We have established that the principle "Feel free to say (or write) anything you want" refers to content and not to form: i.e. it doesn't mean "say it any way you want."
Discussion: would you interpret the principle to mean: "Say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind?'
1) ADD YOUR COMMENT FIRST, THEN REPLY TO THE COMMENT POSTED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE YOURS. ("What should I do if I am the first person to comment" Then you are out of luck. No one to reply to.)
2) ADD ANOTER REPLY TO ANY COMMENT YOU WANT, BUT WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST 15 STUDENTS HAVE COMMENTED. (You, first person to comment: here is your chance.)
The principle is in regards to saying the first thing that comes to mind , but in a formal way. I think that grammar and punctuation plays a major part in the readers understanding in what you are trying to bring across. Although a blog is an informal method of writing , it can distort the message being written. Writing can be formal as well as informal depending on the content.
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DeleteYes that's very true because the way you write can be misinterpreted. I can read something you wrote and understand it differently then what you meant to write.
DeleteThe principle brings me to believe that I can yes say the first thing that comes to my mind but it also bring me to believe that I can write any thing I want without no worry about being wrong. I can use profanity or be blunt. Writing the first thing that comes to mind though might not give you the best response you have to give. Thinking about it first then writing is a good method to use when responding to a video,pictures etc.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you are saying , we sometimes say yes right away to something and then while thinking and writing it out we sometimes start to gear in another direction. The good thing is that there is no worry in being to blunt or out there with a comment.
DeleteThat is true Gabriella! I like the idea of not having to worry about being "wrong," since we're expressing the first thing that comes to our mind.
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DeleteYes CMaltese i feel that shows your personality more when you are not afraid to say what you want without worry, and yes same here Limor. The writing just flows better in my opinion.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I hear the words "Say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind," I pause for a minute and I think first. The first thing I think of is understanding and accepting that I'm able to speak my mind. It gives me an opportunity to express my thoughts and that is a great thing. However, at the same time, I think that there should be limits to how much one should express; because that can lead to prejudice and racist comments about a particular ethnic group. Therefore, thinking before speaking is definitely very essential before one writes.
ReplyDeleteThat's so right Limor, think about what you write BEFORE you write it down on paper or online where it can been seen by the masses. Today so many things can be taken out of context. Great point.
DeleteNow today people have to be aware of what they write. What I think it means to be careful of how and what you write about. To write about a topic that means something to you, not just anything. Lastly I think it also means to write how you really feel but in a professional and respective manner.
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DeleteWithout even reading your comment first, I find out input to very similar. The expression calls for honesty and passion but at the same time approaching it in the proper way.
DeleteI agree with you. Of course your response should be respectful and professional, but I think that you're given a sort of freedom to respond completely honestly.
DeleteI agree with what you and Julia have said here. This is what I meant in my comment. It is true that you have the right to speak your mind, but I believe that it should always be done in a respectful manner.
Delete"Free feel to say what you want" isn't as simple as that. It means that a person is looking for an honest answer but at the same time it needs to be a mindful answer. Being able to speak your mind is a beautiful thing but comes with great social responsibility as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment strongly. You should always say what you think, but you should also be mindful to what you're about to say. There are different ways of saying things so no one is offended.
DeleteI like how you pointed out that it comes with great social responsibility because there are a lot of risk and problems that can arise with saying what you want
DeleteWhen you are told to say the first thing that comes to mind, you are also being told to be honest and to give your personal opinion. Being able to speak your mind and express your opinions, whatever the topic of conversation may be is very important in life. However I also believe that it is important to be careful of what you say and how you say it. You want to keep in mind how someone else may take your comment for you might say something that offends them. You must know you audience to know how well you can speak your mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree Nicole. That is why we have to be careful on how we express our opinions. When one wants to tell another what he strongly thinks and believes, it usually comes out in a more blunt way, rather than thinking before you speak it.
DeleteI agree with you to a certain extent. I agree that you're being asked to give your honest personal opinion. However, I don't agree that you have to watch what you say. By someone asking for your honest opinion, I feel like they're understanding and accepting that what you say may offend them, but you're not intending it in such a way.
DeleteWhen I am told to say the first thing that comes to my mind, I assume that the person that is speaking to me wants me to be completely and bluntly honest. They want an answer that is not about societies rights and wrongs, or what is the "right or wrong" answer. They want my opinion - how I truly feel with out any consequences.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but i also think that this blunt answer should be thought of a couple times in your mind before spoken out loud. Sometimes people don't know how to take comments too well :)
DeleteIt does not mean to say the first thing that comes to mind. I see it as having the freedom to speak freely about what you believe or feel, and about what you want to share with others.
ReplyDeleteTo me "say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind" means to be honest and not second guess what you want to say. However, I think its very difficult to do that because sometimes you want to have the ability to say " the first thing that comes to mind" but what if the first thing that comes to your mind isn't necessarily something respectful or professional. So ultimately I think it means saying your honest opinion without second guessing it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it definitely means to not second guess what you have to say and to just go for it. It is being fearless because what you have to say might not be the popular opinion, but that is a risk you should take.
DeleteTo say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind means that whatever you say must be your raw emotion. It has to be the first thing that you thought of upon hearing something. It doesn’t have to be intellectual or even politically correct but it has to be honest. Saying the first thing that comes to mind is the best way to figure out how someone really feels because what they are saying wouldn’t be premeditated.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with you that things we say shouldn't always be premeditated if we're going to say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind, I do believe it's important to make sure we at least think about how we're saying certain things to avoid being offensive or misinterpreted. Saying what we think right away isn't always the best thing to do, even if it is honest.
DeleteI wouldn't refer to the principle "Feel free to say (or write) anything you want" to "Say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind." When we say the first thing that comes to mind, we are opening ourselves up to displaying raw, unfiltered emotion and that is not always the best form of expression. Saying anything you want can very well be the first thing that comes to mind, but I believe some kind of internal analysis and thought has to happen before you share something to avoid being misleading.
ReplyDeleteI think we are meant to edit our thoughts and actions prior to executing either one. Think before you speak. It's just that simple.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we are somewhat trained to edit our thoughts from a young age. It seems so simple, but I am pretty sure we all know someone who just doesn't think before they say or do something.
DeleteNo. "Feel free to say or write anything you want" is different than "say or write the first thing that comes to mind". For the reasonable person, we are taught, "If you don't have something nice to say then don't say it at all". I am pretty sure everyone has been told that at lest once while growing up. So from the start, they construct us to believe that that we can say anything we want, as long as it is in a nice/respectful manner. When you tell someone to say the first thing that comes to mind, it may be a harsh reaction which doesn't follow the same respectable form.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! When saying the first thing that comes to mind, there is no time to filter your thoughts or actual words. No one really "says anything they want" nowadays, always protecting someone else's feelings.
DeleteIn my opinion, "feel free to say or write anything you want" is not the same as "Say or write the first thing that comes to mind". When one is saying or writing anything they want, they are voicing their opinion but still choosing and filtering what to say. When you say or write the FIRST thing that comes to mind, you have absolutely no time to filter, rethink or try to piece together your train of thought and an actual statement. When saying the first thing that comes to mind, honesty comes into play more than your actual opinion.
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DeleteTrue some peoples first thoughts aren't always nice ones
DeleteTo me "feel free to say or write anything you want" is kind of like free writing you can say what you want without having to feel like your going to get attacked or judged for saying the wrong thing
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you
DeleteWe must always reevaluate our thoughts. Saying the first thing that comes to mind may portray what kind of character you are in a negative or positive way.
ReplyDeleteI agree, your first thoughts will make perfect sense to you, but could confuse someone else. You have to reconstruct thoughts in a way that someone else could understand exactly what you mean.
DeleteI think it means you should write the first complete thought that comes to mind about the subject matter. If you write anything you want it would be about anything and not necessarily about the topic previously stated.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I don't think that just writing what first pops into your mind is the principle meant. If you first write what your initial reaction was and move on, you don't really learn from what you are responding to.
DeleteI would not interpret the principle to say or write what first comes to mind. I interpret it as thinking deeply about what you would like to say or write then formulating how you would like to convey that message so that the readers can understand what you are saying. You find your opinion or thought then you think 'so what?' and you elaborate.
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