retired_princesspouty

There are a lot of subjects that I have an interest in that are clouded by my reputation for "only liking medieval history".

I used to talk at length about all sorts of subjects on OTF, but over the years I've gradually reduced it more and more, and limited myself to soundbites and cynisism... until I became the lazy arsed ameoba I am now.

That's nurture for you! (ps I don't actually blame OTF... well except my truly awful grammar these days!).

retired_ks reddy

You let it go.

"The Nobel Prize-winning DNA pioneer James Watson has been suspended by his research institution in the US."

My_Evo

I have a massive problem with the idea that anything offensive to someone is automatically "wrong". Many great scientific breakthroughs were highly inflammatory at the time, yet society adjusted.

James Watson wants to talk about the possibility that different populations of humans had different selective pressures applied, leading to different prevelant traits; it's perfectly legitimate science, yet no-one will allow such testing to be done for fear it'll be divisive.

The irony is, if he'd said he wanted to look at black people being genetically pre-disposed to being better athletes, no-one would have objected. In fact, if he'd said black people are genetically predisposed to be more intelligent than white people, I honestly think that'd have been fine too.
But we have such a great well of collective guilt that you're not allowed to express any diseenting opinion regarding a perceived inority, all in service of some ill-conceived "greater good".


Of course it's controversial, and I've no doubt at all he's deliberately set out to court that. But that doesn't mean it's not a legitimate source for discussion. I'm glad he's at least willing to risk being ostracised to make a point.


Incidentally, IQ tests suggest Asian people are on average the most intelligent (and Inuits the least intelligent). Exloring if there is a genetic basis to that is good science and should be allowed and applauded.

retired_the gizmo

actually, research of this nature has also been criticised because people believe that people will believe that anyone who is genetically pre-disposed to be better athletes would be inherently less intelligent.

retired_ks reddy

Showing just how much deep down we want to believe that everyone's equal.

My_Evo

actually, research of this nature has also been criticised because people believe that people will believe that anyone who is genetically pre-disposed to be better athletes would be inherently less intelligent. </BLOCKQUOTE>


I don't think he'd have got the talk pulled for it.

retired_meghna

That man has no idea what he's on about, probably just wants to get noticed...I am insanely clever, so he needs to do more research.