Reading Logs

Time Goal : 10:00

Start Time :11:00

End Time :11:09

Before Reading

Title : “The ‘Other Side’ Is Not Dumb,” Sean Blanda

External Distractions: The fact that I am very hungry at the moment and all can think about is

food.

Internal Distractions: It’s the beginning of the semester and I’m already starting to hate this

reading logs.

After Reading

Summary: In Sean Blanda’s article she explains about one of the activities we did in the

class and how many people tend not to listen to the so called “other side.” She explains that we

as people if we don't agree with people we tend to ignore them or assume their stupid because

they don’t agree with the same thing you might. When in reality she has a valid point because no

one really pays attention to someone who might have a different view. They assume they don’t

have a clue what their talking about. Especially when it comes to someone who is just agreeing

with others because their friends and don't want to get judged or seem intelligent if they don't

agree. Even when were wrong we try to play it off and say that were right just because we don't

wanna agree with their point. She also offers how instead of assuming they don’t know what

their talking about we should listen first but you might end up agreeing with what they have to

say what they believe in.

 Motivation: Blanda’s motivation relies on the fact that she wants readers to not just

assume “the other side” is invalid or stupid. Sean states “ it is a fundamental rejection of the

possibility to consider that the people who don’t feel the same way you do might be right

(Blanda 214).” We tend to ignore the fact that the reality of it might be we just aren’t open to the

views of everyone else, or we just might be flat out wrong. Sean states his thesis when“we don’t

truly progress as individuals until we make and honest effort to understand those that are not like

us (Blanda 217).”

Counter Argument: On the one hand Blanda’s argument grows a bit weak when she talks

about the other side. She explains to the reader that the other side obviously does not know what

they might be talking about when in reality they could be right. Rather than assuming they don’t

want to listen they might just wanna be right and only listen to their own point of view.