Just Because We Want It

...doesn't mean we want it.

There are loaded statements just as there are loaded questions. For instance, it is unfair to ask, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" In fact, the answer may be:

Mu taken from Wikipedia

But with loaded statements, sometimes it's harder to have a good answer like a single, cool-looking Japanese character. Two posts got me thinking about this today, one by Jessica and the other by Karen.

The first loaded statement is "you should give back to the community." Is anyone mean enough to say, "Oh no, I don't want to give back." But who readily gives back? Well, those of us who like to share what we've learned. But, as Jessica points out, you can't give back something that you earned--that's just simple, charitable giving... not "giving back."

Along the same lines, Karen (Spunky) points out that no one doesn't want children everywhere to have a "decent education." The problem arises when people fail to define what a "decent education" is. As it stands, that phrase means very different things to people. Until we decide on a clear definition of that statement, I don't think anyone should agree that we should push for everyone to get a "decent" education.

So, like loaded questions, loaded statements would disappear with more clarification, definition, and quick discussion. Otherwise people are likely to say, "We want that," but then wonder why they didn't get what they wanted when it comes about.

If you're looking for a fun extra topic to start introducing, fallacies could be a fun one. Your students will certainly need that knowledge in the future.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father