Magen Sanders Questions on-Patternicity: Finding Meaningful Patterns in Meaningless Noise - 17 views
started by magen sanders on 19 Oct 11
-
#1 magen sanders on 19 Oct 11when it comes to the "rustle in the grass" example do you believe that we should assume the rustle is a dangerous predator or just the wind? In other words is it beneficial to be extra cautious and make an "incorrect causal story"? how are we caustious in Public policy and what causal stories do we create to rationalize our decisions in the way we view policy? -
#2 Sarah McKee on 21 Oct 11Well in the situation of the predator it is important to think it's a predator. In public policy I suppose this corresponds to a possible threat. A possible terrorist attack or something like this. Not that I agree with the way we dealt with Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 and starting a war over there but by thinking of it compared to the "rustle in the grass" it can sort of be reasoned. We talked in class about how people can be kind of cynical of things such as 9/11 but this article points it out more as we are more accepting of conspiracy theories, I found that interesting. I think I went in a different direction from when I started but I think people view policy in different ways. Some people are more inclined to accept the stories given by the government and others are more inclined to believe things like conspiracies. -
#3 Joette Carini on 21 Oct 11I do believe that it is beneficial to be extra cautious. We are cautious in Public Policy because we are attempting to protect ourselves. Everyone has an instinct for protection, especially when we are in danger, whether that danger is being lied to in politics or if something is chasing after you. Like Sarah said, this relates to policy because, sometimes, we need to see things as a possible threat so we do not fall into something that we shouldn't. We rationalize these stories because we would like to live in a perfect world where the politics are perfect and nothing goes wrong and no one lies to anyone, even though we know that that is completely unrealistic. These stories that we create rationalize our desires for this society. We would like to think that there is a threat so that we can be over-protective in an attempt to keep ourselves safe. These causal stories, whether they are good or bad, will never end. I think that, to some extent, they are good because everyone needs to be able to understand things in their own way and, essentially, protect themselves. -
#4 Melissa Moreno on 21 Oct 11I believe it is beneficial to be extra cautious in regards to public policy. When being told political stories it is important to now take everything at face value. The "rustle in the grass" may just be a rustle in the grass but it can also be something more like the article says. Often we take for granted the information given to us because it is attached to a "fancy title" or someone who is "highly educated" has told us so. But what about the empirical evidence we are supposed to be looking for? I believe although we tend to think we are cautious we are all to accepting of information because it is attached to someone who is a supposed expert. We are not cautious of the "rustle in the grass" because out pops a cute bunny...but then the bunnies eyes turn red and attack and we regret our decision. I think that it is just important to be careful of the stories we accept are true and the stories we quickly disregard. we need to be cautious of the rustle to make sure we are not blindsided or regretful of our decisions and their consequences. -
#5 Lauren Petta on 21 Oct 11I agree with Joette in that sometimes it is beneficial to be extra couscous. Caution means protection. Everyone else is bringing up 9/11 and whether or not it was acceptable to have gone to war. In my opinion, a terrorist attack is a threat to our country and you never know what might come next. Although I will get a lot of people to disagree with me, I think that in 2001, under the specific circumstances we had a good reason to go to war. It was for the protection of our country. We were attacked by a terrorist group- to me that in itself is a good reason. I don't think I can say that the whole 9/11 deal was a "story" given by the government. But I do see what the article is saying in that people are more inclined to believe what the government tells them than an outside source (conspiracy). Then again, many people no longer trust the government....so this could change. -
#7 Valencia Hamilto on 21 Oct 11When it comes to the "rustle in the grass" example i believe that it is best to assume that it is a predator rather than the wind . Its the matter of life or death so its best to be on your toes and be extra cautious. Just like in public policy, the whole situation with 9/11 , just because of that horrendous tragedy our country has been extra cautious on everything , because it was so unexpected we dont know when something like that will ever occur again so the best thing to do is stay extra cautious. -
#8 Eric Arbuckle on 21 Oct 11Comes down to one main thing. If we are attacked by a country or terrorist organization, and that attack causes harm to a great number of American civilians or American military personnel; it is our countries duty to react in order to: 1, protect the well being of the country, and 2, let the world know that we will not back down and let enemy groups take advantage of us because we are too soft and or too political. If we did not react and become proactive against the enemy we would have gotten attacked more, following 9/11. Never take your enemies or their actions lightly because they will surprise you in the worst way possible and you will be sure to fall. Who ever does not believe we should have gone to Afghanistan in 2001, has forgotten the emotions and great terror 9/11 brought on our people.
To Top