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The Agora
Here we discuss ideas and engage in honest debate. Or perhaps you’d merely like to make an observation and get some feedback – this might be the place to post.
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The Agora Rules of Engagement
The following originally appeared in The Washington Post and were entitled "The Eight Elements of Critical Thinking".
1. Ask questions; be willing to wonder.
2. Define your problem correctly.
3. Examine the evidence.
4. Analyze assumptions and biases.
5. Avoid emotional reasoning.
6. Don't oversimplify.
7. Consider other interpretations.
8. Tolerate uncertainty.
1. Ask questions; be willing to wonder.
2. Define your problem correctly.
3. Examine the evidence.
4. Analyze assumptions and biases.
5. Avoid emotional reasoning.
6. Don't oversimplify.
7. Consider other interpretations.
8. Tolerate uncertainty.
8 months ago
Recent Messages
New rule
What say we make a new rule that each member must post something both thoughtful and interesting each week or be banished from the group? Comments?
The Best of the Worsst of Times
These are the times that try men's pocketbooks, but is there any silver lining to these clouds of economic woe? Extraordinarily high crude oil prices are kicking alternative energy development into high gear. And less fossil fuel consumption will be a breath of fresh air for the environment. People may also seek to cut the commute by moving closer to their workplace, which may stimulate a stagnant housing market.
What think ya', folks? Are these times a wake-up call to curtail our spendthrift ways or a looming catastrophe without hope?
Pressly
What think ya', folks? Are these times a wake-up call to curtail our spendthrift ways or a looming catastrophe without hope?
Pressly
1421 – The Year China Discovered The World
OK, let me run this up the flagpole...
I saw a TV show where some are positing that the Chinese "discovered" America in 1421. The Chinese had built a treasure fleet around that time of thousand of large ocean-going junques who were sent forth to bring back treasure--jewels, precious metals, and also information from the world. The theory is that some junques made it to the west coast of North and South America. The evidence is in the DNA of native tribes matching that of western Asia as well as other "proofs" of Chinese influence. One authority argues that "discovery" depends on reporting back what was discovered and there is no record that the Chinese did that.
view link
http://www.1421.tv/
The question is not whether this theory is true or not. The question is: If this is true, if it can be proven, how does it change how Americans think about themselves? The author of 1421 – The Year China Discovered The World, Gavin Menzies, says this will turn history on its ear and change the way Americans think about themselves. Does it? Could it? To what extent are we Euro-centric?
I saw a TV show where some are positing that the Chinese "discovered" America in 1421. The Chinese had built a treasure fleet around that time of thousand of large ocean-going junques who were sent forth to bring back treasure--jewels, precious metals, and also information from the world. The theory is that some junques made it to the west coast of North and South America. The evidence is in the DNA of native tribes matching that of western Asia as well as other "proofs" of Chinese influence. One authority argues that "discovery" depends on reporting back what was discovered and there is no record that the Chinese did that.
view link
http://www.1421.tv/
The question is not whether this theory is true or not. The question is: If this is true, if it can be proven, how does it change how Americans think about themselves? The author of 1421 – The Year China Discovered The World, Gavin Menzies, says this will turn history on its ear and change the way Americans think about themselves. Does it? Could it? To what extent are we Euro-centric?
What Have We Lost?
Sitting here with my mega-mug of coffee before launching myself into my day, I checked out my Eons groups - two of which disappeared Eons-space in the last month. And I recalled with some sadness how, a year ago, this same set of actions was far from the somewhat dreary obligation it is today.
Can anyone put their finger on what happened? Was it, at least here in The Agora, simply one of those unpredictable concatenations of lively minds, curiosity, and a bit of time to interact? I remember the fierce chemistry between Sebastian and Proscyon creating some incredible discussion topics - yeah, some missed the mark, some left me cold, but interestingly the ones that left me cold lit a fire under other group members and just took off.
The time I'm thinking about corresponds chronologically to last spring into early summer. What ended that period was, for me, a series of real-life events that had a cumulative overwhelming effect and I needed to withdraw and replenish my resources for a while. What ended that period for others, I believe, was Eons's business restructuring followed by its bimonthly change in strategic focus that left its members at best confused, at worst with a sense of betrayal and distrust that still remains.
I see this to an extent in my other groups, "to an extent" because members weren't as fully engaged intellectually to begin with. But geez, to wake up to a message topic, "Suzi Goes to an A Capella Concert" REALLY makes me wonder if Eons is worth the effort any more.
Thoughts, anyone?
Zaftig Babe
Can anyone put their finger on what happened? Was it, at least here in The Agora, simply one of those unpredictable concatenations of lively minds, curiosity, and a bit of time to interact? I remember the fierce chemistry between Sebastian and Proscyon creating some incredible discussion topics - yeah, some missed the mark, some left me cold, but interestingly the ones that left me cold lit a fire under other group members and just took off.
The time I'm thinking about corresponds chronologically to last spring into early summer. What ended that period was, for me, a series of real-life events that had a cumulative overwhelming effect and I needed to withdraw and replenish my resources for a while. What ended that period for others, I believe, was Eons's business restructuring followed by its bimonthly change in strategic focus that left its members at best confused, at worst with a sense of betrayal and distrust that still remains.
I see this to an extent in my other groups, "to an extent" because members weren't as fully engaged intellectually to begin with. But geez, to wake up to a message topic, "Suzi Goes to an A Capella Concert" REALLY makes me wonder if Eons is worth the effort any more.
Thoughts, anyone?
Zaftig Babe
china question
i am taking an elder lecture class on china. the question i am facing is how american trade with "liberlize" china's relationship wih america and the rest of the world. this is the lecturers beliefs. does anyone have any thoughts on this or where i can get some data thanks
yichel (if you have noticed this already yes i have posted it in other groups to compare responses and because i am competitive and wish to get as much knowledge as possible)
yichel (if you have noticed this already yes i have posted it in other groups to compare responses and because i am competitive and wish to get as much knowledge as possible)
Goldilocks Elects Romney
This one is too old, that one is too black, the other one is too female.
So the only one who is 'just right' will be Mitt Romney.
How will our covert prejudices play out on election day? Will ageism, racism, and sexism be the guiding principles?
These are the kinds of things that are hard to track with opinion polls. It's not even necessarily because people consciously lie about their preference. We want to imagine ourselves as our "best" self, and so we report our best opinion.
But what's going to happen when we make the mark, or touch the screen?
Project all your worse fears on the American electorate. How *will* they behave?
So the only one who is 'just right' will be Mitt Romney.
How will our covert prejudices play out on election day? Will ageism, racism, and sexism be the guiding principles?
These are the kinds of things that are hard to track with opinion polls. It's not even necessarily because people consciously lie about their preference. We want to imagine ourselves as our "best" self, and so we report our best opinion.
But what's going to happen when we make the mark, or touch the screen?
Project all your worse fears on the American electorate. How *will* they behave?
Changes
I am sure by now y'all have heard about the changes at Eons. What do you think of them and what do you think of the way they were put into effect? What do you think the effect will be on Eons overall and on this and individual groups in particular?
just a question
on Wednesday i went skiing with a group of blind folk. One blind aince birth. What alwaya surprises me is how they use "visual language." Often a blind person would sau "look over there" One even told me to watch my step as we werre entering the lodge. Where they are blind is at descriptions. A sighted person commented that the lodge sign was now to which the blind since birth commented that she had no idea what blue was she did know the sky was blue but could not draw an image. I am facinated by how people use words. i also learned some time ago that knowledge of color is learned For a joke i said to her "hear that over there" she looked at me blankly. I guess my question is if there is a hegemony of laguage in this case the sighted world what definitions or word do we use everyday that are impressed upon us?
yichel (while in the hospital i met a guy who regained sight after 20 something years. Yet he continually used his hands to feel as he entered a room or sat down in a chair.)
yichel (while in the hospital i met a guy who regained sight after 20 something years. Yet he continually used his hands to feel as he entered a room or sat down in a chair.)
prophesy
if you could ask the oracle ayt delphi one question about the future of the country what would it be?
(i have not been able to think of one for my family easy
yichel
(i have not been able to think of one for my family easy
yichel
Activity, smactivity!
There is a plot afoot at Eons among the staff and some members to close groups that have been inactive for an arbitrary 100 days or to have members take over these groups. Apparently those with control issues and OCD feel they have to neaten things up. Their argument is that new Eons members look at and join groups that are inactive and get turned off. So rather than suppose these older adults would have the discretion and intelligence to find active groups (by simply seeing when the last post was) or enter a group and participate in livening it up or do the hard work of forming a group, they feel they must police Eons and thus shepherd the helpless morons to find groups bustling with activity.
Then there is the movement to welcome each and every member with a chorus of Hellos and Welcomes; shower them with gifts; and be more caught up in the social aspect of the group than with the purpose of the group. There is another movement to delete inactive members of active groups which is direct opposition to those for whom number of members is all important. Then there are those who expect a lot of members to comment on their postings and get themselves in a huff if there are no comments. Then there is the perennial quest to have one's posts, groups, or blogs boomed for the dubious honor of recognition. Some members seek the Holy Grail of being "most active member" regardless of whether their posts have meaning or not. And of course we always have those who have the mistaken idea that only they have freedom of speech and no one is allowed to challenge what they say as it somehow infringes on their right to speak.
I suppose it is inconceivable to most of Eons that someone only posts when they have something worthwhile to say. Or that freedom of speech contains the right to refrain from speaking.
Anyway, I am posting this here so that we remain seen as active until we decide we have something interesting or pithy to say. We may not be the most chatty group, but at least we do not post inanities and one-line echo posts. laffin an laffin
Then there is the movement to welcome each and every member with a chorus of Hellos and Welcomes; shower them with gifts; and be more caught up in the social aspect of the group than with the purpose of the group. There is another movement to delete inactive members of active groups which is direct opposition to those for whom number of members is all important. Then there are those who expect a lot of members to comment on their postings and get themselves in a huff if there are no comments. Then there is the perennial quest to have one's posts, groups, or blogs boomed for the dubious honor of recognition. Some members seek the Holy Grail of being "most active member" regardless of whether their posts have meaning or not. And of course we always have those who have the mistaken idea that only they have freedom of speech and no one is allowed to challenge what they say as it somehow infringes on their right to speak.
I suppose it is inconceivable to most of Eons that someone only posts when they have something worthwhile to say. Or that freedom of speech contains the right to refrain from speaking.
Anyway, I am posting this here so that we remain seen as active until we decide we have something interesting or pithy to say. We may not be the most chatty group, but at least we do not post inanities and one-line echo posts. laffin an laffin
Photos
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The Green Ma...
10 months ago
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Upon reading...
12 months ago
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Warping Diam...
about 1 year ago
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Mercy Holdin...
about 1 year ago
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Themis
about 1 year ago
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The Antikyth...
about 1 year ago
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