Chat#5: Reflection: Become a Critic of Your Own
IDST 1114
This chat best exemplified this goal. Through on-line chatting, myself and three other group members discussed and interpreted the reading Become a critic of your own. This selection became a challenge to us because we have never actually discussed what it means to be a critical thinker. We all remained open minded and encouraged each other's opinions. In this chat I highlighted what I thought were the most meaningful questions and responses. None of us were afraid to question someone elses standpoints or opinions. Through multifaceted communication, I was able to understand the main points of the reading and share my thoughts and ideas of what it means to be a critical thinker.
croninla1: i can honestly say that i've never read anything like this before
Lizleo18: no one really thinks about thinking
GraingerVT: when you "think" about it...its very true
bLester85: yeah i know..... we should start out discussing a critical thinker
croninla1: i think college has really helped me become more of a critical thinker
Lizleo18: What do we think makes a critical thinker?
bLester85: yeah even though college doesnt offer "thinking" classes i feel that we take classes that challenges us to think.... like this class
GraingerVT: yea i do too...to dig
croninla1: exactly
bLester85: okay so the critical thinker:
bLester85: someone one who properly questions what someone is saying or someone else is saying
bLester85: and fully understands it
GraingerVT: i think alot of it entails being alert and assertive a lot of the time
Lizleo18: someone who has an open mind
croninla1: yeah- i really liked how they talked about being open minded
bLester85: yeah i agree
croninla1: i feel like way too many people are closed minded
croninla1: and just dont know it
GraingerVT: yea i never thought of those ideas as bein closed minded
bLester85: yeah that really hit home with me b/c i havea roommate who is so closed minded.. i want to make her read this
GraingerVT: yea i really feel like it could change people to read that
GraingerVT: it made me a lot more aware
croninla1: me too
croninla1: i think my boyfriend needs to read it
Lizleo18: most college students should read this
bLester85: i think so too
GraingerVT: u just have to constanly be aware
croninla1: what about #2
croninla1: there can definately be dangers in lack of critical thinking
croninla1: it happens a lot in the media
GraingerVT: well def the political system fails as critical thinking
Lizleo18: you can misinterrput what people are trying to tell you
GraingerVT: indeed
Lizleo18: So do you all think we are critical thinkers?
croninla1: as individuals?
Lizleo18: yea
GraingerVT: i think we all could be
croninla1: i think im becoming better at it
bLester85: i don't think i would consider myself to be one... but after reading this it has def. made me more aware of my thinking
Lizleo18: cause I know that on certain subjects I am a critical thinker and then on others I am not
GraingerVT: same
croninla1: this is something we'll be lving with the rest of our lives
croninla1: yeah me too
GraingerVT: we def all could be critical thinkers
bLester85: yeah i feel that if its something im knowledgealbe about and interested in im a critical thinker about it
bLester85: but if its something im not.. not so much
GraingerVT: its thing that we have to admit we are wrong that are hard to be crictical thinkers in
croninla1: i agree
croninla1: i almost feel like true critical thinkers are the most well-rounded people
bLester85: yeah i think so to
croninla1: which kind of leads into how its interdisciplinary
GraingerVT: yea the "scholar"
bLester85: exactly
bLester85: do u think one leads the other?
Lizleo18: I think that it helps
croninla1: i dont know?
Lizleo18: to be able to critically think helps you become a better scholar
GraingerVT: i think so
GraingerVT: you are open minded to accpeting new materials
croninla1: i really like the quote from #3
croninla1: and how they talked about being able to change your mind
GraingerVT: same
croninla1: too many people are stubborn to change their minds
Lizleo18: I think that is a big thing, that you don't think that your opinions are the end alll be all of opinions
GraingerVT: yea
croninla1: right
bLester85: yeah really listen and try to understand what someone else is saying and the question how you think
GraingerVT: to me a really hard part is the question part
GraingerVT: i feel like i never ask the righr questions now
croninla1: i can agree with that
Lizleo18: I find there really are no wrong questions
bLester85: yeah
Lizleo18: if you have a question ask it
croninla1: well i agree with that too- but sometimes the "wrong" questions can lead into an unsuccesful conversation
croninla1: all depending on the situation
GraingerVT: its no that i ask the wrong question
GraingerVT: and i thought the reasonable question was really good
GraingerVT: in general i just feel that people scratch the surface when they ask questions
Lizleo18: that is for some students, but I find that most students won't ask questions unless they really want an answer
Lizleo18: but sometimes you need to sratch the surface before you can get to the questions you really want to ask
Lizleo18: I know that in my classes it takes a while before students really open up and we ahve real discussions
croninla1: same here
GraingerVT: ok
croninla1: but for me it really depends on the class setting
croninla1: the professor, mainly
bLester85: yeah i agree w/ u
Lizleo18: thats also a factor
Lizleo18: what do you think the dangers are if there is a lack of critical thinking
GraingerVT: judgement
bLester85: people remaining closed minded
bLester85: i dont know if thats a danger but it could casue conflict
croninla1: yeah
croninla1: id hope that people learn from their mistakes though
GraingerVT: yea same
croninla1: so they wont remain close minded
croninla1: the dangers of it may be a learning experience for some
Lizleo18: How do you think that leaves us vulnerable as individuals or as a culture?
Lizleo18: the lack or passive thinking?
GraingerVT: progression is slowed
GraingerVT: is people cant be open minded
GraingerVT: nothing can change
Lizleo18: I think culture becomes stagnant
Lizleo18: people become set in their ways, and no one questions what they are told
croninla1: i agree
GraingerVT: right
Lizleo18: it ends up with no real free thinking
croninla1: its hard bc you want to be able to have a strong opinion
GraingerVT: this is all similar to emerons scholar to me
croninla1: but also open minded at the same time
bLester85: yeah people should have their own opinions but everyone needs to try to remain open minded and listen to what other people are trying to say
GraingerVT: yea
Lizleo18: I think our culture is at a point of passive thinking, I think you don't question what we see on the TV or are told by others
croninla1: i think we're starting to though
Lizleo18: *we don't question*
croninla1: i agree- but i also think that people are starting to question
croninla1: resulting in more conflicts
bLester85: yeah
Lizleo18: yea, but it has been a while, it will take sometime for our world to truely think cricially
bLester85: yeah b/c there are some really stubburn people out there that are set in their ways
croninla1: i dont think that will ever happen
croninla1: honestly
croninla1: as of right now
croninla1: but who knows?
Lizleo18: yea
GraingerVT: i dont either
croninla1: conflict and drama result from the lack of critical thinking
GraingerVT: exactly
croninla1: but dont we need conflict with some issues?
croninla1: i think so
GraingerVT: i do too
GraingerVT: but our conflicts could use more criotcal thinking
Lizleo18: So has there been I time when you all have changed your mind/opinion about something or someone?
GraingerVT: im sure
croninla1: plenty of times
croninla1: "you cant judge a book by its cover"
