcome_aa this_aa bias,_aa if_a I_aa ever_aa do,_aa is_aa to _aa
think_aa about_aa the_aa reasoning_aa and_aa logic_aa behind_aa the_aa bias.I_aa
can_aa say_ that_aa a_aa fallacy_aa that_aa I_aa use_aa a_aa lot_aa of,_aa is_aa
hasty_ generalization._ I_ think_ that_ almost_ everyone_ uses _aa
this_aa very_aa often,_aa even_aa if_aa we_aa don't_aa mean_aa to._aa I_aa
recently_aa have_aa been_aa trying_aa to_ get_aa back_aa into_a health_ and_aa
fitness_aa and_aa have_aa seen_aa a_aa lot_aa of_a health_aa influencers_aa on_aa
social_a media_ advertising_ their_aa meals _aa and _a people _a in _ the _aa
comments_aa assuming_aa that_aa because_aa that_aa person_aa is_aa healthy,_aa
what_aa they're_ eating_aa is_aa also_aa healthy._aa I_aa think_aa that_aa thinking_a
critically_aa could_aa take_aa place_aa in_aa this_aa scenario_aa by_aa allowing_aa
yourself_aa to_aa disengaging_aa from_aa the_aa barrier_aa of_a envying_aa this_aa
person._aa Just_ because_aa you_aa eat_aa what_a they_a eat,_a does_aa not_aa
mean_aa that_aa you_aa are_aa also_aa healthy_aa -_aa nor_aa is_aa it_aa healthy_aa
to_ begin_ with.I_ think_ that_ the_ most_ important_ lesson _aa
this_ week_ that_ I_ will_ be_ taking_ away_ is_ the _aa
fallacies._aa I_aa think_aa that_aa understanding_aa and_aa acknowledging_aa
fallacies_aa are_aa important_aa in_aa professional_aa work _aa as _aa well_a as _aa
life_aa in_aa general._aa It_aa helps_aa us_aa understand_aa the_aa logic_ behind_aa
the_aa fallacy,_aa and_aa it_aa will_aa help_aa in_aa decision_aa making_ and_aa
being_aa more_aa logical_aa in_aa the_aa process._aa I_aa am_aa most_aa affected_aa
by_aa stress._aa Sometimes_aa I_aa can_aa get_ a _aa thought _aa in_ my _aa
head_aa and_aa become_aa so_aa overwhelmed_aa by_aa it_aa where_aa I_aa will_aa
not_aa take_aa the_aa time_aa to_a think_aa it_aa through_aa and_aa it_ may_aa
cause_ me_ to_ say_ or_ do_ something_ I_a don't_ mean. _aa
I_aa was_aa happy_aa to_aa read_aa about_ the_ three_ levels _aa of _aa
thinking._aa I_aa am_aa naturally_aa an_aa analytical_aa person_aa so_aa the_aa
analysis_aa aspect_aa of_aa critical_aa thinking_aa comes_aa naturally_aa to_aa me_aa
but_aa then_ when_aa I_aa interpret_aa and_aa think_aa about_aa things_aa I've_aa
been_ through _aa in _aa my _aa experiences_ I _aa can _aa pull_ myself _aa
away_aa from_aa that_aa barrier._aa A_aa fallacy_aa that_aa I_aa see_aa often_aa
used_aa is_aa the_aa red_aa herring_aa fallacy_aa where_aa people_ will_aa try_aa
to_aa throw_aa you_aa off_aa in_aa the_aa attempt_aa to_aa answer_aa a_aa
question_aa without_aa really_aa answering_aa the_aa question_aa at_aa all._aa I_aa
see_aa this_aa a_aa lot_aa in_aa relationships._aa I_aa would_a just_aa make_aa
sure_aa that_aa I_aa am_ listening_aa fully_aa before_aa I_aa speak_aa and_aa
asking_aa myself_aa questions_ to _aa make_ sure _aa that_ I'm _aa not _aa
being_aa thrown_aa off_aa from_a the_ answer_aa that_aa I_ am_aa seeking._aa
The_aa most_aa interesting_aa topic_aa this_aa week_aa that_aa I_aa learned_aa
about_aa was_aa the_aa ad_aa hominem_aa fallacy._aa I_aa do_aa this_aa a_aa
lot_aa to_aa my_aa friends_aa and_ I_aa did_aa not_aa realize_aa it_aa before_aa
reading_aa about_aa it._aa I'll_aa have_aa to_aa be_aa careful_aa not_aa to_aa do_aa
that_aa because_aa it's_ never_aa good_ to_aa make_aa people_ feel_aa like_aa
you're_aa attacking_a them._aa I_aa grew_aa up_aa in_aa a_aa religious_aa home._aa
My_aa biases_aa and_aa social_aa errors_aa seemed_aa to_aa be_aa inherited_aa
and_aa weaved_aa in_aa my_aa DNA._aa The_aa biggest_aa social_aa error_aa or_aa
bias_aa I_aa faced_aa while_aa growing_aa up_aa in_aa that_aa environment_aa
was_aa probably_aa the_aa "One_aa of_aa us,_aa One_aa of_aa them"_aa way_aa
of_a thinking._ I_aa was_ told_ that_a anyone_ outside_aa of_ our _aa
religion_ or_ group_ was_ not_ to_ be_ trusted_ or_ even _aa
befriended._aa Other_a biases_aa and_aa social_aa errors_aa could_aa fit_aa this_aa
as_aa well._aa I_aa feel_aa like_aa growing_aa up_a in_aa my_aa house,_aa all_aa
of_ these_ ways_ of_ thinking_ were_ implemented_ at_ one _aa
point._a The_a root_ of_ it_aa to_a me_ was_aa always_aa Us_a or _aa
them.When_aa I_aa got_aa old_aa enough_aa to_aa see_aa the_aa world_aa around_aa
me_aa and_aa do_aa my_ own_aa research,_aa meet_aa people_aa outside_a of_aa
the_aa church_aa and_aa discover_aa my_aa own_aa voice_aa I_aa realized_aa I_aa
was_aa being_aa lied_aa to._aa Perhaps_aa not_aa maliciously_aa or_aa even_aa
knowingly._aa So_aa to_aa overcome_aa these_aa errors_aa the_aa path_aa for_aa
me_aa was_aa enlightenment,_aa questioning_aa everything_aa and_aa expanding_aa
my_aa social_aa circle.During_aa the_aa heat_aa of_aa protests_aa during_aa the_aa
summer,_aa I_aa attended_aa a_aa Black_aa Lives_aa Matter_aa march._aa I_aa
heard_aa the_aa opposition_aa shout_aa many_aa hate_aa filled_a and_aa ignorant_aa
messages._aa I_aa heard_aa a_aa ton_aa of_aa fallacies_aa of_ division_aa being_aa
used_aa that_aa day._aa "All_aa black_aa people_aa are_aa thugs."_aa my_aa blood_aa
boiled_aa at_aa the_ ignorance_aa of_aa this_aa idea._aa My_aa uncle_aa is_aa
a_aa black_aa doctor,_aa my_ fiancés_aa father_aa is_a a_a police_aa officer._aa
I_ am_ a_ college _aa student. _aa The_ idea_ of_ grouping_ a _aa
whole_aa race,_aa class_ or_aa gender_aa into_aa this_aa box_aa to_aa fit_ a_
narrative_aa seemed_aa so_aa small-minded._aa Critical_aa thinking_aa helped_aa
me_ that_ day,_ I_ didn't_ not_ become_a overwhelmed_ with _aa
the_aa anger_aa festering_aa in_aa my_aa blood._aa I_aa knew_aa facts,_aa I_aa
had_aa logic_aa and_aa data._aa The_aa ignorance_aa witnessed_aa that_aa day_aa
come_ from_ the_ exact_ opposite_ stance._ Lack_ of_ facts, _aa
no_aa logic_aa or_aa data._aa Critical_aa thinking_aa allowed_aa me_ to_ see_aa
the_ bigger_ picture._aa Perhaps_aa her_ hatred_ came _aa from _aa
generations_aa of_aa people_aa force-feeding_aa her_aa ideas._aa Maybe_aa she_aa
never_ broke_ free_ and_ questioned_ life_ for_ herself._ I _aa
heard_aa her_aa stance_aa or_aa opinion_aa and_aa was_aa able_aa to_ mentally_aa
dismiss_aa it_aa due_aa to_aa the_aa lack_aa of_aa supporting_aa facts._aa That_aa
day_aa I_aa had_aa this_aa feeling_aa that_aa I_aa can_aa now_aa put_aa in_aa
words.._ One_ key_ ingredient_ to_a healing_ this_ nation_ is _aa
the_aa ability_aa to_aa think_aa critically._aa I_aa genuinely_aa enjoyed_aa learning_aa
about_aa all_aa the_aa different _aa ways _aa the _aa media _aa and _aa businesses _aa
are_aa using_aa fallacies_aa to_ profit_aa from_aa the_aa idea_aa that_aa they_aa
are_aa trying_aa to_aa get_aa across_aa or_aa sell._a This_aa week_aa was_
very_ enlightening._ I_ hope_ everyone_ got_a something_ useful _
out_aa of_a the_aa content._aa The_ four_aa biases_aa I've_aa learned_aa are_aa
Emotional_aa Intelligence,_aa Empathy,_aa Artificial_aa Intelligence,_aa and_aa Turing_aa
test,_aa the_aa one_aa that_aa I_aa would_aa like_aa best_aa is_aa Emotional_aa
Intelligence_aa because_aa to_aa perceive_aa accurately,_ appraise_ and _aa
express_aa my_ emotion_aa or_aa generate_aa my_aa feelings_aa when_aa they_aa
facilitate_ the_ ability_ to_ understand_ my_ emotion_ and _aa
emotional_aa knowledge._aa (One_aa of_aa the_aa Fallacy_aa are_aa FORMAL_aa
FALLACY_aa ,_aa )_aa Critical_aa thinking_aa while_aa using_aa a_aa fallacy_aa
will_aa really_aa solve_aa my_aa problem,_aa Fallacy_aa still_aa causes_aa them_a
problem,_aa because_aa for_aa some_aa reason_aa that_aa word_aa will_aa not_aa
let_aa the_aa disagreement_aa rest_aa so_aa the_aa person_aa that_aa uses_aa it_aa
will_aa not_aa either._aa The_aa Fallacies_aa and_aa Critical_aa thinking_aa in_aa
action,_aa I_aa have_aa gained_ a_aa lot_aa from_aa week_aa 1_a and_aa week_a
2,_aa I'm_aa still_aa learning_aa and_ trying_aa to_aa turn_aa my_aa assignments_aa
in_aa on_aa time,_aa but_aa I_ enjoy_aa taking_aa my_aa time_aa trying_ to_aa
understand_ every_ meaning_ of_ these_ assignments._ Critical _aa
thinking_ in_ action_ plays_ games_ and_ learning_ how_ to _aa
play_aa games_aa generates_aa my_aa mind,_aa I_aa be_a trying_aa to_a learn_a
how_aa to_aa enjoy_aa it_aa with_aa the_aa kids_aa but_aa I_aa be_aa thinking_
hard_aa on_ what_aa to_aa do_ how_aa to_aa use_aa the_ controller.
