Todays Debate

Well we couldn't agree on the terms of "male" characteristics so we didn't really get any debating done. The idea of "male" characteristics and "female" characteristics and making these generalizations created an uncomfortable environment for the debate. The tendencies that certain traits are more common in one of the two genders is a fairly common held belief. Ultimately, we should have defined both "male" characteristics and "leader" prior to the debate.
The traits that we listed on the board, gender association aside, all create a good leader. A good leader should posses decisiveness and a good work ethic, but it would also behoove those below the leader if the leader possessed compassion and participated emotionally in the tasks at hand. If you define the first two traits I listed (decisiveness and a good work ethic) as "male" then yes I believe that a leader should posses these qualities. If they (the traits) are merely human characteristics and have no gender affiliation then one doesn't need to posses "male" traits because the ideology of "male" traits doesn't exist.

Gustavo dudamel

Gustavo Dudamel is the conductor for the LA Philharmonic orchestra. Dudamel is an amazing leader. He conducts with such vigor and passion. He brings life to pieces and commands the orchestra beautifully. The members have the utmost respect for their leader and therefore they adhere to every action he demands of them. The job of a conductor is so crucial to the orchestra, it keeps everyone on the same beat. The conductor is also one of the only variables left when you get to a certain level of proficiency in music. All the members of these world famous orchestras will know their part and play all the correct notes. Thus, the interpretation of the piece is the main difference between the orchestras. The interpretation is up to the conductor and I, for one, find Dudamel's interpretations fascinating and elegant.

Exit through the gift shop

I found this documentary really interesting. I saw a Banksy in the mission district of San Francisco once. He took a no trespassing sign and had a stenciled cross-legged indian holding it up. This documentary was really enlightening into the whole street art phenomena. Its such a temporary form of art that is now eternalized through the internet and now this documentary.
Banksy and Fairey opened the doors to this exclusive world of street art to Thierry. Thierry  eventually becomes MBW and epitomizes the antithesis of everything street art is about. He takes a Warhol-esque approach to the creation of the art and regurgitates the same celebrity image or iconic image over and over with different colors and fills eventually rendering the face or image void of meaning.
I had talked with my friends about this documentary prior to seeing it. Many of them believed that Banksy created MBW. We should have a class debate on that.

Debate

I thought the debate was really interesting. I feel that we should have defined the amount of regulation that each side desired. It seemed that those that were "for"censorship thought that an advertising arena completely free of regulation would have been created. While those against censorship wanted to maintain the level of regulation currently in affect.
Currently "advertising" is protected under the first amendment as it a form of speech. This form of speech is considered commercial speech. Commercial speech can be determined "deceptive" by the FTC and can  then be removed from the media.
I feel that this discrepancy created a slight issue with the debate being that not everyone was on the same page. I personally am satisfied with the current level of regulation and don't feel that the government should have the right to regulate it anymore then it already does.

Ads

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A659-2004Feb23.html

Heres a dated but interesting article I just read about the manipulation of the advertising industry and preventative measures some groups are trying to take. The article basically deals with the topic of childhood obesity and advertising being a contributing factor towards it. Claiming that children are unable to detect bias and fallacies within ads and that these untruthful ads about snack foods lead to childhood obesity.
There was an interesting point brought up in the article. Daniel L. Jaffe made the observation that the parent still plays a role in the obesity of a child. The parents give into the cravings of their children. The children cant go purchase unhealthy food, rather, they are supplied it by the parents. I tend to agree with Mr. Jaffe's point that, yes the ads may be harmful, but ultimately it comes down to the parents to maintain a healthy diet for the kids.

Field Day Assignment

Baxter Bailey

M01C

Hasson

Conversation Topic-

Universal Health Care?

Interviewee-Sara Bailey (younger sister)

Checklist of Characteristics of a Critical Thinker-

1-Asking appropriate questions.

She would react with a nervous look when unsure of a term. I would then go on to elaborate as best I could. This was apparent when talking about the private option, as well as malpractice.

2-Control of ones mind.

She seemed to stay very focused for our short five minute conversation.

3-Watchful of errors/honest with themselves.

She did admit when she was unsure of topics or terms.

4-Regard challenges/controversial topics as challenges.

Enjoyed debating the controversial topic, though, she admitted to not having much knowledge concerning the matter.

5-Patient with complexity, curiosity.

She was eager to understand unknown terms.

6-Prefer evidence over personal preference to prove points.

Here I would say she based her conclusions more on emotion rather than facts or statistics.

7-Interested in other's ideas.

I didn't try to refute her idea too much during the conversation, but did get the sense that she was preparing to argue against any point I made.

8-Extreme views are seldom right.

She walked the line fairly well on the matter coming up with a system of health care that was for the under privileged only, not for everyone.

9-Practice restraint with feelings.

She is a very passionate person, but remained calm and relaxed throughout the conversation.

Paragraph-

Does the interviewee demonstrate the above characteristics? Evaluate.

She did a good job of thinking critically. She did base many of her ideas on assumptions but has an interesting view on public health care. Much of her arguments rely on pathos rather than logos or ethos. Her points mostly play off of ones emotions. She attempted to portray an underprivileged class that is in desperate need of medical insurance and is unable to currently receive it. She admitted to not knowing a tremendous amount about the topic and formulated her idealized version of health care based solely on her own ideas and emotions. I would say that in order for her to become a better critical thinker she would have to learn a little bit more about the topic. Otherwise, she conducted herself in a very thoughtful manner and had interesting points on the subject.