Final Question 3

The one concept I loved this semester had to do with empathy. I just loved it. I think it is important to use this in every day life and discuss it in this class. Being able to interpret what others are thinking by reading their body language and emotions has such a huge impact on one's life. When you use empathy in a critical thinking way, you can channel into the other person and their emotions. You can put yourself in their shoes and feel how they feel. If you can have the class know how important it is for others to be empathetic, it would really help people. It would cut the amount of judging, the amount of hazing, the amount of jealousy , the amount of anger, and just everything negative in the world. That would be the only concept I would have liked to go further in detail on. Anyways, it has been nice writing this semester, I really enjoyed all of my readers. Thank you for being so great and understanding this semester,

Costa The Greek Guy 

Final Question 2

The thing I liked best about this class was the discussions and blog. I like how we blogged and got to talk to others on their blogs. It made it so personal. Like you got to see into the person's mind by going into their blog. Like I said before, I had never made a blog, so it was so fun for me to do something like this. I also liked how everyone was so nice and personal on the blog. The experiences I read and the comments I received were just so heart-warming. The only thing I did not like about the class, forgive me to say, was the essay portion. I think that it would be better if we were in groups of 2 or 3 and have less words to write. When you have 4 people in a group it is just to much , should i say faith to have in other people. Especially when it comes to my grade, I would rather not give that much responsibility to others. 

Final Question 1

Truthfully, I have learned so much this past semester in this class. Whether it be from networking to find out answers to critical thinking problems, it has all stuck with me. I especially liked the huge array of topics we talked about this semester, each week brought its own new fun and excitement to my life. I got to learn about language one week, advertising the next, it was all just so beneficial to me. I also learned how to blog in this class, never before had I written and made my own blog. It is just such a cool concept to me. Lastly, I learned more about myself and what I wanted to do in life. Each chapter, like I said, revealed something new, and a little piece of myself every week. I wish the professor the best, and to keep doing what she is doing, because it works.

Waiting,

Costa the GreekGuy

Chapter 12 Question 2

As I remember the past, I am made so many incorrect assumptions just by the way I perceived something. Lets take it back to last January, I was alone on my birthday and my friends were blowing me off. I was so upset, and so mad. I was done with my friends and I swore them out- to say the least. I wanted to just get a coffee on my birthday, was that to hard to ask. So, I went to coffee with my sister instead and she took me out to dinner and I had a good time with her. As I come home, I am still mad. That was, until...........BOOM. Happy Birthday COSTA! The whole time my friends were planning a surprise birthday with my parents and of course after thinking about it, my observation of my friends were wrong. Scientific knowledge let me rethink my thoughts and act on it correctly. After some trial and error, I finally understood why my friends were acting so harsh all day, to pull this surprise on me. It was a hard lesson, but it taught me rethink before you speak. It was a fun birthday, but I feel really stupid still thinking about how I acted. 

Chapter 12 Question 1

"Hello, career breakthrough. Today’s Scorpio total solar eclipse sweeps through your tenth house of success, bringing unbelievable new opportunities your way. In the coming six months (or sooner), you could change jobs, even launching on an entire new path. Your long-term goals and priorities can get reshuffled dramatically, too, especially if you find yourself thrust into a leadership position." As a person that really doesn't believe in horoscopes, this further concludes that I don't believe them. Horoscopes are so broad and so falsifiable. It is pretty funny, because it says I am going to change jobs and I will have a new path in life- false. I don't have a job right now, nor will I during this semester do to an overload of school. For the long term goals and priorities, that is so vague, how can any of that be true. I'm sure that natural things will lead to new goals and priorities, but that is just a natural part of life. The whole thing with horoscopes is that they are all pretty much bull crap that are so broad that anyone can attach themselves to them. It is for people who need structure to their lives to get reassurance, but I don't think that is a way to live. Live every day like it is your last, don't let a horoscope be the determiner on how one lives one's life. 

Thanks for reading, 

GreekGuy
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Chapter 11 Question 3

A concept that I really enjoyed this time around, in this chapter, was the concept of Social Networking. Social Networking can be a good thing to many. It helps build relationships, it helps with job searching and connecting, it helps with rekindling lost friendships, and does so many good things that helps and grows with individuals. There is some bad parts to social networking also. If you post a picture online, that you really shouldn't post, it becomes a property item to that website you posted it to. That means, if you ever get into any trouble with the law, they can use that picture, even without your permission. I have had a friend that was drinking and driving and then went to court and they pulled up a picture of him drinking that night that someone else posted. When it comes to social networking it can be such a good thing, or such a bad thing. One must be very careful when posting on a social networking site because it can comeback to bite one. 

Chapter 11 Question 2

In this argument about plagiarism, both authors make valid points as to why they agree or disagree with plagiarism. Brook J. Sadler makes very valid points when it comes to plagiarism. He thinks it is unfair, unethical, theftish, and not a good concept in the long run. He makes a list of ten reasons as to why it is bad, and makes very valid and thought out points. When it comes to the other author, Russell Hunt he makes very challenging arguments that fight for the right to plagiarize. He thinks that plagiarism is something that students should be able to do and mostly talk about how plagiarism "challenges" rights as a student. I like both sides of the argument. I know though, as a student, I would not plagiarize. This is because ever since the sixth grade i was pounded by my teachers on how bad plagiarism is and why we shouldnt do it. If I had not had this happen to me, maybe I would be a little bit more accepting of plagiarism. Overall, good arguments on both sides, but I agree with Sadler a bit more. 

Chapter 11 Question 1

Knowing that media can twist and make bias stands on certain subjects really bothers me as a US citizen. The news and media will use "sensationalism and the news as entertainment" in order to make certain information sound like a joke and give it just for the shock entertainment factor of showing the information. Along with that, the media uses Bias in order to show the largest audience what they want to hear. It really changes how one thinks. Showing false information and giving people news is not really that sufficient to us as a society. As for expanding my world views, I think that I really cant trust the media. Propaganda is such a huge tool that media uses along with not telling the whole truth and showing the whole story.  As for my own views, I judge when I can trust media or not. Sometimes, it is just too much fakeness that I can tell a certain story isnt true. 

Chapter 10 Question 3

One concept that I really enjoyed reading about this week was product placement. Many of us see this everyday, whether it is on the tv or on the computer- we can see it. Just think about the good old days when American Idol was the biggest thing. What did the judges always have infront of them, sipping on, making it a huge thing- CocaCola. It was the one drink I can still picture Simon Cowell getting spilt with when he poorly critiqued a singer. Or another example, when you go to a sporting game. Do you see any product placement there? Forsure. When one goes they see names of brands all over the stadium and sometimes even on jerseys. This is such a great marketing strategy because it will always be shown- whether it be in real life or on the television. Overall, I really liked this concept because it really showed how important it is to show ones product in a positive light. 

Chapter 10 Question 2

When reading both Robert Liodice and Margo G. Wootan's articles about regulating the food advertisements for children, I was quite shocked about Margo's article. Margo G. Wootan, in her article speaks about a ban on bad food in advertisement and how children should follow these rules in order to live healthy lives. She is quite strong in her opinion in the article and literally gives a list on what is acceptable to eat and show in an advertising matter. Liodice sees this matter in a different light. He thinks that everyone is right to free speech and they should show and advertise whatever they want. He calls the other article unethical due to its lack of critical thinking. I agree with Liodice, he really does think about his argument and shows that people should be able to advertise and show whatever they want with food. Obesity is not going to be solved by changing the advertising in America, it is just senseless to think that. 

Chapter 10 Question 1

In a world full of advertising and marketing, I have noticed all types of marketing strategies. Advertising in media, product placement, Consumer awareness, Swot marketing, and more. As for the SWOT marketing I noticed it when I went to Starbucks. Starbucks has a method of making one feel good when they walk in. It is not just the coffee, because coffee can be made anywhere, it is the atmosphere. Walking into Starbucks, dare I say, is a calm, soothing, spiritual encounter. Not only the atmosphere, but the baristas. All you have to do is talk to them, and most of the time a discount or a free drink comes one's way. Along with that, Starbucks is on the internet, TV, ads and more. They have not only built a coffee shop, they built a name. This is the whole part of marketing and advertising, it is supposed to make one want to go to that company and buy the item. Knowing this, I am an business major. These valuable skills I learn this week with marketing strategies will really help when I make a business of my own in the future. Overall, I liked the material this week.

Thanks for reading,

GreekGuy

Chapter 4 Question 3

In this chapter what really stuck with me is the false memory syndrome. This syndrome lets people recall events that have happened to them so vividly, but that actually never happened to the individual. I have had this happen to me so many times in my life. I always bring up stories to my parents and siblings that I vividly remember, but that never actually happened. I still remember this one story that I climbed a tree in my front yard and then a branch broke, and i had to hold on to another one until my father came to save the day, but my parents cannot recall that ever happening. Therefore I think that in high stress situations, stories get made up in the mind, that might have happened, but not exactly as one remembers. That is why in police reports, I believe, that 50% of information is false. Falling out of a tree might have been my high stress story that led to something false being remembered, but if it was something involving a police coming, I think that the same syndrome might happen. Anyways, I thought it was a cool piece of fact that I learned this week and wanted to elaborate on it. Thanks for reading and have a great week.

Thanks,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 4 Question 2

In all three perspectives of the existence of Unidentified Flying Objects, each author has a very different way of interpreting how they think of UFOs. First off, in Paynter's argument, he shows that there is no single object that can 100% show that aliens have visited the world. He says that we could believe that crop circles and cattle mutations might be aliens interacting, but shows no full-proof evidence of extraterrestrials. Next off in Hynek's argument of UFOs he tells his audience that we need to do psychological studies to those who say that they have seen UFOs. He says that it would really help to find out if these people were really "awake" and if their stories were true, what basis do they all have. He next goes into science, and how science can find a comparison with those who have seen UFOs. Lastly, in Condon's argument, he shows his reader that UFO reports have been made repetitively throughout the last 21 years and if these reports tell the truth about aliens and out of this world people. He goes into detail about if the reports are ligament and if they are worthy of being published and being used at a federal level. Truthfully, I like Paynter's argument the best because it doesn't knock out the idea of UFOs, but it shows hard evidence that I need. 

Chapter 4 Question 1

After reading this section, I can honestly say that knowledge makes you both wiser and dumber at the same time. For example, in school, we learn about so many different subjects- aka math, English, history, business, arts, act. Accumulating a little information from each subject makes us knowledgable, but at the same time wiser. As my grandfather once said, in which he quoted Aldous Huxley, "Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you." Wisdom comes from both information and real life experiences. In college we are always acquiring both wisdom and knowledge. We learn our knowledgable stuff from all the subjects we learn, but at the same time get to gain wisdom from those subjects and the experiences we have on and off campus. Everyday I learn something new in college, making a little but more knowledgable, but at the same time I am also getting a bit wiser from all of the stuff I go through in college. In the end, I think the information has made us both more knowledgable and wiser. 

Chapter 3 Question 3

One concept that I really enjoyed reading about this week had to be the concept of nonverbal language.  In the book it talked about animals, and how they can talk without actually speaking. Bees use a type of dance to show what they are speaking about, stingrays use sonic rays to speak to one another, fish swim together in order to protect one another, and so on. My family also has a way with kind of telepathically speaking to one another. We can read each other's body language and eye language to know if something is wrong or if we are happy, or any type of situation as a matter of fact. I think that nonverbal language has a connection to safety- just like speaking a foreign language in front of others that don't like that language. When people do this, it means that they don't want that individual to know what they are talking about- thus keeping them feeling safe. 

Chapter 3 Question 2

In the last week, I have used so many different rhetorical devices. Last Thursday, I went to my volleyball practice at church. There is five teams practicing in one gym, so it is put into a rotation that two teams get to play one game, then rotate to the next two teams after the game is done. Anyways, it was my team's turn to play on the court, and out of no where the team that had already played wanted to take our turn in line. One thing lead to the other and then that team some how got their way. I simply used sarcasm and said, "Wow, you guys are so sportsman like. Give yourself a round of applause." Another volleyball story occurred this week, and I used a hyperbole. I fell on the floor and sprained my finger. When I hurt my finger I said, "Ow, my finger feels like it is going to fall off". I just said this to over dramatize the situation, but I know that politics use it distort facts about very important information. Overall, this week- and everyday- I use rhetoric devices, even though they are all usually to make fun of something or to over dramatize something. 

Chapter 3 Question 1

After reading the story of Sally Ride, she really encouraged me to become more proactive with my education and critical thinking in my own life. Sally ride was always an achiever, from a young age to college she loved education and made it her passion in life. While getting her PHD in Stanford University, she applied to become an astronaut. Out of 8,000 people, she was the only woman and not to mention youngest of the 35 chosen. Going back to chapter one, Sally fits into most of the qualities of a critical thinker. She was an analytical thinker, she was effective in communication, she was definitely one who would like to research, she was a curious one, and the list goes on. She was just a woman who wanted to learn and say to others that women can do anything that a man can do. Overall, she seems like a cool person, and I would like to meet her. 

Chapter 2 Question 3

One concept that I really enjoyed this week was the whole concept of empathy. This concept basically means that a person has a keen ability to interpret emotions of others. When empathy is used, it really helps one use more critical thinking. They want to channel into the person they are feeling empathy for, and critically think the way that the other person is thinking. I really know that I use empathy, which is really why it hits home with me. When I am with my friends, I can easily spot out that one of them are having an off day. So, I like to talk it out with them, interpret their emotions, and make an action plan off of what is wrong. For some reason it gives me a high, knowing that I helped another person with their problems. It is not only just with friends though, I can easily tell when people are not having a good day by both their actions and body language. This really helps with the whole concept of empathy, because being able to tell people's emotions is a huge part of it. 

Chapter 2 Question 2

From my prospective, Dawkins does not think that God and evolution mix. Dawkins contradicts all of Aquinas "5  Proofs of God" and makes the whole piece that Aquinas wrote sound like a mockery. I think that it is too much to mix religion and people- it is a battle that will never end. In both cases, sometimes people just have to agree to disagree. It is more psychological and spiritual to those who think that evolution and God mix together. These type of people like to put a name on the supernatural and everything that has happened and will happen. Those who don't like to put a name on evolution, are more scientific and logical thinkers. They need a science reason behind everything that happens, and will do everything they can to find a reason why. When you mix an emotional thinker with a scientific thinker, they will just fight. It will never work- a mutual decision will never be made. 

Chapter 2 Question 1

I truthfully think that one of my greatest strengths is having empathy for people. I can easily tap into others emotions and body language just by looking at them. It might sound weird, but I feel like I have a sixth sense. I can also easily tell when people are lying and when people are uncomfortable. Another thing I have is just good old logic. I can easily interpret situations and problems that might take others a little bit longer to comprehend. For a career choice, either psychology or business would probably be the best bet for me. Going along with the emotional reasoning, I can use that in order to work as a psychologist or a counsellor. With my logical reasoning, I can apply that into business and handle situations perfectly. Overall, I really enjoyed this section, because it really lets one think about jobs and how to find the right job by critical thinking. 

Thanks for reading,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 7 Question 2

Dr. Novello used cause-and-effect inductive reasoning to combat the smoking among children and teens problem. In order to fight against Camel, who in 1988 made ads and advertising that made smoking look good, Novello also used the same tactics. Novello used her forces to make campaigns and ads to show that smoking was in fact not a positive thing for the youth. In her mind, she thought that if she could take away and make her own ads that fought back to the problem, the youth would take on her side and figure out that cigarettes are in fact not a good thing. Also, she targeted education in order to teach children that smoking is not a good thing. But it really does show something in the end- the media, ads, and commercials can really effect how people perceive a product- even a harmful one. One thing is for sure though, Novello really made a difference in the smoking dilemma

Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

-Greek Guy

Chapter 7 Question 3

One concept that I liked this week and wanted to further explain is the concept of using Generalization. Generalization is making assumptions or a conclusion on a certain matter. I do this all the time. Is it always right? Heck no. Generalizations are actually usually wrong, at least in my case. I used to be really bad when I was younger. I would look at someone, evaluate how they look, talk, and review their actions. I would make snap generalizations on if I liked the person or not. This was such a bad thing to do. I really missed out on some wonderful people. I now always try to actually get to know a person and not make certain generalizations about them. Like the book says, generalizations are not necessarily true or false- and might even be a weak or strong argument. Anyways, in my case generalizations have never been the best for me, but they were really cool to learn about this week.

Thanks,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 7 Question 1

This week has been really hard for me. My dads cancer has woken up again, but I got to think of an inductive argument from it. My dad's cancer is lymphoma, and it is genetic. Therefore, it could be a possibility that I also might inherit the cancer. It is an inductive argument because I stated that it could be inherited to either my siblings or myself. It is not an 100% sure thing, but it is a possibility because it is genetic. I took two dependent premises and made a conclusion out of them. Truthfully, right now I am just going to go along with the treatment and hope for the best possible scenario. I am going to get tested to see if I have it also, but it isn't usually seen until adulthood. If you are reading this, do a little prayer, and if your not religious, maybe just a moment of silence. Thanks for reading!

Always,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 8 Question 3

 Pick one concept from the reading this week and discuss it in detail.

The one concept that really stuck with me, as I look back at this week, has to be the concept of "argument of elimination". It has really helped me think way more logically, without making snap judgments like I used to do. The concept is just eliminating out the possible situations, people, rules, ect. until only one logical answer remains. I recently went to a festival this last weekend and I lost my sister. She was not answering her phone, no one had seen her the last 30 minutes, and it was the end of the festival. I started to panic and then I thought logically. Let me get a search group to look for her. We looked in the kids area, nope. Looked in the bathrooms, nope. Looked in the church, nope. Looked at center stage, nope. My patience was running thin. But then, boom, I think wait a second....... the peta potties. And there she was. It has only taken me some time to think about it, but with "argument of elimination" I searched through all of the places until there was just one. 

Thanks for reading,

-Greek Guy

Chapter 8 Question 2

  Coming from a Christian himself, this is a very hard question for me to answer. I can go either way on this question. On one hand, I can say screw what the teachings say, the person on the death penalty deserved it. These people on death row have definitely done something wrong and certainly have hurt someone in there lifetime, therefore they should also be hurt and punished for their wrong doing. As much as my brain tells me this side, my soul tells me something different. My soul tells me that Jesus of Nazareth has definitely forewarned us about saving people. Even in the scriptures, Jesus clearly tells us to love one another, forgive, and not fill each other with hate. Therefore, in order to listen to something greater, we must save the people on death row and show them a world of tough love and repentance. I really don't know which way I would go, both ways work for me. I guess, in the end, its all depending on the situation. But for now, I am going to stand neutral on this subject. 

Peace to everyone,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 8 Question 1

After reading this chapter, I feel as if I have a further understanding on the art of reasoning. What Sherlock means, when he talk to Watson, is that too many people rely on opinions- and not actually on fact. I actually believe that people do this all the time. A current situation in my life, that has actually happened, goes very well with this chapter. Me and my friend recently got in a little argument. My friend went around telling a whole other story then what actually happened, and got my other friends to believe his version of the story. So of course, me being the short tempered man that I am, decided to reason with my friends. I got the guy who was spreading drama behind my back and the friends who believed him to come to coffee with me. During that time at coffee, I got the real story out of the guy spreading gossip, and my other friends saw who was telling the truth after all. I used the argument of elimination in order to let my friends decide who was telling the truth, and after getting my  friend caught up in his own words, I won that battle. Although, this whole situation in my life may not be completely easy to follow, it really helped me understand what Sherlock was saying, and I feel as if me and Sherlock have been in the same boat. 

Thanks for reading,

GreekGuy

Chapter 6 Question 3

The concept of issues was the one I wanted to expand more upon. Like the book said, an issue is "ill-definied complex of problems involving a controversy of uncertainty." I understood what an issue was before, but I also like how the book tells us to "ask the right questions" in order to fully approach and attack an issue. For example, if one loses one's phone, that could become an issue. Instead of assuming that someone stole your phone or that its gone forever- think critically- retrace and ask the right questions? Ask where was I before I lost it? Who was I with? What could have happened? And before one knows it, the positive and critical thinking about finding the phone, helps one accomplish issues with such a more tactical approach. Overall, I really just enjoy how the book went over this concept of issues and finding answers within those issues. It really helps one think a little more abstractly and more  logical.

Thanks for reading,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 6 Question 2

When I was younger, I got into the wrong crowd. Let me be the first to say, it was not easy, but there was many times where peer-pressure almost got the best of me. I remember at the age of sixteen at school, coming from my best friend, he asked, "Hey, do you want to take a sip of Vodka? I have it in a bottle, so people will think it is water." I thought about it. Then I thought more. And finally I said, "No, we are at school, do you not think with your brain." And then the peer pressure came. "Come on, are you a pussy, everyone is doing it, blah blah blah." This is where I had to think- not just critically about the situation with the Vodka- but the situation with my friendship. Of course I said no, but then I also shot something else back at him. I used rhetoric in order to win my friend back over. I had to persuade him to go on my side, so I gave him a whole lecture on getting caught, ruining his reputation, and ruining his growth and internal organs, ect.  After talking to him he finally saw why I wasn't drinking and said, "Oh, I never thought of it like that." I won him over at that point, but before hand he was thinking with something other than his head. I think everyone encounters situations where they really have to think critically and sometimes even at the risk of losing friends. But in my mind, I think a bottle of Vodka, drugs, or anything else, is not worth doing- especially when peer pressure comes into play. 

Chapter 6 Question 1

President Barack Obama shows his luke-warm side with opposing same sex marriages on a federal level, and supporting it on civil union and equal right level. This shows a flaw in his "goal" for equality. He is saying that everyone should have equal rights, when in fact he is just looking past a major problem.  Giving people support, without really supporting them, sounds like a bad friend to me. I would never be friends with someone who says they have my back, but then goes right in front of me  and stabs me. The whole situation is the same for Obama and the gay marriage friendship. Barack Obama is saying, "Yea, I have your back don't worry," but at the same time is beating the friend with a wooden bat. The whole situation seems wrong to me. On a different note, I really enjoyed both Nava and Dawidoff's arguments. I like how some of the argument were personal and just flat out said that gays and lesbians just want to have the same rights as heterosexual couples. Denying people federal support, really shows a character flaw in the government and an inconsistency with Obama's whole equal rights vision. I actually believe Obama is doing this "in the middle thing", so he doesn't step on anyone's toes and keeps the popular vote. 

Thanks for reading,

-GreekGuy

Introduction

Hey Yall,

Hello there; my name is GreekGuy. I am currently a second  year student at San Jose State University as a Business major with a minor in Psychology. I hope to one day own my own restaurant. I love Business because it gives so many job options and along with Psychology, I love the whole idea of figuring out how humans think. I just visited Greece this last summer- big surprise- considering my name. I also like to dance, play sports, draw, and hang out with friends on my spare time. Anyways, I am heading out,


-GreekGuy