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| "Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression" by Honore Daumier (1830-1879) |
Here's a scenario that includes a common goal and requires cooperative intergroup action:
a) identify a wise, thoughtful, thought-provoking, well-expressed or otherwise valuable comment on this website made by another Honors student in response to one of the questions in posted here;
b) explain why you found the comment to be valuable.
1/8th of of your writing grade in Enduring Questions this fall will be based on your responses to the questions posed on this website. Ten percent of that score will be based on the completion rate on this assignment by everyone taking an Enduring Questions course this fall.
100 percent completion rate will be achieved if the following two conditions are met:
1) every student identifies a comment that they value; and
2) every student has a comment that is someone else finds value in.
One of the most through provoking questions for me was question 1.1 where it talked about how we view animals. Miranda talked about how once animals are more domesticated humans tend to view their actions as human like behavior. I agree with what is being said and so did many others. She took into consideration points that other student had made to expand on the topic to tie how our conscious mind assumes that human like behavior in animals make them seem like “mans best friend”. Miranda was able to identify different reasons of why we view animals that have personal connections to us as different than those animals that we have never meet before. This comment got is to thinking about what makes humans view their pets differently after they have had them for a period of time. My aunt recently got a small housedog to keep her company since she lives by her self in a separate town than most of her family. It didn’t take her long at all to connect with the animal and have feelings of adoration toward the dog. It didn’t talk long for the dog to be able to communicate what it needed from her either. When it needed outside it would go to the door to be let out. It is still a puppy and too small to get on the couch when it wanted to set by my aunt it would come over and whine. If others were over it would come up to you and want to be petted or played with. It knew when it was getting feed by the sound picking up of the bowl and it knew when it was time to sleep when it was put in its gage. This to me means more than just a will to survive. I think that once animals spend time around humans who treat them as more than just mere animals, but as a friend it allows them to create an emotional bond with humans. This is the same kind of bond that a human would have with a friend. I am not trying to say that dogs or other domestic animals have the same capability mental as that of humans but I am saying that they do have the ability to make some of the same conscious decisions.
ReplyDeleteThe comment I have chosen can be found at this URL: http://ecueq.blogspot.com/2013/06/ch-1-new-unconscious-3.html and his made by Morgan Mackey. I found this comment useful and thoughtful because of its use or real life experiences. Your able to understand things better when you have an experience to relate to it. This concept was conveyed with the response she made. I felt it was a good change from the many pure opinion responses to a response where an opinion is backed up by an experience.
ReplyDeleteAlan Dennis
One response I found thought provoking and valuable is Nathan Poole’s response to question 1.3 about if environmental factors can subtly influence us. He had a unique take on this question by suggesting that music has a lot of influence over people’s daily life. Nathan mentioned that music can “alter our emotions” and in turn influence how we act or make decisions. I tend to agree with this. If I am in a bad mood or having a bad day if one of my favorite songs comes on the radio my mood can improve instantly. Also, I have participated in many honor bands over the years, and it is amazing how music can draw people together who have never met before. In honor bands, a group of basically strangers practice playing several songs together for two days and put on a concert. It is just incredible how the music comes together and all the emotions it generates. I had one amazing director who was so into the music she was in tears at the end of several moving pieces. Music can make people cry, laugh, or become angry. I know in my life I cannot go a day without music; it has a huge impact on my day and my mood.
ReplyDeleteErin Ozment
I love, love, love Katy's comment on Sugar Free World (6.1) that begins with, "When it comes to religion, politics and other sensitive issues there should be no sugarcoating and no one should get offended. The reason I say this is many different people have many different ideas on these topics. This is what makes our American society unique. We are allowed to think and believe as we choose. As Chase said, the best discussions come when two different people with two different beliefs have a civilized intellectual discussion. There is a difference between stating the facts of what you believe and "cramming" it down someone's throat or bashing their beliefs. When pure, honest discussion ends and argument begins is when people begin to become offended." I could not have said this better myself. Well done, Katy. I found Katy’s insight so helpful and eloquent because I think it is a good lesson for all members of the Honors Program to learn. Though it is fun to have two opposing viewpoints duking it out in an intelligent discussion in an Honor's classroom, at the end of the class period it is unlikely that you will have converted your conversation partner into believing exactly as you do. I've always felt that those who "cram" their beliefs down others’ throats are taking away from the value of the discussion. I don't think anyone cares to hear why you think they are unintelligent because they don't believe in this theory or that theory. There is no value in attacking another for what they believe because you will find 9 times out of 10, most everyone in college is opening to hearing what you have to say, pondering it, but usually they are set in stone on big topics. You will find that you are banging your head against the wall and will end up losing your cool. If you have considered all possibilities and are still firm in what you think I believe that is fine. You are entitled to an opinion for a reason! But, what is not fine is bringing a superior know-it-all-attitude into the classroom. All that does is like Dr. Benton warned against in the rules for these comments is beat the conversation to death. And really, what’s the fun in that? There is nothing wrong with being passionate about what you believe, but don't belittle another for not thinking like you.
ReplyDeleteAnna Talkington
I found Kristina Mayfeild's response on A Lack of Oxytocin Made Me Do It (4.5) to hold great value. I think she really nailed it on the head with her point of view that although it could be potentially helpful to rewire some people, that does make it ethical. I think that sometimes no matter the level of consent given for certain things, that does not always make it the best or even a good option at all. Messing with a person's brain physically or emotionally could cause great and irreversible damage. I am also a Christian and tend to have more of a point of view from that angle rather than the scientific angle. Because of this, I agree with Kristina completely that the change is someone's heart or head should not be up to us, but God. Who are as fellow human beings to decide what is best for another person? We all have faults no matter how big or small, and there is something about every single one of us that somebody on this earth would wish to change. I really got a lot out of Kristina's comment.
ReplyDeleteEmma Rolin
Chase Tillar's response to Question 2.2 opened my eyes, in a way, to just how drastically we have become accustomed to the concept of "respecting authority" and concepts alike. Through the years, I believe we have pushed it too far. We have overstepped the meaning of "respect" and adopted a new meaning that practically translates to, "What I say goes. No matter what. Oh, and your feedback is not welcome here." I am not at all saying that this is always the case, but it is becoming more and more apparent that we listen a little too trustingly to those above us and sometimes we do not even realize it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked what Chase Tiller said in "Not Me" where he brought up the fact that humans have to have the feeling of control in their life. It doesn't matter what aspect it's in, the simple fact that we are in control is enough, but when told we are not in control we seem to panic. The thought that we don't have control of our lives is scary, however his response to it was what really caught my attention. He said that we shouldn't be afraid of not being in control. In fact when situations come up that we do act "out of line", we need to review them to see why we acted like that. It's not just reflecting on the fact that we did something different, but reflecting on why our behavior changed. I really liked how he went deeper than just surface level reasons.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Ashlyn Angel’s comments on 1.5. She talks about how someone’s perspective on a subject or how much attention they give can depend on something as menial as font size. It is an interesting subject that I would like to look into more and it is another great example of how people are easy to trick and how such small things can make or break an advertisement.
ReplyDeleteNathan Poole's comment on Not Me (1.3) is very interesting and really got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteAs he so gratefully explained, music has an incredible influence on our emotion and sense of self. Music surely is a mystery - concerning music without lyrics more so than ones with them - and what a fascinating one at that. Lying back and listening to Mozart or Ludovico Einaudi gives me a strong sense of peace and beauty - not being able to explain the feelings brought on make it that much more exciting.
I also agree with his "I have yet to find a piece of art or literary work that evokes as much emotion as music does with me. ", well, to an extent. I have never seen a painting that touches me emotionally. I have, however, read some author's words really stuck me e.x. Carl Sagan, Bertrand Russell, Marx, and Nietzsche.
The comment that I would like to refer to is Chase Tillar’s response to question 2.2. I think this response is valuable because he presents his views in a way that is clear and involves the reader. It is easy for a writer, when writing about his or her opinions, to present then in an aggressive manner. Instead, Chase presents his idea so that the readers can choose for themselves whether or not to accept his opinion. The question of “… who is trustful and who is not?” encourages the reader to consider their own experiences and then decide if they concur. For instance, I may not necessarily agree with Chase’s comment that giving credit to a well-known person for their ideas is silly. Usually, a person gains notoriety because of their accomplishments within a field whether they be a top research scientist or a devious criminal. So, I believe that there is a basis for giving respect and credit to the person based upon the fact that they have made a name for themselves. However, I whole-heatedly agree with Chase that we should question everything. In pursuing our investigation, though, it is interesting to remember that we will most likely seek out the research, advice and conclusions reached by other “experts” to help us formulate our own decision.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Kendall Renae's post on Sugar Free World (6.1). She pointed out that there was a difference between sugar coating your beliefs and being respectful to the person you're discussing them with. I hadn't considered this thought but I fully agree with it. You can still have meaningful conversations with someone of an opposing viewpoint without either person sugar coating their beliefs. And a key to having a successful discussion, without argument or tempers flaring, is to respect the other person and their ability to believe whatever they wish.
ReplyDeleteAshlyn Angel
In Dr. Gut (2.4), I rather liked all of the conversation that was going on, but Ashlyn Angel's post stuck out to me the most. I completely agree with her second paragraph, where she states that many of our "gut feelings" are actually learned. It is true that as females we are taught to be careful around strange men, especially ones with tattoos, piercings, etc. Therefore upon seeing a large man with a tattoo, we tend to have a bad "gut feeling," without even witnessing said man doing anything alarming. I especially liked the part of her paragraph where she wrote that we need grow our own instincts, rather than relying on the ones passed down to us. Going into college, that is the lesson we need to learn the most.
ReplyDeleteKendall Walker
I found that Alexa Engles’ response to question 10.6 led me to examine myself regarding my attitudes toward the homeless. Working around the Capitol this last year, I saw several homeless people every day. Some were begging for money, somewhere trying to sleep under bridges and others seemed to walk aimlessly. While I naturally felt some pity for them, the overwhelming emotion was one of fear. I was afraid of these dirty people who I saw as being nearly a different species than myself. After reading about Alexa’s experience, I feel ashamed of my reaction to these broken people who actually aren’t all that different from me.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Chelsi’s response to “It was the way she said it” (3.3). Truthfully, I find value in all of her responses, I love her concise, kind way of expressing her thoughts , but the reason this one stuck with me is because I am so guilty of, to paraphrase her,taking what someone says and allowing my mind to “organize” it, often of the way I see suiting me. Prior to my senior year of high school I had never noticed myself doing that, reading Mlodinow’s book really caused me to become more aware of my own subconscious habits and customs. Well put, Chelsi.
ReplyDelete-Kristina Mayfield
On the 8.1 “Innies and Outies” forum, Miranda M’s response really connected with me. Coming fresh out high school, I agree with her that a lot of my younger friends treat me differently now that I am on my way to college. Having been a part of just about every group that my high school had to offer, e.g. football, baseball, wrestling, Academic team, FCA, BPA, FFA, and The Executives, I know what it is like to be in a particular group and also know how it can completely vary from another. Having been blessed enough to participate, and even been the head or captain of a few of these groups, my life has been forever changed due to the experiences that I was able to have with these groups. The greatest part of being in such different groups was the adversity. I loved the differences and challenges that each group brought into my life, each impacting me in their own way. Miranda said that one random day a week she would dress up, just because she wanted to, well I usually had a different group to dress up for every day of the week.
ReplyDeleteAlong with Miranda, I agree that it’s hard to look back and realize that, those groups that I was a part of in high school, they aren’t my groups anymore. Having a younger brother who plays sports, as well as shows pigs in FFA as I did, it’s hard to realize that I won’t get to be showing next to him, or practicing and mentoring him anymore. Al in all I agree with Miranda’s point of view, being able to relate to how she feels and what she’s experiencing, is what makes her comment very valuable to me.
Hunter White
Abigail’s response to the value of bad first impressions continued to resonate in my mind after I read it. I was so impressed that she had gone out of her way to ensure the teacher knew she wanted to learn, thus improving the quality of the class. It was a great example of how one person can go against the what the crowd is doing and make the environment live up to the potential she thought it had. It made me wonder if I could have made a difference in any of my “blow off” classes in high school. We’ve all had those teachers that didn’t get to teach the class they wanted, so they give the class less attention. Perhaps, if we had all shown a bit more interest, the experience could have gone much better.
ReplyDelete-Alexa Engles
I love what Abigail said about how peoples views of animals reflect that of their own beliefs and personal characteristics. Not only did she say that animal preferences come from a persons character, but from their beliefs as well. I had not thought about it until I read her post. All people have a belief on how themselves and others should act. These opinions help people form friendships and their own individual personalities as well. Just like cats and dogs people all have different personalities and traits that may not be suitable for all humans, so people tend to stick with those who have a personality that fits with what they belief to be right. Peoples beliefs on how individuals should act not only affect there relationships with humans but with pets as well. If a person believes one should be refined in public, a cat is more their taste because the cat has a quite refined personality, while if someone else feels that freedom is the best answer and one should always display confidence a dog would be better suited.
ReplyDeleteNikolette Patai
I particularly enjoyed what Emma Rolin said on”Though Your Heart is Aching.” She said, “ I have found though that when I am unhappy with the way things are going, if I just smile my way through the day and ‘fake it until I make it’, I will do just that. I have the power to turn my day around and make it what I want it to be, and so does every other person.” I enjoyed this comment because for one I liked how she used the word “power.” As individuals we do have some power over our emotions, especially when it comes to how we react to a bad situation. She says that we “make it what we want it to be” which is true. Every situation we are faced with we have a choice to make either to let it bring us down or to encourage us to become a better person.I just really appericated her take on the subject.
ReplyDeleteKaty Keiffer
Kendall Ranae's response to the question 10.1 was the comment I found most valuable. I also answered this question, but her comment allowed me to see a bigger picture. I was only thinking of American children and my own cultural experience when I answered this, and her comment got me thinking about the global differences. Once Kendall left her comment, I started thinking of foreign exchange students that went to my high school. They were usually more advanced than the people in the same grade, but they also didn't complain and usually studied. I think going outside of your own cultural experiences when being presented with these types of questions is important and her comment allowed me to see that.
ReplyDeleteI found Rebekah Atterson's response to 1.5 to be valuable, since she related the text in Subliminal to her own life seemingly without any difficulty. I am also an avid reader, and I tend to pick out books by their covers in a bookstore or a library as well, and on more than one occasion I have found myself choosing the edition with the more appealing cover of two otherwise identical books. I agree that college-level students are hesitant to read more complex works with much enthusiasm, and that if a book is too simple, it would not be enough of a challenge to hold the reader’s interest.
ReplyDelete-Eric Loucks
One comment that I found very relatable and quite true was Nathan Poole’s comment on question 1.3. Nathan spoke about the power of music, particularly the power of instrumental music. For me, just as Nathan stated it is for him, orchestral music is extremely powerful. Any amount of emotion can be evoked through a few simple notes arranged in an enticing and sometimes elusive way. Nathan makes a perfect reference to this when he explains how the harmonies and instrumental music can amplify the emotions in both that of a lyric song and that of an orchestral piece. From the high, chilling flourish of a flute, to the powerful sound of percussion, emotion is poured into music. When music is played, especially when we observe it in person, it is extremely powerful. Being so powerful, music has even been proven to revive memories of individuals with brain damage. It is easy to understand how music can have such an effect simply by listening to it as well. In addition to Nathan’s examples, his comment is valuable because it is easily relatable to many individuals. I have already met several people in the honors program that are musicians or singers; clearly the arts have such a powerful effect that they are communicable to a variety of individuals. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I found Nathan’s comment to be so valuable. Music is such a large part of my life, that to find someone who appreciates it and understands the various ways music can influence a life is a comfort.
ReplyDeleteEric Loucks's comment on 2.4 caught my attention. I liked how he noted both sides of the situation rather than sticking to one. His scenario of the gambler was enlightening. I particularly liked how he said "First impressions can be influenced not only be how a person acts, but by the cultural norms surrounding certain groups, and how they affect anyone involved." I found this to be very true and logical. I completely agree with him when he said that getting to know someone better ends with an overall better knowledge of that person, regardless of your first impression of that person.
ReplyDeleteAnna Talkington's comment on the page for 2.4 was, I thought, a great one. It was a perfect illustration of the subject matter: how unconscious cues and triggers can cause us to act in ways that we can't always logically explain. I think one of the best ways to teach is through close examples, because it gives someone a feel for the concept you want them to learn.
ReplyDelete--Hinton
Chase Tillar's comment about racism and Che is going to be the comment I choose. I just felt that he believed strongly in what he was saying. I really liked how he added another quote to compare to the one shown in the book. I learned from his comment. I felt more informed about what mlodinow had shown us a sneak peak of and his comment changed my original opinion of Che's character.
ReplyDelete--Maecey McClain
I'm sure I look like a copycat, but I also liked Chase Tillar's response to 7.2. His knowledge of the subject at hand was very impressive and supplemented what I had already read. I think that it is important to get the full picture of an issue and that is exactly what he provided. I also agree with him that as the internet continues to make us a more global society, we will become better equipped to stomp out intolerance wherever it may rear its head.
ReplyDeleteI liked Katy Keiffer’s response to Playing Well with Others (4.2). She answered each question with a full answer, explaining specifics. I especially liked, “Not only do people who have ‘many regular and close social contacts’ live longer but their quality of life is also higher…Not only do social activities benefit the individual’s health and quality of life but it also benefits student learning.” Also when she said, “A classroom environment produces more formal relationships and not ones where you’re likely to discuss personal issues. If you grandma dies or you are in a bad breakup you are probably not going to walk up to your lab partner and spill your guts in the middle of biology. You will probably find a friend that you have met in another social setting and look to them for advice and comfort. For this reason it is good to have both work and non-work friends to discuss issues and seek advice,” it gave a fresh way of stating her point and supporting her claim because she gave such a specific example stated in a blunt way.
ReplyDelete-Elizabeth Keck
ReplyDeleteI feel that a thoughtful and well expressed comment was given by Nathan Poole on question 1.3. I too feel the same way about music and many of my friends do as well. We listen to music because of the way that it altars our emotions and makes us feel happy and upbeat or matches our feelings if we are depressed. I personally look more towards the lyrics to match my life than the beat but for a song to be good both the lyric and the beat must match each other.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey Johnson
I'm so excited that this is the required question to answer! I've often wondered how many people actually read and give serious thought to my comment; hopefully someone will refer to it before too long. *Hint Hint*
ReplyDeleteAnyways, on blog post 2.4 I was intrigued with the both the question and the answers concerning "gut feelings." I was especially impressed with Anna's story about Morgan and herself in the parking lot late at night. I think the part I like the most about this blog setting is the fact that while all of our posts have substance, they are also real life experiences and easily relatable situations. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who gets panicked when I turn into my neighborhood gates on the way home from a late night movie and a strange car I don't recognize is behind me. I circle my neighborhood scouting out anyone who could potentially hear my screams if the attacker ever was to "catch" me. My favorite part of Anna's story was the comment about sticking with a gut feeling and feeling no remorse but maybe a bit of embarrassment after the fact.
I've so enjoyed reading all of your posts, and I look forward to getting to know each of you both personally and in an academic setting!
-Emily Davis
All of the posts on the questions have been very interesting and thoughtful. I really enjoyed reading Rebekah Atterson's post in Not Me (1.3) where she talks about how people are scared of the unconscious mind. I think that some people feel certain ways about some things but feel that since it is not accepted by people close to them or even the world, they feel like they have to hide it. Or, for example, if someone did not feel comfortable doing something and everyone else were making fun of him or her because they were doing it. In society these days it is sometimes very difficult to go against the grain because people are so harsh when it comes to ideas and opinions different to their own. This is one reason why I like the Honor's program because we are able to share our different opinions and know that we are not goiong to be shot down for it.
ReplyDeleteAnother comment I liked was Erin Awtrey's in I Have My Doubts (3.5). She briefly discusses the value of listening to the "right way" of an idea instead of never doubting oneself and always thinking one is right and voicing that "certainty" even when one is wrong. There is a lot of value in listening and not always believing that one knows everything there is to know.
Kelsey Jackson
I also liked Emily Davis's story about her cat of 7 years in My Baby, My Cat (1.1). I am always very interested in what views Emily has because she is so insightful! The description of her cat becoming a "pickier" eater made me laugh because I have had so many cats over the years and I think about how high maintenance most of them became as I spent more and more time with them!But they also became more and more loving, too! (:
ReplyDeleteKelsey Jackson