bye

bye\

I'm looking to sell my graphing calculator at like $60? anybody wanna buy? email me visakanv at gmail dot com

this blog has served its purpose

I am now moving back to my main blog, visakanv.com

CLICK HERE!

and now I'm sick

that was unbelievably predictable. >_> so silly of me.

LAST PAPER

WHEEEEE OFF I GO

congratulations, mate

Tomorrow will be the last day of my A Level examinations. The last day I will be wearing a school uniform. The end of an entire stage of my life which has spanned 13 years so far. Most people would be in a celebratory mood, and I have been anticipating for the longest time that I would be, too. Strangely though, I'm not.

I suppose the main reason is because I don't feel like I've earned the right to celebrate. I hadn't put in the hours that I promised myself I would. I hadn't done my tutorials or paid attention in lectures.

So here's what I'm going to try to do instead- I'm going to take my post-exam time period more seriously than anything else. I'm going to hit the gym, play the guitar, sing, read, write, draw and think like I've never thought before.

I've pretty much been celebrating all my life, anyway. :P

the economics of ignorance

I was on the typology central forums today and I found an interesting question: Why do people love assumptions?

First of all, I humbly suggest that the main reason why anybody makes any sort of assumption in any sort of scenario is to save time and effort. (This statement in itself is based on an assumption, because I have neither the time nor the energy to bother doing extensive research on the matter at this point in time. Hur hur, I'm so witty, hur hur.) Sometimes this is done because there isn't much of a choice, such as in a medical emergency or most other crisis situations. Sometimes, as any overworked and under-appreciated parent will tell you, this is done to divert time and energy elsewhere, such as in the pursuit of a decent social life. Often this is done simply to avoid expending time and energy to begin with.

The more interesting concern though, is why do so many people people make such ignorant assumptions? Many economists have established how and why pollution, traffic congestion and global warming are so rampant- and I'd like to apply the same principles to ignorance. To put it in simple economic terms, ignorant assumptions cost society more than they cost the individuals. They can be described as negative externalities, which are caused by a divergence between personal cost and social cost wherein the affected 3rd parties are not compensated. Let me explain:

The average ignorant individual considers the personal benefit of his ignorance (the self-perception of intelligence or superiority) to exceed his personal cost, and hence indulges in lots of ignorant behavior as he considers it personally profitable to do so. In contrast, ignorant assumptions have a net social cost- all of us collectively are worse off because of them. However, as ignorance is not significantly taxed or penalized, humanity collectively indulges in far more ignorance than what is socially optimal. Believe it or not, being a stupid twat can actually considered to be rational behavior.

Moving back to assumptions in general. Whatever the reasoning behind it, it is certain that we will have to make assumptions just to allow us to get on with our lives- we can't spend everyday worrying whether our assumption that the laws of the universe will still hold through tomorrow. (Unless you're a theoretical physicist or something, in which case you could perhaps make a living out of it.)

the inadequacy of critical thinking

It bothers me when critical thinking is portrayed as the Holy Grail of thought and intellectual firepower- as if we could solve all our problems just by carefully evaluating everything we have in front of us. We've reached a stage where it's become more important, intellectual and safe to point out what seems wrong than at suggesting what might be better. Is it really any surprise that healthcare reform in the US is taking so long, even with the best and the brightest minds working at it? Critical thinking is incredibly important, but clearly it isn't enough.

Critical thinking is often regarded by established institutions as the highest form of thinking- our Government and civil service are no exceptions. Lee Kuan Yew is, after all, a great and profound critical thinker who has received immense acclaim for his accomplishments. Such a system of thought is brilliant protection against wild, crazy ideas that might threaten and disturb society with deviant ideas, isn't it? (No, I am not being sarcastic.) It was critical pragmatism that got our country where she is today, but it's the same thing that's making it smell a little bit too antiseptic and feel a little too uncomfortable, like a new sofa with the plastic covers left on.

It's easy to see the "safe" aspect of critical thinking. You can't go wrong when you dwell on the mistakes and problems of your opponent (unless your name is Chee Soon Juan- in which case you're pretty much screwed, because your criticism itself is subject to criticism- can you spell defamation lawsuit?) This is common in politics everywhere, including The Land Of The Free. Everything the other party proposes is nonsense, and vice versa. You always sound more "right" when you point out mistakes than when you actually suggest a solution that everybody knows can't possibly be perfect the first time round. This creates an atmosphere that isn't particularly credible, and actually ruins the political process by giving voters incentives to be justifiably indifferent and apathetic. (Tim Harford describes this phenomenon brilliantly in The Logic Of Life.)

If 95% of an idea is valid but 5% is more doubtful, it's easier and more impressive to focus on the failings of that five percent. If we did so to improve ideas by trying to improve and strengthen the weak links then then that would be laudable- but that's not what we do. We focus on the five percent to suggest, quite absurdly, that if this 5% is weak, the whole idea is worthless.

One of the main problems of critical thinking is it's attraction for those who, for some reason or another, choose not to be constructive or creative. If someone designs a simple chair, then that chair can be criticized as stark and boring. The chair may be compared to a prison chair or a hospital chair. It may be condemned as without style or character. If the person had designed a more elaborate chair, then that chair could be criticized as vulgar and fussy. All the critic needs to do is to choose a position different from that which is offered and then to attack what is offered as different from the critic's chosen position- hardly great thinking.

This is even worse if the critic doesn't understand what he or she is actually criticizing. It is quite easy to make a good show of profound criticism without understanding the matter at all, and this is the most frustrating thing to witness. You may visit http://www.stomp.com.sg to sample some of the warm fuzzy feeling in the atmosphere there.

Believe it or not, Stomp.com.sg and Socrates actually have something in common- both of them are guilty of critical overkill. (Of course, before I get slaughtered, I better emphasize that Socrates was actually a great thinker and a logical man who justified his claims- but you already know this.) Unfortunately, in most of his dialogues, there is no positive outcome at all. He simply points out what is wrong (a powerful skill, no doubt)- but when asked what was right if everything else was wrong, he would declare that that was not his business. Convenient, don't you think?

Now critical thinking is very valuable and has a very important part to play in society. It can be frightening and disturbing just how many people are oblivious to it, and critical thought is infinitely more valuable than ignorance. But critical thinking alone is not enough- and we shouldn't be content with ourselves intellectually just because we are capable of intelligent criticism.

Critical thinking is not quite as important as constructive and creative thinking, which have the potential to achieve much, much more. After all, you cannot design a better way forward simply through judgement- at most, you would be able to refine existing methods to a certain degree. Often we are most critical of ideas that are uncommon, unfamiliar and ambitious. But these are the ideas that go on to create the biggest waves- as Einstein aptly put it, "If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it." We really ought to learn from hundreds of years of failed critics (people who argued that aircraft would have no military value, television was just a novelty, there would be no reason for anybody to want computers in their homes...) and be a lot less complacent, a lot less protective of status quo and a lot more willing to have our senses and sensibilities challenged. It's our civic duty!

I'm not saying in any way that we should do away with critical thinking- absolutely not. In fact, I would even go so far as to suggest that it might be nearly impossible to achieve- because once you learn how to do it, it develops into a gut instinct, like a nagging voice inside your head that you can't shake off. Intrinsically and on it's own, that's not a bad thing. Thinking in general should be a holistic, thorough process, and spending too much (or too little) time on any aspect is regrettable. A simple analogy- if thinking in general was like driving, thinking critically could be likened utilizing the brakes, while thinking constructively or creatively could be likened to flooring the gas. It would be ridiculous to suggest driving without one or the other- but with the brakes engaged most of the time these days, is it any surprise that we don't seem to be going anywhere?

history p2 is history

So today was my History Paper 2 (which incidentally, happened before Paper 1). I think I did okay. I've seen the standard of essays that some RJ kids have, and mine were definitely not up to those in terms of factual material and length, but I should think I measured up alright in terms of analysis. I'm a little bit disappointed that I didn't do everything I think I could have, but that's how I always feel after every single essay- I think it comes naturally for perfectionist writers.

I think I did fairly well. It was immensely liberating to chuck all my SEA history notes and work into the trash right before the paper. I know what some of you are thinking- "how on earth could you do that?! Two years of effort, memories, information..."

Honestly though I don't think it's that big a deal. Factual information is so freely available these days. I much rather start everything again on a clean slate. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off for more overpriced coffee, fun companionship and mathematical masochism. <3

and so it begins!

Today. Bring it on!

reflection

I was going to do a nice long reflective post, but my Dad just reminded me that it's already midnight and I have to go to bed so that I can wake up early for my paper tomorrow.

How can I summarize what I was going to say?

Everything is going to be alright. :)

doubt

doubt doubt doubt is an uncomfortable thing but certainty is absurd!

I love my maths/civics tutor, he is unbelievably tolerant, encouraging and nice. I totally don't deserve to have a guy like him as a teacher.

^edit: I just realised I already said that the last time I met him. but a good point is worth repeating!

I must do my best! I WILL WORK HARDER! Please do not send me to the boiler's when I am done

But I will not be done for I never am

ho ho ho

JAVA CHIP FRAPPUCINO HERE I COME

differentiation, mclaurin's binomials, functions, inequalities

LAI LAI LAI

less than 100 hours left

pretty frightening. it all boils down to my maths.

i'ma get to work.

more stuff

I'm confident of doing well for History and GP, and I should do well for Literature as well. I imagine that I will do well for Economics after an intense period of study (which my exam timetable conveniently allows for), so all I need to focus on right now is salvaging my Mathematics.

I think my Best Case Scenario is an AAC/AA, which is what I'm rooting for. I think my likely result would be something like an ABD/AB, which hopefully will still be able to get me into NUS FASS. That said, I want that AAC/AA!!!

I absolutely love my Maths/Civics Tutor- he is amazingly tolerant and supportive of me despite all that I have (not) done for so long. I must get a good maths grade (I'm aiming for a C, as I mentioned earlier) in his honour! I hope. I've gotten straight U's from the beginning of J1 until my J2 prelims, so if I get even a D I would be a statistical outlier.

I went to Starbucks earlier and bought a drink for absolutely no reason. I guess that's what habit-forming does to you. I'm going to study at Bedok South Avenue 3 today after returning my overdue library books.

update

busier than expected with the unexpected; will resume blogging tomorrow i hope.

thank you for sticking around ^^

wrote that a couple of minutes ago and was about to head to bed, before realising that it's really quite silly to come onto my blog to say that I'm not going to write an entry today. It's a lame excuse that's a mix of perfectionism, inertia and possibly even laziness, so I decided that I'm going to soldier on and just write whatever's on my mind despite not having a clear plan or idea about what I'm actually going to say. Form the habit first, and then refine the practice, right?

I actually haven't been studying anywhere as much as I should be doing. I've played Left 4 Dead with my friends (killing zombies is always great stress relief and makes for great bonding sessions), Dynasty Warrior on the Playstation 3 at another friend's place (which reminds me that I really want to read Romance of the Three Kingdoms!), watched several episodes of How I Met Your Mother (I like it, but not nearly as much as I love The Big Bang Theory), made lots and lots of new and new-old friends at Siglap Starbucks (Jalan Jamal), where I have been spending far too much money on Java Chip and Green Tea Frappuccinos.

I popped by Wikipedia to check out how Singapore Idol is coming along. Sad to see that Malaque has been eliminated, but it wasn't much of a surprise- we're moving in to serious demographic support here, where your friends and supporters alone will not be able to make much of a dent when going head to head against a large community. Both Faizal Isa and Charles "Stitch" Wong have not once been in the bottom 3, and it's pretty obvious that they're going to be the final two contestants, courtesy of Malay and Chinese teenage girls respectively. Faizal will go on to win.

I was going to write a lot more but I just wasted a lot of time on YouTube watching SG Idol videos. Amused by MJ Kwok. Going to sleep now. So random.