Assignment#1 by

Assignment#1 by https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835 by Rhys Thompson en-us 2022-10-11 00:43:08 UTC 2022-12-01 00:14:09 UTC hello@padlet.com Post #1 Title: Assignment 1 rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334362170 Made by Rhys Thompson, working individually. ]]> 2022-10-11 00:46:09 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334362170 Post #2 Red Flag: Appeal to Authority rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334365816 Definition:
The red flag Appeal to Authority uses prominent figures of authority, such as celebrities, institutions, or doctors in order to endorse ideas rather than relying on evidence.

Connection:
This article is about former president Donald Trump and his problematic and controversial comment about injecting disinfectants to deal with coronavirus. Trump claimed that the disinfectant "knocks coronavirus in a minute" and that injecting disinfectant would do a "cleaning" to help eliminate the virus. After receiving backlash from medical doctors and the rest of the world for his problematic comments he retracted his statement and claimed he was just being "sarcastic." Applying the critical thinking process and skepticism we see that Trump is not a medical professional and his spreading of harmful information can be very detrimental. He also downplays the seriousness of the pandemic that negatively affected the entire globe and many supporters of his will listen to him rather than rely on medical evidence. ]]> 2022-10-11 00:49:35 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334365816 Post #3 Red Flag: Confirmation Bias rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334366940 Definition:
Confirmation Bias is the tendency to remember ideas that confirm what they want to believe and disregard ideas that contradict their beliefs.

Connection:
This photo shows a psychic giving a tarot reading. Tarot card readings could be typically done by psychics who use these cards to gain insight into someone's past, present, or future through a series of questions. A pseudoscience watchlist is that results cannot be verified and a limitation is that the individual given a reading favors information confirming their beliefs or what benefits them. ]]> 2022-10-11 00:50:49 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334366940 Post #4 Red Flag: Proof by Verbosity rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334370635 Definition:
Proof by verbosity is the overabundance of big words and information that is often irrelevance and intended to confuse or misguide the listener and make topics appear comprehensive and thoroughly researched.

Connection:
Proof by verbosity is demonstrated in this picture because it shows that using a lot of big words or giving a lot of information that is often irrelevant will distract the listener from the fact that they have no actual proof. The pseudoscience watchlist is the use of scientific-sounding language that is meaningless. ]]> 2022-10-11 00:54:24 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334370635 Post #5 Red Flag: Confuse Correlation with Causation rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334372501 Definition:
Confuse correlation with causation is the belief that certain events that coincide are related/caused by each other.

Connection:
This article looks at the myths and controversies behind the claim that vaccinations are the cause of autism and emphasizes the fact that many anti-vaccine supporters lack a scientific background and have biases despite scientific evidence. The critical thinking process and skepticism should be applied in this case because correlation does not always mean causation. Many falsely believe that vaccinations are the cause of autism despite countless research from certified medical professionals that claim otherwise.]]> 2022-10-11 00:56:11 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334372501 Post #6 Red Flag: All Natural rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334373866 Definition:
All natural is the idea that foods and supplements that are "natural" are better for you. Just because a product is natural does not mean that it is safe or healthy.

Connection:
This photo is of celebrity Kylie Jenner advertising FitTea, a detoxing diet tea that claims to be "all-natural" and many use for drastic weight loss to replace food. Critical thinking is important in this instance because just because something is deemed to be "all-natural" does not mean that it is healthy or safe to consume.]]> 2022-10-11 00:57:31 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334373866 Post #7 Reason for Belief: Simplicity rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334375894 Definition:
Simplicity means choosing to believe strange coincidences mean more than they are because scientific answers that are hard to understand.

Connection:
This video highlights paranormal activity happening in the home of victim Shannan Watts who was brutally murdered by her husband and many claim the house is haunted by her ghost. The video shows countless signs of paranormal activity, from hearing what sounds like a ghost to seeing figures and shadows that resemble a person. Applying the critical thinking process and skepticism to each instance where people think they hear or see the ghost of Shannan, skeptics would argue that these sounds and reflections can be logically explained. The sounds are prominent in older houses and lighting can cause conspicuous shadows to appear and trick the eye into believing it is a human figure. ]]> 2022-10-11 00:59:16 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334375894 Post #8 Reason for Belief: Agenticity rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334378043 Definition:
Agenticity means assigning patterns with meaning and agency, often to "invisible beings."

Connection:
This article is about the conspiracy theory that Tupac is alive, and many (including Tupac's producer) claim to have seen him in the present day and believe that he faked his own death and has been hiding from the public eye. Those who believe in conspiracy theories connect the dots differently and elevate certain individuals and agents to great significance. Critical thinking and skeptics would claim that there are individuals who happen to look very similar to Tupac and that he could not have successfully faked his own death this long. There is no actual proof that he is still alive other than photos of individuals who happen to look like him. ]]> 2022-10-11 01:01:09 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334378043 Post #9 Reason for Belief: Unexplained rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334379352 Definition
Unexplained means that we don’t know what we don’t know, and when confronted with an idea that we do not understand we try to apply meaning or an explanation ourselves.

Connection:
This video shows magic tricks and reveals the secrets of magic tricks, showing that it is not actually a supernatural event but rather just an illusion of the eye and mind. Applying the critical thinking process and skepticism we can determine that magic tricks are not actually magic but rather just illusions through performance and skill. ]]> 2022-10-11 01:02:24 UTC https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334379352 Post #10 Critical Thinking Process Responses rhysthompson https://padlet.com/rhysthompson/9h030dk38ovrp835/wish/2334382829 I chose to evaluate the article that Donald Trump suggests 'injection' of disinfectant to beat coronavirus and 'clean' the lungs.

Define Problem (extraordinary claim):

Injecting disinfectant helps stop coronavirus.

Gather information:

This article highlights the many false and outrageous claims about coronavirus that Trump has made, especially the

Trump has made many false claims and given unproven treatments for coronavirus, including using hydroxychloroquine as a potential "game changer" while health officials have strongly cautioned against it and injecting disinfectant to clear the lungs of coronavirus.

Evaluate Evidence:
Donald Trump is not a medical professional. He has always been a businessman before turning to politics, but at no point in his timeline is he certified to give medical advice. Many medical professionals and experts have warned of the dangers of such claims made by Trump, and this information and unproven treatments for the virus have detrimental consequences to his followers who use him as a source for their information rather than actual evidence.

Recognize Assumptions, Emotions, and Biases:

Donald Trump has routinely downplayed the severity of the pandemic and has often stated that the virus is no worse than the flu. His lack of knowledge and inexperience showcase his own bias and his assumption about the coronavirus and, as a prominent figure of authority, can have negative impacts on those who appeal to his authority rather than rely on the evidence of medical professions.

Synthesize Evidence, Identify Alternatives:

Alternative solution 1: Injecting yourself with disinfectant will help fight coronavirus and cleanse your lungs.

Alternative solution 2: Injecting yourself with disinfectant is unsafe and dangerous and medical professionals caution against the internal use of disinfectants.

Select Best Alternative:

I conclude that injecting disinfectant does not help fight off coronavirus.

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