OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7A
THURSDAY JANUARY 31, 2008
COMMENTARY
I think, therefore I don't use that phrase
It's now second semester and time to trade in your gen-ed requirement No.1 for gen-ed requirement No.2.
For those of you enrolled in Western Civ, this means a crash course in philosophy. Boring, boring philosophy. You'll read Nietzsche, John Locke (yes, the bald guy from "Lost") and Rene Descartes.
These three, along with most of the dead white men who fill our syllabi, somehow got the funding to sit around and do whatever they wanted.
The ones we read in Western Civ II chose to ponder the meaning and essence of being.
In these readings, you will find theories and ideas that you never knew were worth thinking about. These readings are not meant to consume your thoughts. They are supposed to form your opinions about what actually matters.
The problem with these readings is that they have some very quotable parts.
You probably already know that Nietzsche said, "God is dead," and Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." Locke didn't say anything very quotable, but he loved the idea of property and spontaneously recovered from paralysis.
Fortunately, most people leave these quotations where they found them.
But, of course, some don't. Someday, you will find yourself in class with someone who has saved up a Western Civ II gem to blow everyone's mind.
If someone says "I think, therefore I am," he or she is either a hippie who likes to get high and think about stuff, or a philosophy major who grew up in a neighborhood
without other kids to play with and resorted to books.
This person might continue talking about "the illusion of reality," even using the phrase verbatim.
This can happen anywhere. It happened in my American Literature II class.
Do not let them get away with this. Walk over to those people and slap them with an open palm.
Before they can respond, just tell them that you didn't really hit them. It's only an illusion, and they simply perceive pain.
If you can't bring yourself to physically abuse your peers just to prove a point, do what I do.
Silently judge them and passive aggressively complain about them to your friends (or to an entire campus, depending on the circulation of your whining).
"I think, therefore I am" was not Descartes' point — it was his proof. He argued that the only certainty a person has is that he exists. Everything else is possibly an illusion.
If you quote Descartes, then good,
you remembered one sentence.
I can't give you the context of "God is dead" because I skipped that book. I got a B. Life goes on.
People who repeat one memorized sentence need to be treated like the lazy know-nothings that they are. These people try to appear smart without actually formulating their own thoughts.
Quoting other philosophers doesn't prove anything or add to a discussion.
Who cares what Descartes and Nietzsche said. What do you say? Add that to the class discussion. Use the readings as a jumping-off point to explore your own ideas.
If your teacher isn't receptive to this, do it anyway. You're paying to take the class, and the teacher is your employee.
But at least think before you speak.
Mersmann is a Lawrence senior in creative writing.
Max Rinkel
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
'Natural' herb's drug-like effects create similar health problems
On Jan. 23, there was a column titled "Natural Herb Flavors 'Students' Day." If you take the time to look skeptically at the claims made for the herb, you will find that there is no good reason to drink kratom tea.
Claim 1: It treats addictions.
There is absolutely no evidence for this claim. Looking at its history and illegality, it has its own addictive properties. If you are an addict, you should seek real medical treatment, not another addiction.
Claim 2: Increased energav
Kratom is an opiate and is banned for a reason. Its history outlines a knack for addition, and at $28 an ounce, this is something that you don't want cutting
The only study (from Pubmed) on the subject was a survey of construction workers who drank kratom and how they took longer hours. However, since there was no control or placebo group, this article proves nothing. There is no way of validating any kind of causation, even if there were proper correlation.
@KANSAN.COM
To read the original column that ran Jan. 23 and other students' comments, search for "Osterhaus" at kansan.com.
Although this is a "natural" herb, it has biochemical properties like any drug and should be treated as such. Keep in mind that when you are steeping your tea, you have no idea how much drug you are actually getting or how dangerous the result will be
Sincerely,
Solnlee肥
Topeka sophomore
If any person is claiming health benefits for a high price and no evidence, be skeptical.
into your rent payment.
Sincerely,
COMMENTARY
Opinion trumps fact in media
On the other hand, an opinion is only believed to be true. An opinion rests on hypothetical grounds that are far from sufficient, and they are unable to create 100 percent certainty. I have come to believe that the line between fact and opinion runs very thin, especially when it involves the media.
During our education, we have been taught that a fact is true. A fact can be tested and can be proven 100 percent accurate.
As college students, we have the advantages of turning to a number of different sources to get our news and entertainment: TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet. We live in a society driven by media, and it often becomes the vice we gather our information from.
The sudden increase in unwarranted opinions I seem to encounter in the media these days worries me. The true sense of reporting the facts has started to drown out. The two opposites have become so intertwined that it has become hard for people to actually tell the difference between them in today's media.
There are two categories of people: The people who assume there are no such things as facts, only interpretation and only opinions, and the people who do not want facts because they want someone else to come up with conclusions for them.
Let's take a glance at Britney. Last May, she was seen carrying her baby Sean in her left hand and a glass of water in her right when she reportedly tripped over the hem of her pants, causing baby Sean's head to "whip back violently"
If we look at entertainment media, for example: Britney Spears and her "atrocious" parenting or Heath Ledger and his "uncertain" death, we can see a hodgepodge of reporting opinions.
Heath Ledger was found dead last week in his apartment in New York City. His death was speculated to be drug-related, but it has not been proven yet. Supposedly pills and a rolled bill were seen in the apartment. Once again reporters went crazy, assuming his death was drug related, and they accused him of doing hard drugs.
This ignited a whirlwind of opinions about Britney's parenting skills and left the public doubting her ability to be a decent mother.
I'm not saying this isn't a possibility, nor am I saying Britney Spears is mother of the year, but with such accusations, facts are essential.
I understand that the news business is a fast-paced environment, and as professionals, reporters must give stories the edge they need so that they will be read.
But have we become so susceptible to gossip and tabloids that true facts are no longer in existence? Are we destined to be a nation driven only by opinions?
I'm really not sure, but I do know that we should all question what we hear and never underestimate the ability of truth.
Don't worry, though. This is only my opinion.
Durbin is a Hays junior in journalism and English.
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》 FREE FOR ALL
If I was forced to choose between sleeping with Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I'd choose Clinton. Yes, I'm a girl.
--baby.
--baby.
In response to May Davis' quote in the Oread Inn story: Way to stand up for current students. Actually, that's repulsive.
--baby.
I think it's time for KU to invest in some new, more comfortable desks.
I think it's funny that my father wants me to get pregnant, as long as it's Conner Teahan's
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Some people should not be allowed to post on YouTube.
Flavor of Love 3 starts Feb.
11. Can you say Flava Flav?
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KU on Wheels: For the love of God, wash the bused buses. It's like 'I'm walking into a moving dirt box each morning.
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The Jayhawks eat Wildcats for breakfast.
I think my boyfriend is more turned on by Sherron Collins than he is by me.
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To the guy in my Recital 100 class: Your ongoing insight and commentary during the class is not as welcome, humorous or insightful as you might think.
So stop.
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Mike Beasley, the humblest man alive.
I'm convinced my archaeology professor just flicked me off in his mint blue minivan. Amazing!
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I just want to know what the hell Michael Beasley was thinking when he said he would beat us in Africa. Honestly, I bet the guy can't even locate the country on the map.
(Editor's note: I'd like to see anyone locate the country of Africa on a map.)
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Seriously, Michael Beasley is from New York? Why the hell would he go to a school in the middle of nowhere?
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@KANSAN.COM
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