14.1

Out of all the groups that are available for discussion, I would most prefer to engage in a Panel discussion. It has been my observation that when people are more relaxed they are able to think clearer (as long as they aren't TOO relaxed, at least). In panel discussions it seems that it's not as... "busy" for lack of a better word, meaning, well, I guess as the book says, less formal. When I was younger and I saw adults trying to solve problems, it always seemed so prim and proper. I never understood why the couldn't at least laugh a little (granted it might have just been my family). So the idea that trying to solve problems doesn't have to be this great formal ordeal really seems to me, the best idea. The symposium seems to me like too much of a deebate; the colloquium seems to be too formal; and the forum to me seems like it would base its problem solving on people who might not necessarily be the best people to ask.

13.2

5 cultural barriers that affect creativity are: a requirement for conformity, a reliance on statistical proofs, a dependence on generalizations, particular arenas for competition, and a reliance on expert knowledge.

Requirement for conformity: requiring sameness prevents people from thinking about how to be difference; feeling "foolish" or absurd can stop someone from letting their creativeness stand out.

Reliance on statistical proofs: didn't you know? 80% of statistics are made up on the spot. Relying on statistics, data that you don't know for sure is right, can lead to being influenced by what others have "observed" or recorded, not letting you create based on what you actually know.

A dependence on generalizations: not wanting to offend a particular person, treading lightly, and not wanting to make a stink, you make broad generalizations that doesn't attach itself to one thing, allowing interpretation to do what it will. However by doing this you prevent the further exploration of specific things, which can prevent success.

Particular arenas for competition: being competitive with someone can cancel out all kinds of creativity. It becomes not what can we create, but who can create the best. This makes us strive for quantity instead of quality.

A reliance on expert knowledge: by relying on "experts" to have an answer we prevent ourselves from properly exploring what our options are and what we could possibly do to make them better. Ii limits our creative selves because we don't do a lot of the thinking; we rely on an "expert" to do it for us.


Unfortunately I've noticed that in most groups one or more of these barriers happen. While it would be great to get around them, most of the time people don't realize that they're doing them. I think if people took a group communication class (like this) then it would help them to realize that they can't be creative while relying on others to do the work.

13.2

The most interesting concept that I came across this week was using analogies and metaphors to increase creativity. I always thought of creativity as something that came up an opportune moments, dire circumstances, or situations where we needed an out. However, while reading the chapter I found that the creativity that comes from people can some from times where our lives aren't necessarily on the line. As the book states, for example, "Henry Ford visited a slaughterhouse and was inspired to produce a better way to mass produce cars." (Harris, 193-4). By looking at things that you wouldn't necessarily look at for ideas (such as Henry Ford and the slaughterhouse) you can get some pretty good ideas. Using analogies we can really open our minds to situations and ideas that weren't open to us before. In general, being creative helps the world go round, and finding different ways to do so just adds to the improvement of our living situations.

13.1

It feels like it's been forever since I've blogged. Anyone else? No? Oh well.

This is actually a recent event in which I used my creativity to solve a problem. Unfortunately I have to move back to my mom's house. My mom lives there, and she has a housemate. The house is only a 2 bedroom house, so this presented a problem as to where my room was going to be. At first it seemed that the most logical conclusion was for me to sleep on the couch and to put all of my furniture (including my bed) into a rented storage unit (if it had been we just needed room for my couch, it could have gone in the garage. However, since it was my couch and my bed, we needed a bigger place to store it all.). I was not looking forward to having no real sense of privacy, so I started thinking.

At my mom's house, right next to the kitchen is a little breakfast nook. It's very small, fitting in 2 cabinets, a small table and chair set, and a table for the microwave. So, instead of renting out a place to put my bed, we're moving the two cabinets and tables into other parts of the house, putting my bed and dresser in the nook, and putting up a rod and heavy curtain to make a type of "bedroom door." This saves me having no privacy, and someone sleeping on the couch!