More is less when it comes to the Internet.

[Deleted]

Going to make a short little list to get us started:

-Cancer fighting drugs kill you, not the cancer.
-A vegan diet will beat cancer faster than chemo.
-Homoeopathy is a thing.
-Gluten is apparently murdering children in their cradles.
-Obesity is primarily a genetic disorder.
-25% of women are raped, or nearly raped, in college.

As an English teacher a major function of my job is to teach children critical thinking skills, and thankfully the internet provides a bottomless pit of resources for this. But this function isn't given much attention, at least in my opinion. Even casual critical thinking skills is enough to see through the myriad of bullshit online. I'm beginning to think we should simply instigate a class from age 12-18 devoted to research skills, critical thinking, and "debunking".

Do you think this would actually be useful? I'm tempted to trial it as an elective, because I'm going to murder the next parent who sends me a note saying their child can't eat bread because they heard it's bad for you.

Edit: Messed up the thread title, long day and brain is on backwards!

[Revi]

- Measles, whooping cough, rubella and diphtheria might kill you, but vaccines are worse.

Oh, and yes, I would love it if schools used common examples like that, showed why/how they were wrong, and used that as a platform to teach how to read and debunk information. Pseudo-science actually does kill quite a lot of people, and it plays a major part in politics.

[Tradewind]

I prefer thinking critically versus critical thinking.

[Conspicuous Cultist]

How much red tape do teachers have to go through in Ireland to get that class set up? I'm surprised you could do that.

That said, I dunno if kids will find that fun - especially if it's just going to be used to study for a test better and not actually promote critical thinking. Know that it isn't for that but that's what I always found "critical thinking classes" to be - just a better way to game the SAT/TAKS.

[Deleted]

- Measles, rubella and diphtheria might kill you, but vaccines are worse.

Oh don't, please don't.

We've had increasing numbers of children being diagnosed with preventable diseases here.

[PosPosPos]

Going to make a short little list to get us started:

-Cancer fighting drugs kill you, not the cancer.
-A vegan diet will beat cancer faster than chemo.
-Homoeopathy is a thing.
-Gluten is apparently murdering children in their cradles.
-Obesity is primarily a genetic disorder.
-25% of women are raped, or nearly raped, in college.

As an English teacher a major function of my job is to teach children critical thinking skills, and thankfully the internet provides a bottomless pit of resources for this. But this function isn't given much attention, at least in my opinion. Even casual critical thinking skills is enough to see through the myriad of bullshit online. I'm beginning to think we should simply instigate a class from age 12-18 devoted to research skills, critical thinking, and "debunking".

Do you think this would actually be useful? I'm tempted to trial it as an elective, because I'm going to murder the next parent who sends me a note saying their child can't eat bread because they heard it's bad for you.

Edit: Messed up the thread title, long day and brain is on backwards!

Some of those "absurd claims" are actually partially true.

Drugs which combat cancer tend to aggressively attack healthy cells as well, so it's not entirely wrong to make an assertion that said drugs may kill you before the cancer does. That being said, cancer does kill eventually.

The gluten thing is probably referring to the fact that more people nowadays have gluten intolerance(or at least have gotten more recognition), and obviously taken it way out of context.

In a sense, many "absurd" claims on the internet have at least some shred of truth behind them, so teaching people how to apply context to such claims would help alleviate the problem.

[Independent voter]

Everyone thought the Internet was going to be this amazing place, at worst it would be like Wikipedia. It would rival the Library at Alexandria. The Internet would make us better people and cure many of our ills.

I am amazed at how quickly it turned into something like one of those newspapers you find in the checkout isles at supermarkets.

www.msn.com

[Deleted]

How much red tape do teachers have to go through in Ireland to get that class set up? I'm surprised you could do that.

That said, I dunno if kids will find that fun - especially if it's just going to be used to study for a test better and not actually promote critical thinking.

4th year you do an elective course of subjects, ranging from musical studies to celtic studies to African history. It'd be a bit of work, but doable. I'm also moving to the UK for a new job, and generally it's covered at A levels English in a more clear manner.

Making it fun would be my job, and would be easier than making grammar fun that's for sure.

[Armbre]

People will always like to think they are smarter than someone else/actually educated people(aka doctors) imo its keeping the population down so thats a win plus if you follow everything the internet says welp you were probably gonna be darwinized out anyway.

[Deleted]

Everyone thought the Internet was going to be this amazing place, at worst it would be like Wikipedia. It would rival the Library at Alexandria. The Internet would make us better people and cure many of our ills.

I am amazed at how quickly it turned into something like one of those newspapers you find in the checkout isles at supermarkets.

www.msn.com

I remember when the internet came on discs, and floppy discs were floppy. Man we were naive.

[the game]

gluten will make your dick fly off.

[Deleted]

People will always like to think they are smarter than someone else/actually educated people(aka doctors) imo its keeping the population down so thats a win plus if you follow everything the internet says welp you were probably gonna be darwinized out anyway.

Problem is I see kids thinking that they shouldn't trust doctors because their parents told them not to, rather than using an invaluable tool to research it.

It worries me that these children will then be ultimately responsible for their own, and perpetuate such extreme ignorance.

[Revi]

Oh don't, please don't.

We've had increasing numbers of children being diagnosed with preventable diseases here.

Luckily it's not come here yet, but I know it's already cost the lives of children in the US.

[Dezerte]

Do you think this would actually be useful? I'm tempted to trial it as an elective, because I'm going to murder the next parent who sends me a note saying their child can't eat bread because they heard it's bad for you.

Yes, critical thinking skills should either be taught as a separate subject or incorporated into all classes.

[Deleted]

gluten will make your dick fly off.

Okay I giggled.

[Tradewind]

Luddites are made of wood.

[Deleted]

I think it's equally if not more important that schools started teaching real world skills and not only theoretical subjects. You have my vote!

[Tradewind]

The male gaze.

[Revi]

If you could make a course explaining Tradewinds thought process, I'd be fascinated.

[Deleted]

Going to make a short little list to get us started:

-Cancer fighting drugs kill you, not the cancer.
-A vegan diet will beat cancer faster than chemo.
-Homoeopathy is a thing.
-Gluten is apparently murdering children in their cradles.
-Obesity is primarily a genetic disorder.
-25% of women are raped, or nearly raped, in college.

As an English teacher a major function of my job is to teach children critical thinking skills, and thankfully the internet provides a bottomless pit of resources for this. But this function isn't given much attention, at least in my opinion. Even casual critical thinking skills is enough to see through the myriad of bullshit online. I'm beginning to think we should simply instigate a class from age 12-18 devoted to research skills, critical thinking, and "debunking".

Do you think this would actually be useful? I'm tempted to trial it as an elective, because I'm going to murder the next parent who sends me a note saying their child can't eat bread because they heard it's bad for you.

Edit: Messed up the thread title, long day and brain is on backwards!

My work requires me to think with literal precision.

Perhaps that's why i have no clue what this thread is about.

All i know is that you've stated cancer does not kill you.

It does.

My brain is therefore extremely confused what the purpose of this is about, because to me it just looks like a lot of misinformation.

Im being serious by the way in case anyone thinks otherwise.