The Believing Game-Methodological Believing Analysis

Peter Elbow presents the believing game and the doubting game in “The Believing Game-Methodological Believing.” He states that, the doubting game represents a form of thinking that is mostly recognize and taught. The doubting game intention is to be skeptical and analytical with every idea that one experiences. On the other hand, the believing game principle is to embrace as much as possible every idea one experiences, by actually trying to believe different views. He believes that both the doubting game and believing game has weaknesses. The doubting game is weak in helping one find the hidden integrity, while the believing game is weak in helping one find the hidden flaws. However, the doubting game is also weak in finding the hidden flaws

In the same way, Rizter uses different characteristics of rationalization in order for readers to disprove of them. For example: in the characteristic of efficiency, Ritzer explains, people are preparing less home cooked meals. Today, people think that fast-food restaurant are more efficient. Thus, owners of these restaurants are now increasing efficiency to accommodate this new trend (372-73). Rizter, like Elbow believes the doubting game does not actually show what is true, only what is not true. Thus, he uses this tool because readers will assume whatever he said is not true must logically be true

The lack of supporting evidence allows readers to perceive him as being bias.

The believing game is much calmer than the doubting game. Sheryl Sandberg uses the believing game for the readers to accept her perspective based on their judgement instead of being skeptical. She allows the readers to look for strength and positivity rather than errors and weaknesses in having gender equality. Sandberg states “…many individual women are as professionally ambitious as any individual men” (647). Here, the believing game commit the readers to accept the message. The believing game also allows him or her to see virtue in the message (Elbow 6).

Sandberg uses her family’s stories at the beginning of the essay, in that, readers can create images in their mind. Images about the oppression of women and the inequality that still exist in gender (642-44). The believing game teaches one to understand different perspectives from the inside (8). Elbow states that he has been trying to show that it’s possible to try to believe things that we do not believe (4). Like Elbow, Sandberg is trying explain that we should try to believe gender equality can exist even if there is doubt of it not