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I have noticed a trend in the lack of reading comprehension in forums and debates. How do we address this in order to better stay on target with professional debates, that don't turn personal because people are skimming responses, and not fully reading before putting forth a proper and valid response?
Reading
Forums
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 8
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Part of it may be reading comprehension issues. But part of it may also be that people do not express themselves clearly. Remember, communication is a two-way street.
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Is the issue one of reading comprehension - or just of answers that you don't like? Many people have a variety of views, some of which they bring into a discussion because it's relevant from their world view, even if it's not from yours.
Before you question their reading comprehension, are you sure that you're comprehending them correctly?
Before you question their reading comprehension, are you sure that you're comprehending them correctly?
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SPC Christopher Smith
If we are debating politics, but you are debating religion, or education reform yes I question your ability to comprehend.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Unless the religion or educaiton angle is merely an aspect of the politic angle that you may not have considered...
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LCDR (Join to see)
Indeed. It sounds like they took the conversation in a direction you didn't want, and brought in some things that you didn't want them to... but were they wrong? This is a public forum, and threads tend to drift around.
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SPC Christopher Smith I do not think the problem is so much as comprehension, as it is, some will always pick and choose what they want to hear and see and disregard the rest.
Let me use a personal example. My wife and I have been separated for some time now. She has two college degrees and is currently working on her third. I say that to show that she does have a college level of reading comprehension.
When we have an argument, especially when it is concerning whose at fault concerning our marriage, we both tend to pick and choose what we want to believe. I can say one thing and mean it in a positive way, yet she can receive it negatively.
Many points in a debate depend on point of view. I for one have trouble conveying my thoughts in a cohesive manner at times, therefore, I am misunderstood. The previous paragraph is a good example of that.
I do not think the issue is as much about comprehension as it is perspective. This can be amplified when the subject matter is of an emotional nature.
To answer your question, the best way to address it, is to make sure you are conveying your thoughts better to prevent the accidental misunderstanding. Communication is a two way street, and regardless of how well you communicate your ideas there are always gonna be those who are stuck on a one way street.
Let me use a personal example. My wife and I have been separated for some time now. She has two college degrees and is currently working on her third. I say that to show that she does have a college level of reading comprehension.
When we have an argument, especially when it is concerning whose at fault concerning our marriage, we both tend to pick and choose what we want to believe. I can say one thing and mean it in a positive way, yet she can receive it negatively.
Many points in a debate depend on point of view. I for one have trouble conveying my thoughts in a cohesive manner at times, therefore, I am misunderstood. The previous paragraph is a good example of that.
I do not think the issue is as much about comprehension as it is perspective. This can be amplified when the subject matter is of an emotional nature.
To answer your question, the best way to address it, is to make sure you are conveying your thoughts better to prevent the accidental misunderstanding. Communication is a two way street, and regardless of how well you communicate your ideas there are always gonna be those who are stuck on a one way street.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
SPC Christopher Smith You are welcome. I would also add that critical thinking skills, to include reading, are not used too much when it comes to a subject that one has already made up their mind about. This applies to all subjects.
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I'm sorry. I may be coming late to the game; I read this yesterday but I couldn't get past the irony of the subject being reading comprehension but using the wrong "forth". Petty: I'm sure it could be argued, but humorous nonetheless.
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SPC Christopher Smith
My apologizes, I am currently working from my Android phone which does not sync well with RP currently. I will correct the issue and any others I see.
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There is not a whole lot that can be done regarding this issue.Our educational system has been failing for years.Also with todays high demand lack of time, people just don't have the ability to focus to concentrate for long periods of time.
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SPC Christopher Smith
I am sad to say I agree with you, the real issue is, if we cannot address the issue within our niche community, and larger organization it will continue to be a problem with larger number of vets being unable to find meaningful work.
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SGT (Join to see)
You blame the educational system, but are missing some important reasons for that. Schools have had to compete for the attention of students with the advent of new technologies. Students, I have found from personal experience in the classroom, do not have the patience for the vigorous task of reading and thinking. Everything is moving toward the visual. It is easier to watch a video or read a picture's meme rather than spend the time reading a difficult text. I have seen textbooks decline in the amount of text versus pictures. One need only look at newspapers like USA today to see that. Even the Wall Street Journal has adopted this approach. I think it unfair to paint education with such a broad brush.
Books like Future Shock by Alvin Toffler and Technopoly by Neil Postman have talked about this subject in detail many years before our current state of affairs.
From personal experience I have it more difficult to teach students. There is the difficulty now with students constantly checking Snapchat, watching YouTube, or simply texting rather than engaging in the rigors of listening, reading, and writing. Plagiarism is currently the most difficult problem I have now with current students. They do not think twice about cutting and pasting pieces of their research and calling it their own. Some do not even do that but rather copy an entire essay from the internet. We have failed as a society in demanding students do the hard work necessary for education, and are instead taking the easy and lazy route of letting our children just get by. That is a societal problem and not just an educator's problem.
Books like Future Shock by Alvin Toffler and Technopoly by Neil Postman have talked about this subject in detail many years before our current state of affairs.
From personal experience I have it more difficult to teach students. There is the difficulty now with students constantly checking Snapchat, watching YouTube, or simply texting rather than engaging in the rigors of listening, reading, and writing. Plagiarism is currently the most difficult problem I have now with current students. They do not think twice about cutting and pasting pieces of their research and calling it their own. Some do not even do that but rather copy an entire essay from the internet. We have failed as a society in demanding students do the hard work necessary for education, and are instead taking the easy and lazy route of letting our children just get by. That is a societal problem and not just an educator's problem.
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There is no way to get past this issue. Even if people fully read what has been posted there will be times that the message does not 'transmit' fully and is misinterpreted by the reader. Some people have trouble getting what they are trying to say out there and some people will just always hear something else.
It would be nice if there was a way to vote out/ delete a response or question as a community if it doesn't make sense (or if something similar has already been posted)... i think that would work pretty well.
It would be nice if there was a way to vote out/ delete a response or question as a community if it doesn't make sense (or if something similar has already been posted)... i think that would work pretty well.
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SPC Christopher Smith
You are right, the communication cycle is very easily broken. Delivery might be wrong, other things might be interfering, or the receiver does not fully receive the transmission. As far as deleting comments, one could request an admin to review and remove a comment if it is out of line.
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Every communication has three views. A. What the one communicating thinks he/she said, B.what the receiver thinks it was and C. the actual words that were used. Real communication occurs only when A and B are equal.
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SPC Christopher Smith The problem isn't the forum, it is society. People are not taught to truly understand logic and rhetoric. The age of Facebook has conditioned people to spit their opinions out as fast as possible without reading what has been said before.
If you can find a fix for that problem, I would be truly grateful!
If you can find a fix for that problem, I would be truly grateful!
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