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Post#10 Critical Thinking Process: Rain Dances

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Post#10 Critical Thinking Process: Rain Dances

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Define Problem:

Do rain dances really work?

Gather information:

Times it worked: A member of the Sicangu Lakota tribe stated, “Recently, during the ski season, the managers of a ski resort in Park City, Utah, invited a group of Uintah Dancers to perform a dance that would hopefully bring much needed snow to their bare resort . They danced, and the next day it snowed, and it kept snowing for three days” [1]. This includes one of many examples of when people claim the rain dance ritual works.

Why it wont work: Scientists these days have learned and developed tools which aid in meteorology substantially, from where they started centuries ago. The natives who practiced this ritual, or the time where this ritual originated, they simply didn’t have the right tools or devices needed to predict the forecast. Thus, causes this ritual to only be a belief, rather than a fact.

Evaluate evidence:

These sources are credible as there isn’t only one opinion about this topic of discussion, but many with several different points of views.

Recognize Assumptions, Emotions, Biases:

Emotions and biases may reflect and be based off of an individuals background. For instance, one may believe that rain dances actually work if it has been practiced by their ancestors. Stories passed on of cases of it working may stick to ones memory, while other times it has been practiced and not worked may go unnoticed. Moreover, people may believe rain dances as their ancestors practiced this ritual and believed it worked, they’d assume it worked as well.

Synthesize Evidence, identify alternatives:

Rain dances work because their are cases of it working and because it is a tradition that has been used for several years.

Rain dances are just a myth because it is just a belief and/or tradition passed on till this day by our ancestors. Being able to change the weather on-call seems almost like a supernatural power/ability.

Select Best Alternative:

I ultimately believe rain dances are only a myth, mainly because I feel that the weather cant be changed by people, but only nature itself.

References:
[1] https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/do-you-still-do-the-rain-dance-and-does-it-work-6kyYWBUc40CozMdkxXN8zw/

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Post #9 Reason For Belief: Emotional Connection (picture)

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Post #9 Reason For Belief: Emotional Connection (picture)

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Definition:

Our emotions often influences all, if not most of our actions. In other words, emotions affects what we choose to believe, as a result of being affected on a personal level. Your morals and ethics are often based off of emotions as well. This is referred to as emotional connection. Emotional connection causes one to block out any reasoning and to believe only how they feel.

Connection:

People that go out of their way to see a psychic, to want to be able to communicate with one of their close late family or friend, is due to an emotional connection. Though they may not be sure if it may work or not, their emotions influence their actions which may cause them to block out any disbelief. Moreover, even though the psychic may say false statements, very few of them may rest assure them as its what they emotionally wanted to hear. Nonetheless, going to a psychic may be a result of emotional comfort.

Object:

Psychics who say they can communicate with the dead

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Definition:

The habit/impulse to find meaningful patterns anywhere, in places that are either meaningful or meaningless, is known as patternicity. One of a humans natural instinct is to observe, and when doing so, familiar patterns are what typically stands out.

Connection:

A humans instinct is to observe. In doing so, either some movement or familiar pattern is what attracts us the most. The picture below is an example of patternicity, as even though it is only a cookie; we all tend to recognize a smiley face formed by the chocolate chips. This is one in many examples where people tend to see a face in random objects.

Object:

Smiley face implemented on cookie

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Post #7 Reason For Belief: Unexplained (video)

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Post #7 Reason For Belief: Unexplained (video)

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Definition:

The idea of not being able to explain a subject of matter, often causes one to fill in the blanks and explain it themselves, which may often be biased and related to their personal beliefs.

Connection:

Unidentified Flying Objects have been around for centuries. In most cases, there are several claims in spotting a UFO. People often tend to do this as there is no true evidence or proof that one exists. Many also believe the government may be hiding the concept from everyone, which gives people another reason to believe their own claim. Many sightings often involve an odd flying object which is indescribable. This may be caused by accident as well, if someone were to mistake in it for something else (if the object is too far for instance). The video below goes to show what people believe to be sightings of UFO's. Since UFO's have never been properly studied and described, society often makes up their own.

Object:

UFO’s

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Worldwide UFO sightings hit all-time high

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Post #5 Red Flag: Proof by Verbosity (picture)

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Post #5 Red Flag: Proof by Verbosity (picture)

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Definition:

Proof by verbosity refers to when an immense volume of information is given; where there’s more information than one can comprehend. These huge volumes of information may give one the idea of being thoroughly analyzed and researched. Though in reality, its not about how much information one has, but the quality of the information. For instance, conspiracy theorists, and other ad companies may use proof by verbosity to manipulate their audience into believing what they believe in.

Connection:

In modern days, celebrities are often contacted by companies to endorse their product to their fan base. As the celebrity typically gets paid by the sponsor, they use proof by verbosity to attract their fans to this product. The celebrity often describes the product in several ways, making several claims, luring their fans into believing that the product is truly amazing. The image below is an example of few of many celebrities that promote different brands.

Object:

Celebrity endorsement

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Definition:

Red herrings refers the any piece of information, which may seem relevant, but is truly a distraction. These information do not in any way or form address the topic of discussion.

Connection:

The picture below is a prime example of a red herring. In this case, as a child makes a request to purchase a toy, her mom immediately diverts her attention by bringing up something that hasn’t been brought up. Though the child is unaware, the mom did use treats as an irrelevant distraction which doesn’t in any way or form address the point of discussion; which is a toy.

Object:

Mom diverts kids

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Post #4 Red Flag: Mystical Energy (picture)

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Post #4 Red Flag: Mystical Energy (picture)

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Definition:

Whenever an individual accredits some form of energy, it is completely insignificant and meaningless. These claims often have no true evidence, though it may sound plausible. This is known as mystical energy. One may refer to a form of energy to reassure their claim, even though it has no true meaning. Moreover, no true experienced, qualified, and professional individuals such as doctors or other medical examiners refer to any sorts of energy, as it is truly irrelevant.

Connection:

Over the years, jewelry and/or accessories have been created, implementing some soft of crystal stone. This includes, necklaces, water bottles, or in some cases, the stone itself. The idea behind each individual stone is said to be some sort of remedy or stress reliever. For instances, they may consider the product to have powerful energetic healing properties, that may relieve stress and enhance confidence. These claims are typically meaningless. The image shows a product which includes a Quartz, and is said to protect you from negative energy (with no real evidence).

Object:

Crystal stones

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Post #3 Red Flag: Confirmation Bias (picture)

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Post #3 Red Flag: Confirmation Bias (picture)

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Definition:

People often disregard a manner, occurrence or circumstance that does not coincide with their beliefs, and simultaneously take notice almost immediately when something does in fact correlate with their beliefs. The tendency to do this is known as confirmation bias. The satisfaction one may obtain ensuring that their beliefs are true over powers the satisfaction if proven otherwise. This is why humans take notice of the hits, and disregard all the misses. In addition, myths are often past along due to confirmation bias.

Connection:

A popular belief which has been around for centuries, indicates that left handed people are more creative than right handed people. This goes to show confirmation bias as only the popular names, people that are left handed and smart, are studied. Every other left-handed human on the planet goes unnoticed. In other words, people tend to take notice of a person that is left handed and creative, over a person that is right handed but just as creative. The image below represents this controversial debate.

Object:

A belief that left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people

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Post #2 Red Flag: Ancient Wisdom (picture)

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Post #2 Red Flag: Ancient Wisdom (picture)

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Definition:

Over the centuries, scientists have drastically developed the understanding of the human body, as well as other sciences. A belief and/or a myth which people tend to believe due to the fact that it has been around for a long time, is what is known as Ancient Wisdom. Often times, these beliefs do not carry hard evidence. In reality, it doesn’t matter how long something has been around, but only whether it works, and if its a fact.

Connection:

Rain dances is a ritual performed, which is typically to invoke rain. For instances, Native American tribes have been known to practice these rituals, as it is what their ancestors believed. Though this technique is considered a myth and theres no actual evidence it is guaranteed every time, this popular ritual was considered and performed in hope, in most cases.

Object:

Rain dance

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Made By: Sivajan Yogachandran, working individually