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Trying to assign 100% of the differences between people(s) to their ancestral cultures is a grossly oversimplified post-modern mythology and unsupported by fact
by themgt 9y ago
Trying to assign 100% of the differences between people(s) to their ancestral cultures is a grossly oversimplified post-modern mythology and unsupported by facts or a contemporary understanding of the science of human populations, and I'm fairly sure many Asians and Asian-Americans would be quite offended by the statement that their ephemeral "roots in Chinese culture" are what lead them excel where others struggle.
- dlwdlw 9y agoDon't be blind. Culture definitely provides tailwinds and headwinds in certain areas. Ignoring your attack on the strawman of 100% explanatory power the actual degree of effect may be very small but compounded over time. A simple example is being good at multiplication in kindergarten. This small advantage can become a desire for continuous academic excellence via courage towards math. If a child's parents are stereotypically prudish, another "advantage" is the ability to sidestep distractions of athletics/sex. If the natural momentum a culture can build isn't appreciated, people become shallow and hoarding. In my family for example, the idea that Asians are naturally smarter and Blacks dumber is common and was the impetus for my thoughts in this area. I see a greed and lack of empathy developing that is difficult to watch. The most common actual real world usage I get out of explaining this model is more support for affirmative action. Perhaps other people can see it as having other value. No need to trash it. All models are simplifications of reality and thus "wrong".