Critical? Who's being critical?

 So, an old post came up on my stats page (Yes, I was bored!) and it involved the first time I had to delete comments from someone who was 1) bent to go off topic, and 2) bound to "prove his point" despite the fact that several of his points had nothing to do with the blog post in question.

And all I can think of is, "Thank you, Lord.  Every time I think it would be socially important to debate an unhinged liberal (NOTE:  "Unhinged" is an adjective for this PARTICULAR type, not all in general), you send me a clear reminder WHY I really don't want to go there."

Key word: Unhinged.  Meaning, you come into every question with your mind made up, and barf up the same old tired comment, modified slightly to 'fit' the post commented on, thus having more to do with gloryifying yourself than responding to the author.  It's a fun way of saying, "I'm smart enough already, I only have enough room left for bites and memes that agree with me."  And while this guy was a liberal, I've seen every side of the "discussion stream" infected with the same thing.

I decided to ask Google's AI, "What are the essential elements of critical thinking?"  Here is what it answered:

Observation: Paying careful attention to information and details without initial bias.

Analysis: Breaking down information into its component parts to understand its meaning and structure.

Evaluation: Assessing the credibility, reliability, and relevance of information, arguments, or sources.

Inference: Drawing logical conclusions based on evidence and sound reasoning.

Explanation: Clearly communicating your reasoning and conclusions with supporting evidence.

Metacognition: Reflecting on your own thought process to understand and improve your thinking. 

This is what we DON'T do anymore- and that person didn't do then.  He blew observation with an initial bias he couldn't shake, and wouldn't set aside.  He blew anaalysis because despite my several attempts to get him to respond on topic, he refused to understand the meaning of the post he was responding to. He blew evaluation, conceding no points but his own. He blew inference, failing to connect logically the info that he was going to get deleted if he didn't play by the rules.  He might have got a passing grade in explanation, except that all of his points- two of them egregiously- had nothing to do with the subject.   But the real problem with this kind of person is this "metacognition" he considered his thought process complete and correct in itself, and had no intention of reflecting for improvement or enriching himself from other points.  Not that he was going to stand by 99% of his original opinions, but he was actively filling in that other 1% himself so that nothing else got in.  And if that meant veering off topic, so much the better.

Kind of like what is going on with this "Government shutdown."  One side says, "Pass the clean bill, then we'll talk about your concerns."  The other says, "Let us spend that money first, so that we don't need a discussion, then we'll talk."  Senator Kennedy says, "If the government is shut down, then WE shouldn't be getting paid." Senator Paul says, "Hey, wait a minute, don't cut MY pay!  We want more people paid, not less!"To me it's as simple as, do we talk first, or waste the money first and then talk about what's already done.

And while the men and women in Congress who DON'T understand the elements of critical thinking continue to refuse to open the government, people suffer.  One side lies about that the money isn't being wasted, despite the proofs contrary; the other lies that the only ones being hurt are fat and lazy grifters who don't want to work.  And people continue to suffer.

I apologize to those who don't care for this opinion, but let it stay shut down.  I for one am tired of the lies we get stuffed down our throats in the name of "toleration", EBT cards, and convenient travel.  I am sorry for the legitimate suffering it causes, but I'm not the one holding the nation hostage in the name of socialized medicine and illegal aliens getting to vote in this nation.

But you know the thing that made me the meanest, that really caused the need for this rant?  I am not NOT ready for the snow that I shovelled off the car for Laurie this morning.  And I refuse to think critically about THAT.