RECENTLY ON TOL:
TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
TAGS:
SEbiker's comments:
on More Topics on Think Out Loud?
I would like to recommend that you stay with topics longer rather than dividing the hour into several topics. I've noticed that since the start of the program you try to include more voices and give them each just a few minutes to make an argument. It is very difficult to discuss a topic in the detail it needs to be discussed for learning to take place when each guest or caller has only a few minutes to make a point.
Online communication has lead to the phenomenon where anyone with a couple minutes can write something and think that because it is written, it is knowledgable. Some of your guests seem forced to conform to that format and cannot develop a coherent argument based on their expertise.
If you choose to deal with more frivolous topics, then a number of topics per show would be fine. If you want to deal with substantive issues like local politics, the environment, philosophical issues, then please do not try to put several issues in one hour.
Best wishes
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Official Misconduct
I applaud the editor of the newspaper in Wisconsin. Comments should be limited to newspapers or radio programs like this because when commenters are anonymous and when the internet is free, many commenters do not take the time to formulate and post thoughtful comments. With online commenting, as with Facebook or online amateur reporting, the you get what you pay.
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
view in context
on English as a Second Language
jacob's comments are widespread and have some grains of truth in them. But the picture is much more complicated than he suggests.
Research on language acquisition shows that children are, overwhelmingly, more successful than adults at learning additional languages. Children do not do this 'effortlessly' but it may seem effortlessly because children are learning, often, through play. Many adults, however, can achieve the mastery of additional languages that many children achieve. This is most likely due to a combination of neurological, psychological, and social factors. Adults often do not have the time or focus available for learning an additional language that children have.
Achieving mastery in an additional language in two months would be very unusual.
Research does support jacob's advocacy for bilingual or multilingual education.
Finally, the issue of 'accent' needs to be addressed. The fact that 'accents' are laughable to native speakers shows the intolerance of monolinguals toward those speaking mutlitple languages. Fully fluent speakers of multiple languages may retain aspects of the sound system of their native languages as well all maintain our own regional, social, or personal accents.
posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context
on Bike Plan 2030
I have commuted by bike in Portland and other cities for 15 years. The idea of building ingfrastructure for bikes is a great idea but what is needed along with the infrastructure is education for bike riders and enforcement of traffic laws for bike riders.
Many bikers in Portland seem to have an attitidue of privilege here and act as if they have never ridden in or driven a car. Many do illegal and unsafe maneuvers sucih as passing cars on the right and not stopping at crosswalks for pedestrians.
I am afraid of the backlash from drivers/pedestrians who have experienced rude and ignorant bikers and bikers should know that when there is resistance to bike infrastructure, bikers are often to blame.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
view in context
