Rules for Interlocution/Participating

- Rules for Interlocution/Class Participation-

                                                                                                          
A. Don't get off topic. Staying on topic is important. The more we digress, the more difficult it becomes to pursue a thought. There is a requisite amount of time for exploring something; the mind needs this time in order to mull it over, to digest it, as it were.  Sticking to a topic accelerates the brain’s ability to process a line of thought.

B. Think before speaking. Try to think of an answer to your question before you speak it aloud. This will help you avoid outsourcing thinking to others when you are perfectly capable on your own. Such outsourcing can breed stupidity.

C. Reference statements: Qualify what you know through references and clarify what you don't know whenever you are putting forth claims of truth or fact. This will prevent you from speaking out of turn or with excesses of "certainty" (when you actually don't know). This will also prevent you from spreading lies or misinformation. So, if you make a claim, then say where you got it from, even if you can't recall the source. If you heard something, then who did you hear it from? How do you know if they're right? If you read it in the book, give the page number. If it refers to a personal experience, then say so.

D. Be cautious. A) That which makes sense isn't necessarily true. One can make sense of a situation with a fact, a lie, an illegitimate belief, etc. Caution is the name of the game. When trying to make sense of a situation with an idea, look for things that are capable of both affirming and denying this idea. B) Stick to the basic rules of symbolic and informal logic (i.e., avoid logical fallacies).

E. Avoid interrupting people, and get on the Stack instead. Simply indicate to the stack keeper that you would like to talk, and they will let you know when it's your time to go.

F. Don't be rude and don't ridicule. If an idea is crummy or false, then simply say the reasons why it is so when your turn comes. Or do one better: ask a question that would require that the speaker of a false or crummy idea would have to give you reasons, would have to prove to you the truth or non-crumminess of their idea. If they cannot, then they might just be able to determine for themselves the false or crummy state of their idea.
--POI: Sometimes someone is right, but they lack the evidence to defend their claims. In this case, they don't lose at the level of truth, but rather they lose at having a well-constructed argument.

G. Don't be a know-it-all. Its better to be a know-it-some and a skeptic. The purpose of the class is not to provide someone with an audience before which they can display their arrogance. 

H. Share time space: If you have already talked and someone else has not, then let them talk.

I. Talk time limit: Don't talk more than 2 min at a time.

J. Actual student (one who studies): If you did a reading or gathered some data, then make sure to say so – i.e., tell me at the beginning of class. This raises the value of your speech, and may give you speaking priority.

K. Web streams: If you have something pressing to say, or if you just prefer to post on the web, then post it to the facebook group page.