The One With The Argument

I heard an argument between a couple the other day and I think the guy is using ad populum appeal to force or ad populum appeal to spite or even paradox because his statement makes sense logically, but I know it cannot be true.

Him: This is all your fault! I didn’t complete my study in time, I have to extend for one year is all because of you!
She: How come it’s my fault you extend your study for a year!?
Him: Because you caused so many problems. You never understand me, you want my attention all the time, you want me to entertain all your needs. And when I didn’t do any of that, we’ll have a fight and I will end up trying to comfort you
She: ……
Him: The final exams are coming soon. Please don’t cause any more problems.
She: Sorry dear. I’ll try to change my attitude

I think it’s the guy’s fault he didn’t finished his study on time. He should know how to prioritize his life. As a student, study comes first. If he thinks a girlfriend would cause so many problems, then don’t be in a relationship in the first place. Plus, the problem they’re having might caused from him too. So, it’s not fair to blame the girl alone for their problems. But the guy uses paradox to support his main claim and the girl ends up apologizing even though she’s not entirely to be blamed.

The One With The New Ending

I watched a movie recently – Vantage Point. The movie starring Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt.

For me, the movie was great! The story line and the way they presented the movie captured my interest because it was different. It captures one event from eight different perspectives. So each time the story rewinds, I get a few more pieces of the puzzle. Watching a story unfold in a series of surprises and have twists in it is a lot of fun! But I just don’t like the ending!! It’s a typical Hollywood movie where the hero is a one man hero! Plus, the American always wins! *rolling eyes* How could a man left without any serious injuries after going through bombing, series of chasing scenes and involved in car accidents. The ending for me was quite disappointing. So, I’m going to apply re-writing the ending as I’ve learned in critical thinking class. I will give “Vantage-Point” a sadder ending ;)

When the terrorists kidnapped the President of the United States, the president died in the accident and Dennis Quaid (who plays as a secret service responsible for the President’s safety) cannot forgive himself for not protecting the President. So, he exiles himself into asylum in a rural area and become a carpenter.

The One With The Video

Flight of the conchords - Jenny

When I watched this video, I was laughing out loud!

“These 2 guys are co creative!!”
That was my first impression of them. The lyrics are SO funny! The music, the tone of their voice and their face impression make me want to watch the video over and over again.

In Critical Thinking’s class, I learned about creative people. The criteria of creative people are dynamic, daring, resourceful, hard-working, independent, wide range of interests and attracted to “abstract” ideas.

Dynamic
When I watched this video on Youtube.com, on the sidebar, I can see other videos from this group, Flight of the Conchords. Some of their videos were uploaded by their fans from even 4 years ago. So, I can say that these guys are dynamic people they do not allow their mind to become passive, they always come up with new ideas.

Daring
These guys are daring because they dare to go on stage to perform their songs. Not many people have that kind of courage. Many people have stage fright or not a risk taker. They’re scared they might get booed by the audience.

Resourceful, Wide range of interests and Attracted to “abstract” ideas
By the other videos from this group, I can say that this group is resourceful because they can make song from anything that inspires them like dragons, Frodo from lord of the ring and even robots. Who would have thought to make song about robots in the future. Their songs on variety of things also illustrate their wide range of interests and that they are attracted to “abstract” ideas.

Hard-working
These guys are hard-working. It is proven by their success. They are from New Zealand, but they are performing in America and other countries too. Plus, their hard-work is shown from the many varieties of their videos form the sidebar.

Independent

This group is independent because they perform at gigs and theatres, proves that they do not depend on big shows to make their way up.

Hope you guys will enjoy this video! I know i did! ;)

The One Where I Am Indesicive

A group of friends of mine is organizing a party on the 24th May. It is some sort like (by using the phrase “some sort like”, I make the statement seems less significant. This is an example of me using “prejudicial-language” - down-player, to attempt to persuade others) a farewell party since this is the final semester for the most of us. However, I can’t seem to decide of going or not because I am short on cash and I have other plans. So I made a pact with a friend, named Lola saying that “I’ll go if you go” (Here, I can apply the deductive reasoning of hypothetical syllogism).

1) Modus ponens (Affirming the antecedent) - Valid

If Lola’s going, then I’ll go
Lola’s going, so I’ll go.

2) Modus tollens (Denying the consequent) - Valid

If Lola’s going, then I’ll go
Lola’s not going, so I will not go.

3) Affirming the consequent - Invalid

If Lola’s going, then I’ll go
I’ll go, therefore Lola’s going.

4) Denying the antecedent - Invalid

If Lola’s going, then I’ll go
I will not go, therefore Lola’s not going.

To go or not to go. That is the question now.

Nahh. I don't want to burden my brain thinking about partying when i have loads of other stuffs to be worried about like assignments, reports, presentations and final exam.Wish me luck people! ;)

The One Where There's A Wedding

A brother of a friend of mine got married today and he invited the whole gang to the wedding. So we went. I fetched a friend who lives in Subang Jaya since I'm coming from Damansara and the wedding is in Puchong. In the car after i fetched her, when she suddenly..

She: OH NOOO!!!
Me: Why? Whyy??
She: I left my phone..
Me: You don't really need phone right? We'll only be going to the wedding for a couple of hours.
She: I can't live without my handphone..you're a kind hearted person right..plus, u look extra pretty today..hehe..could we please turn back to get my phone? (My friend is using ad populum appeal to vanity. She tries to make me feel "special" by saying I'm kind hearted and pretty so that I'll agree with her to turn around to get her phone)
Me: Fine. You owe me lunch!
She: Ok. I'll buy you lunch at the wedding. Hehe.

Later, on our way to the wedding, we had a conversation..

She: Will you give the newly wed any present?

Me: Emm, no? Should I?

She: Guess so. It's a tradition to give something to the newly wed. (Here, my friend is using ad populum appeal to tradition)

Me: Well, there's no way we're going to find a present now. Nevermind, I'll just wish him long and happy and prosperous life with his wife. Hehe.

At the wedding, when the groom and the bride stepped outside the house, people started throwing paddy at them. I think it's such a waste to throw food. But everybody else is doing it and seemed fine with it, so I joined them (I wanted to belong as part of a group of other people. So, this is an example of ad populum appeal of common practice). Plus, people said by throwing paddy to the newly wed it is believed that it will bring them luck in facing their new lifes as a married couple (I was persuaded to think it is not wrong to throw paddy at the newly wed because everyone else seems not to think it is wrong).

We ate until our stomach bloated. Took pictures with the groom and bride. And then we went home.

CONGRATULATIONS
TO

IRWAN & NANA!!

The One With The Questions

When I woke up this morning and went to the kitchen, my mom said "Wouldn't it be nice to have nasi lemak for breakfast?" (My mom is using leading question. She is trying to make me to say things she wants me to or perhaps to even make me bo guy the things she wants me to). And I replied "Yeah, I feel like having spicy food for breakfast". Being a good daughter that I am (hehe), I went buying nasi lemak for whole family.

At the nasi lemak stall, the seller asked me..
- how many nasi lemak do I want?
- boiled or fried eggs?
- any side dishes? chickens? squids?
- how about the sambal? a little or alot?
(The seller is implying the interrogative questions. He's trying to gain informations from me)

Later in the evening, I was lying around when my sister suddenly called..

She: What are you doing?
Me: Nothing. Just watching tv.
She: But there's no interesting stuff to watch on tv right? Aren't you're bored? (Here my sister is using rethorical questions as premises and the conclusion is to persuade me to go out with her)
Me: Ahahaha. Why?
She: Let's go out!

I laughed after my sister asked "Aren't you're bored?" because I knew there's a catch! It's either she wanted me to accompany her to go somewhere or she wanted me to babysit my nephew. And I was right! Hoho

The One With The Problematic

I came in late for yesterday critical thinking's class. When I looked at the board, I saw few words that made me think "Great! Madam Aznur already discussed about the second assignment!" (Here I'm using assumption. I assumed that Madam Aznur already discussed about the second assignment based on few words that I saw on the board. Where in fact, she might wrote those words as a reminder to discussed about the second assignment after class or maybe those words were written by previous lecturer). Now, I realize I have a problem. In this case, the problem is I do not know how to do the second assignment, when in reality I should! (Since there's a gap between what i expect to happened and what actually happened, I knew that I'm having a problem, I've decided to use the four steps of a problem-solving model. This is the first step of a problem-solving model: define the problem)

I thought of meeting Madam Aznur to ask about the assignment after class, but my friend messaged me saying that I have a meeting at 12 o'clock! After I finished my meeting, I had class from 2-4 pm and then I went straight home because I already promise my mom I'll buy dinner and I'd be going home right after class to avoid jammed since I live in damansara. (The second step: analyze the problem. Here I answered few questions of why does the problem occured, like why didn't I meet Madam Aznur after class? Why did i go home straight after class? By answering these questions, I am clear why did the problem arise)

I gave myself few options..

Option 1: Go to Cyber today and meet Madam Aznur to ask about the second assignment

Option 2: Go to Cyber on Monday and meet Madam Aznur to ask about the second assignment

Option 3: Email Madam Aznur to ask about the second assignment

(Here, I used step 3 of problem-solving model. I make a list of possible solutions I could take to make the problem "dissappear")

Option1: Go to Cyber today and meet Madam Aznur to ask about the second assignment

- I don't have any class today, so going to cyber just for an explanation of an assignment seemed like a waste (This is a vague statement. What do i mean by "waste"? Waste of money or waste of time or both). Plus, there's a possibility of Madam Aznur is not available. But if I do go to cyber, I'll be able to start with the assignment today, and if Madam Aznur is not in, I can ask for Miss Jessica's help.

Option 2: Go to Cyber on Monday and meet Madam Aznur to ask about the second assignment

- On the other hand, if I procrastinate and meet Madam Aznur on Monday, I won't be able to finished the assignment on time, then my marks will be deducted and it will affect my carry marks and I will fail this paper. If I fail this paper, I won't be able to graduate on time and I have to extend one semester just for one subject! And then I'll have no friends because my friends will be graduating this semester! NNOOOO!!!! (This is an ad populum appeal to indirect consequences because it is not possible that I'll be friendless if I procrastinate and decided to meet Madam Aznur on Monday)

Option 3: Email Madam Aznur to ask about the second assignment

- Emailing Madam Aznur is going to save cost. But what if she doesn't check her email frequently? There could be problem with the network, my email might not reach Madam Aznur.

After going through the pros and cons of all options, I decided to go to cyber today and lucky me, Madam Aznur was in and that's why I am able to start blogging today ;) (Step 4: Decide on the appropriate alternative. I listed the advantages and disadvantages of each options and i chose Option 1 because it has more advantages compared to other options)