post 1/2, wk 1

What is Cold Reading
A document called “What is Cold Reading?” by Austin Cline is about psychic readings. The writer Austin Cline states that there are two types of readings. The first type is cold reading and it is when the psychic convinces the client that they are actually getting read. Cold reading is also done with the reader not knowing any information and is able to trick the client by asking questions.
The second type of reading is hot reading and that is when the reader knows some information. Mr. Cline basically states in this article that psychics are not real and what they do is not scientific.

I believe that Mr. Cline is right about psychics not being real. Psychics are around and continue to fool people because we allow them to. We know that there is no scientific way to prove what psychics do are real. However people continue to go and see them. I believe people continue to pay for being tricked is because they need someone to give them some type of glimmer of hope. They need something to help them believe that there is more to life then just the nine to five. They need to no that possibly after we die we will go to a better place where we can all be happy and healthy forever. Psychic may no be real but to a certain extent they are needed to help so to speak. Psychics can give hope or crush it depending on what is said and by doing this they can influence a persons behavior. After seeing a psychic a person can be tricked into feeling hopeful and happy or scared and upset.
Viruses of the Mind

“Viruses of the Mind” written by Richard Dawkins is about how the mind, DNA, and computers are similar. He says that they are similar in the sense that they are open to suggestion and are capable of being poisoned by a virus. An example he gave for the mind is a little girl and how she is so gullible. This little girl will believe in anything including a talking train. For DNA his example was how it is always replicating in a very mechanical manner, but is still able to contract viruses. For computers they process information in the same mechanical fashion, and it to can unknowingly download a virus. These viruses that are allowed in can be both beneficial and harmful. For DNA and computers they can be used to vaccinate against further infections of the same virus. The mind it’s not that easy to keep from being poisoned, for the most part viruses are probably more harmful then helpful.
I think that the mind is the same as DNA, and computers. They all process important information and sometimes viruses. However, for me I believe the one that is most difficult to protect is the brain. How do we know what information is poisonous? Mr. Dawkins used religion as an example. To be more specific he used a Reverend that was on TV convincing people to donate money. These people believed they were helping God by sending him this money. This is not to say that all religious people on TV are bad, but it does bring up a good question. Can we really believe in them? Our minds are tricky. For me believing is seeing, but I believe in God. Does that mean that my mind could be poisoned? I believe that every one decides on there own what is poisonous information and what is not. That’s where that saying comes in “to each is own” in other word everyone is different in their beliefs, and lifestyle. Our minds may process like a computer and DNA but what we accept as a virus changes with our beliefs, and standards.