Check out Indie Intellect’s Youtube Channel for more info on these topics and more!

Key Points

• You can’t be a good independent thinker all on your own.
• You’ve got to discuss and interact with other people to really flesh out your ideas.
• Discussion helps you become an intelligent independent thinker.

Socratic Method

• The Socratic Method is a philosophy guiding discussion on a topic and took several forms.
  • Good, quick breakdown: http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/socratic-teaching/606
  • In-depth, practical guide: http://www.socraticmethod.net/how_to_use_the_socratic_method/using_the_socratic_method.html
• Socratic Circles fostered discussion on a topic, then discussion on the discussion to measure not only the topic, but the discussion around it.
• Modern similarities exist in social and new media between Youtube, Podcasts, blogs, etc. and Twitter, Facebook, etc.
• “This approach is based on the belief that participants seek and gain deeper understanding of concepts in the text through thoughtful dialogue rather than memorizing information that has been provided for them.”  —Wikipedia
• The goal is to foster dialogue without argument, which immediately stops a beneficial conversation.
• Avoid using definite terms like “always” and “never”.  Instead, use “usually” and “I believe”.  Harsh terms cause people to put up mental blocks.

Active Listening

• Focus on what the other person is saying as they talk.
• Don’t just think about what you are going to say while they are talking.
• Asking real questions show that you are listening.
• Asking questions just to show that you are listening ends up appearing fake.

Passive Aggressiveness

• Passive aggressive people typically have expectations that they aren’t voicing, but are expecting others to meet.
• Because they are hesitant to voice the expectations, they’re hesitant to outwardly discuss their feelings about them being unmet and instead become uncooperative.
• Don’t go into a conversation with a set agenda.
• Avoid a mindset that says “I don’t have to ‘WIN’ in this conversation”.

Check out Indie Intellect’s Youtube Channel for more info on these topics and more!

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Image courtesy Dimitris Graffin via Flickr.