7 ms·

I suspect much of this unease about stereotypes and researching them comes from the scientific community not wanting their work to be used to justify extremism

by CM30 10y ago

I suspect much of this unease about stereotypes and researching them comes from the scientific community not wanting their work to be used to justify extremism or far right/far left political parties. After what happened with both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union misrepresenting scientific research to 'support' their policies, I suspect a lot of researchers want to avoid their own work being used for the same purposes.

charlesism 10y ago
On a more pedestrian level, it's just courteous to not generalize. All you need to do is ask an expat Canadian how much they enjoy repeatedly being asked "What part of the States are you from?". After a few dozen people make the same assumption about you, it can become aggravating. Never the less, it's a reasonable question to ask. 90% of people who sound like Americans (roughly speaking) come from the USA. The more common a stereotype is, the more infuriating it is to be an outlier. So it's considerate to bear that in mind, even if the stereotype is valid.
icebraining 10y ago
After what happened with both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union Or in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States#Compulsory_sterilization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States#...
zo1 10y ago
How much of it is genuine fear of their research being misused, vs fear of the repercussions from a very reactive public that's been conditioned to think stereotypes are bad or evil by default?
wtbob 10y ago
> After what happened with both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union misrepresenting scientific research to 'support' their policies, I suspect a lot of researchers want to avoid their own work being used for the same purposes. But we have the same effect, anyway. Take a look at the underlying scientific research regarding some politically-charged issues and you'll realise that many of the things all right-thinking people know are poorly-supported, or aren't supported, or simply aren't true at all. Most people don't want truth: they want to feel good.

by CM30 10y ago

charlesism 10y ago

On a more pedestrian level, it's just courteous to not generalize. All you need to do is ask an expat Canadian how much they enjoy repeatedly being asked "What part of the States are you from?". After a few dozen people make the same assumption about you, it can become aggravating. Never the less, it's a reasonable question to ask. 90% of people who sound like Americans (roughly speaking) come from the USA. The more common a stereotype is, the more infuriating it is to be an outlier. So it's considerate to bear that in mind, even if the stereotype is valid.

icebraining 10y ago

After what happened with both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union Or in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States#Compulsory_sterilization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States#...

zo1 10y ago

How much of it is genuine fear of their research being misused, vs fear of the repercussions from a very reactive public that's been conditioned to think stereotypes are bad or evil by default?

wtbob 10y ago

> After what happened with both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union misrepresenting scientific research to 'support' their policies, I suspect a lot of researchers want to avoid their own work being used for the same purposes. But we have the same effect, anyway. Take a look at the underlying scientific research regarding some politically-charged issues and you'll realise that many of the things all right-thinking people know are poorly-supported, or aren't supported, or simply aren't true at all. Most people don't want truth: they want to feel good.