Logical Fallacies — 11/27

                       Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or unsound. One type of logical fallacy is loaded question. A loaded question contains an unjustified assumption about someone in order to make them look guilty and to weaken their character. The question is usually answered in a "yes" or "no" format, so people often find themselves in a trap and they feel compelled to defend themselves, which can make them appeared flustered. For example, the question can be, "Are you still cheating on me?" If the person answers "yes" then they admit to the cheating. If they answer "no" then it implies that they have cheated in the past before, but stopped doing it. Using loaded question is effective because the question can throw your opponent off when you ask them about a false claim you made up about them. This makes them look bad because they are denying what you have said. You can see loaded questions in debates, advertisements, editorial cartoons, and even interviews. In a 60 Minute show in 1996, Madeline Albright, a UN Ambassador, regretted answering a loaded question. She was asked a question regarding the US sanctions against Iraq; her interviewer said, "We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that is more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?"Albright said, "I think that is a very hard choice, but the price, we think, the price is worth it." The question threw her off and made her say something she didn't mean to say. She later reflected on herself and wished she challenged the question instead. 

Social Media — 11/21

             Before you even open your eyes, you reach for the phone that is right next to your bed. You immediately check Facebook and Instagram to see the latest news or what your friends did yesterday night. Social media is incorporated into almost everyone's daily routine, regardless of their age. It is an easy way to connect with people from your town or another part of the world. This seamless connection is dangerous in retrospect. Young girls and boys are putting their private information online where anyone can see or hack into easily. Strangers can see what they look like, how old they are, and even where they live. This can put users at risk. In addition, many young teens specifically, compare themselves to the people they see online. They start comparing themselves to the person on their screen. Suddenly, they see fat thighs, rolls on their stomach, and a big nose. Their flaws make them feel insecure and like something is wrong with them. This is very dangerous because people are comparing themselves to a picture that has been retouched. Some people think the person looks like that in real life and they start having unrealistic expectations for themselves. Down the road, boys and girls can develop distorted body images and even eating disorders. Social media has also been used to bully people. Many LGBTQ teens have died because of their sexual orientation. The people hiding behind a screen managed to make them kill themselves. People waste their time sending cruel messages and tormenting others in hopes of making themselves feel better about themselves. Many people use and abuse social media and doing so can put themselves or others out in the open for anyone with access to Wifi to see. 

The Wisdom of Psychopaths Reflection — 11/7

           When people hear the word "psychopath", they usually think of someone who kills people with no remorse. But surprisingly, psychopathic attributes are more common in regular  people such as business leaders than actual psychopaths. Like psychopaths, business leaders are persuasive, lack empathy, and have superficial charm. In an experiment done by Harvard researcher Stanley Rachman, he discovered that bomb disposal operatives also have something in common with psychopaths: they both remain a cool composure under pressure. He had two groups: bomb disposal operatives who are decorated and those who are not. After having them complete tasks that required immense amounts of concentration, the decorated bomb disposal operatives' heart rates actually decreased. They were able to go into a state of "cold, meditative focus" where they become one with the device they were working on. The other operatives' heart rates remained stable. This discovery was shocking and fascinating because even though the two groups had at least ten years of experience in this field, the decorated group had an characteristic worth noting: confidence. Receiving accolades for their "courageous/fearless behavior" reinforced and enhanced their belief in themselves, thus the complex tasks were nothing to them. Both psychopaths and bomb defusers are insusceptible to the most minuscule amounts of anxiety. After reading this text, it seems that there may be more "psychopaths" among us than we know.