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Although it is extremely unpopular I hold the opinion that it is possible that there may be genetic differences in intelligence (defined as the ability to succe

Although it is extremely unpopular I hold the opinion that it is possible that there may be genetic differences in intelligence (defined as the ability to succeed in a modern technological society) among human populations. Is it possible that by aiding poor nations (increasing birth rate, decreasing mortality) we are actually subsidizing stupidity in less fit subpopulations and decreasing the evolutionary fitness of the human species as whole? I don't know the answer, but scientific research into this question, unfettered by politically correct presuppositions would be interesting.

random314 9y ago
> it is possible that there may be genetic differences in intelligence (defined as the ability to succeed in a modern technological society) among human populations.we are actually subsidizing stupidity in less fit subpopulations and decreasing the evolutionary fitness of the human species as whole? Are you talking about the Midwest?
krapp 9y ago
>I don't know the answer, but scientific research into this question, unfettered by politically correct presuppositions would be interesting. This seems to imply an awareness that current science doesn't support your opinion, and that you dismiss that science as being the result of political bias. If so, I have to question whether you're looking for unbiased science, or science which validates your biases.
- chrodobert 9y ago
  https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Jews-constitute-20-of-all-Nobel-laureates-despite-being-0-19-of-the-worlds-population-What-specific-sociocultural-elements-are-the-root-cause-of-this-phenomenon https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Jews-constitute-20-of-all-Nobel...
jwweatherman 9y ago
Even if that was true it wouldn’t explain why these nations remain poor. You don’t need a high IQ to do most of the jobs in the economy. These nations are poor because they are prevented from trading with rich nations like the US and Europe.
- chrodobert 9y ago
  Maybe they remain poor because of brain drain. Perhaps we are hurting them by allowing immigration so their best and brightest can contribute to the Juiceros of SV.
FuckOffNeemo 9y ago
There's a lot of research into genetic disposition for those who have experienced famine in their genetic lineage, stretching back 3, 4 or 5 generations within their blood line. I assume your hypothesis to be largely true, but it is not racial. But certainly there would be an impact on intelligence due to nurture, the cultural of the region, and whether intelligence and education are encouraged. Like you have specified, the intelligence, adaptability and rationality of people from disadvantaged backgrounds has to be impacted by where they live and how they're raised. To suggest otherwise would be nothing short of bullshit. I personally haven't served in the Middle East, I dropped out of the Royal Marines at 16 weeks when I got my Residency Visa for Australia. My friends that have served and are currently serving, the story's they've told me of Afghanistan and Iraq of the locals in some regions is nothing short of horrifying. I don't see how a lifetime of their culture and lifestyle where pedophilia is encouraged and seen as normal could ever be undone when they move to a western country, in addition to how they treat their women and basic Human Rights. Though admittedly, a lot of these same criticisms can be argued against Saudi Arabia and I can't see many controls being applied there. You only need to look at how their Ambassadors treat our locals when they visit. But... and this is where my stance starts to unravel. We've enough shit in our own back yard. You only need to look towards Hollywood and it's protection of characters line Harvey Weinstein , and the BBC's protection of Jimmy Saville to know our own internal strife is just as bad. Coming back to the Middle East. These stories have completely changed my perception which previously was almost entirely "provide asylum to everyone". And to be clear, I'm as left leaning as they come and a proponent of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to boot. But the narrative that we should be fearful of some of the people seeking asylum in our countries from these regions is not unfounded. And there ought to be controls in place to protect us and indeed, the actual people we should be providing a safe haven to when they seek refugee status here. The far left leaning would advocate that we provide everyone a safe region and our own countries safety and is second to our responsibilities as a world state. = = = = Some articles on famine and it's impacts on genetics: How an 1836 Famine Altered the Genes of Children Born Decades Later Edit: words, structure. https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-an-1836-famine-altered-the-genes-of-children-born-d-1200001177 https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-an-1836-famine-altered-the-genes... How your grandparents’ life could have changed your genes http://theconversation.com/how-your-grandparents-life-could-have-changed-your-genes-19136 http://theconversation.com/how-your-grandparents-life-could-...
dang 9y ago
This comment breaks the site guidelines by taking the thread into a generic ideological tarpit. Please don't do that when commenting here. These tangents are all the same and always lead to flamewars, and those are two outcomes we're most trying to avoid here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html

random314 9y ago

> it is possible that there may be genetic differences in intelligence (defined as the ability to succeed in a modern technological society) among human populations.we are actually subsidizing stupidity in less fit subpopulations and decreasing the evolutionary fitness of the human species as whole? Are you talking about the Midwest?

krapp 9y ago

>I don't know the answer, but scientific research into this question, unfettered by politically correct presuppositions would be interesting. This seems to imply an awareness that current science doesn't support your opinion, and that you dismiss that science as being the result of political bias. If so, I have to question whether you're looking for unbiased science, or science which validates your biases.

chrodobert 9y ago
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Jews-constitute-20-of-all-Nobel-laureates-despite-being-0-19-of-the-worlds-population-What-specific-sociocultural-elements-are-the-root-cause-of-this-phenomenon https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Jews-constitute-20-of-all-Nobel...

jwweatherman 9y ago

Even if that was true it wouldn’t explain why these nations remain poor. You don’t need a high IQ to do most of the jobs in the economy. These nations are poor because they are prevented from trading with rich nations like the US and Europe.

chrodobert 9y ago
Maybe they remain poor because of brain drain. Perhaps we are hurting them by allowing immigration so their best and brightest can contribute to the Juiceros of SV.

FuckOffNeemo 9y ago

There's a lot of research into genetic disposition for those who have experienced famine in their genetic lineage, stretching back 3, 4 or 5 generations within their blood line. I assume your hypothesis to be largely true, but it is not racial. But certainly there would be an impact on intelligence due to nurture, the cultural of the region, and whether intelligence and education are encouraged. Like you have specified, the intelligence, adaptability and rationality of people from disadvantaged backgrounds has to be impacted by where they live and how they're raised. To suggest otherwise would be nothing short of bullshit. I personally haven't served in the Middle East, I dropped out of the Royal Marines at 16 weeks when I got my Residency Visa for Australia. My friends that have served and are currently serving, the story's they've told me of Afghanistan and Iraq of the locals in some regions is nothing short of horrifying. I don't see how a lifetime of their culture and lifestyle where pedophilia is encouraged and seen as normal could ever be undone when they move to a western country, in addition to how they treat their women and basic Human Rights. Though admittedly, a lot of these same criticisms can be argued against Saudi Arabia and I can't see many controls being applied there. You only need to look at how their Ambassadors treat our locals when they visit. But... and this is where my stance starts to unravel. We've enough shit in our own back yard. You only need to look towards Hollywood and it's protection of characters line Harvey Weinstein , and the BBC's protection of Jimmy Saville to know our own internal strife is just as bad. Coming back to the Middle East. These stories have completely changed my perception which previously was almost entirely "provide asylum to everyone". And to be clear, I'm as left leaning as they come and a proponent of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to boot. But the narrative that we should be fearful of some of the people seeking asylum in our countries from these regions is not unfounded. And there ought to be controls in place to protect us and indeed, the actual people we should be providing a safe haven to when they seek refugee status here. The far left leaning would advocate that we provide everyone a safe region and our own countries safety and is second to our responsibilities as a world state. = = = = Some articles on famine and it's impacts on genetics: How an 1836 Famine Altered the Genes of Children Born Decades Later Edit: words, structure. https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-an-1836-famine-altered-the-genes-of-children-born-d-1200001177 https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-an-1836-famine-altered-the-genes... How your grandparents’ life could have changed your genes http://theconversation.com/how-your-grandparents-life-could-have-changed-your-genes-19136 http://theconversation.com/how-your-grandparents-life-could-...

dang 9y ago

This comment breaks the site guidelines by taking the thread into a generic ideological tarpit. Please don't do that when commenting here. These tangents are all the same and always lead to flamewars, and those are two outcomes we're most trying to avoid here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html