Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Arrowman · 11-12-2002, 03:33 PM

I just wanted to say... My children are eleven (twins) and twelve. We are just getting to the point where we can have good discussions about logic, rationality, critical thinking etc. (One way we do this is to watch "CSI" together

) The other night we saw a promotion for John Edward's "Crossing Over" on TV. (Yes, sadly, this piece of crap has made its way to Australia)

My kids' reaction, unprompted, was "Oh, him! He's such a fake!"

Of course, to be picky, I should say that their reaction was a gut one, and not based on any understanding of cold reading or the real skeptical reasons why he can be shown to be a fake.

And that's actually a very important little point, I think - we shouldn't just praise our children for "disbelieving" but instead for the process which leads one to that conclusion based on logic and (lack of) evidence.

But I'd still rather start from that position than the opposite....

11-12-2002, 03:52 PM

How do you know whether they are thinking for themselves or mimic your chain of thoughts?

Arrowman · 11-12-2002, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraphim:
<strong>How do you know whether they are thinking for themselves or mimic your chain of thoughts?</strong>

Good question. AFAIK we had never discussed JE before although it is possible I might have let slip a small disparaging comment in the past; I doubt it, though. Their mother or someone else might have said something, I don't know. Anyway, as I said, I don't delude myself that that one incident makes them mini-Sagans but I'd rather be starting from that point than from outright credulity.

11-12-2002, 04:45 PM

"My kids' reaction, unprompted, was "Oh, him! He's such a fake!"

My reply : The above statement doesn't seems to be from those who thinks, rather than something more toward passing judgement onto others.

Have you asked them WHY they said that the person on TV was a fake, instead of patting them on the back for stating something you could be approve of?

AspenMama · 11-12-2002, 05:08 PM

Arrowman-- it is wonderful when your kids can think for themselves. Just a couple of weeks ago around Halloween, a black cat jumped into our car as I was picking my kids up from their dad's. I was able to coax out the cat pretty easily. My 7 year old son said that it was bad luck for a black cat to cross your path. Then he said, "No, wait a minute, that's not right. That doesn't make any sense. That is a myth and a story just like god and the bible." The connections he makes amaze me and please me greatly.

Ms. Siv · 11-12-2002, 10:17 PM

The important thing is to introduce the value of skepticism and rational thinking to them at a young age.
Then you can leave them to make the decision for themselves when they're older.

- Sivakami.

Vesica · 11-13-2002, 08:08 AM

I would be proud too! Perhaps future bedtime reading could include a few works by James Randi or Micheal Shermer??

11-12-2002, 03:33 PM	#1
Arrowman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,358	I'm so proud of my children.... I just wanted to say... My children are eleven (twins) and twelve. We are just getting to the point where we can have good discussions about logic, rationality, critical thinking etc. (One way we do this is to watch "CSI" together ) The other night we saw a promotion for John Edward's "Crossing Over" on TV. (Yes, sadly, this piece of crap has made its way to Australia) My kids' reaction, unprompted, was "Oh, him! He's such a fake!" Of course, to be picky, I should say that their reaction was a gut one, and not based on any understanding of cold reading or the real skeptical reasons why he can be shown to be a fake. And that's actually a very important little point, I think - we shouldn't just praise our children for "disbelieving" but instead for the process which leads one to that conclusion based on logic and (lack of) evidence. But I'd still rather start from that position than the opposite....

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11-12-2002, 03:52 PM	#2
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	How do you know whether they are thinking for themselves or mimic your chain of thoughts?

11-12-2002, 04:45 PM	#4
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	"My kids' reaction, unprompted, was "Oh, him! He's such a fake!" My reply : The above statement doesn't seems to be from those who thinks, rather than something more toward passing judgement onto others. Have you asked them WHY they said that the person on TV was a fake, instead of patting them on the back for stating something you could be approve of?

11-12-2002, 05:08 PM	#5
AspenMama Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,311	Arrowman-- it is wonderful when your kids can think for themselves. Just a couple of weeks ago around Halloween, a black cat jumped into our car as I was picking my kids up from their dad's. I was able to coax out the cat pretty easily. My 7 year old son said that it was bad luck for a black cat to cross your path. Then he said, "No, wait a minute, that's not right. That doesn't make any sense. That is a myth and a story just like god and the bible." The connections he makes amaze me and please me greatly.

11-12-2002, 10:17 PM	#6
Ms. Siv Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: India Posts: 2,340	The important thing is to introduce the value of skepticism and rational thinking to them at a young age. Then you can leave them to make the decision for themselves when they're older. - Sivakami.

11-13-2002, 08:08 AM	#7
Vesica Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sunny FLA USA Posts: 212	I would be proud too! Perhaps future bedtime reading could include a few works by James Randi or Micheal Shermer??

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