5 ms·

Russia's Usmanov to give back Watson's auctioned Nobel medal

16 points by dollaaron 12y ago

btown 12y ago
Having never heard about the controversy, I was quite shocked to learn exactly what Watson said in 2007: In 2007, the Sunday Times ran an interview with Dr Watson in which he said he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”. He told the newspaper people wanted to believe that everyone was born with equal intelligence but that those “who have to deal with black employees find this not true”. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11261872/James-Watson-selling-Nobel-prize-because-no-one-wants-to-admit-I-exist.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11261872/James-Watso... It's painful to see scientists fall prey to overgeneralization from small, non-representative samples - especially when their words have influence. I'm glad Usmanov returned the medal - Watson certainly earned it for his earlier accomplishments - but I'm not surprised Watson's unable to find jobs.
- vixen99 12y ago
  'Small, non-representive samples'? Maybe, (I am in position to judge) but looking through some of the published scholarly papers relating to this subject and from what you've said, it looks as if the peer-review folk who've approved a fair number of scholarly papers providing substance for Watson's ill-advised comments have done a lousy job in not pointing this out. Certainly for whatever reason be it environmental, genetic or simply a matter of inappropriate tests, the data indicates a consistent pattern. According to you, this is poor science. Please provide the evidence and note that I am not saying it does not exist! You may be right for all I know.
  - vixen99 12y ago
    Sorry - "I am NOT in a position to judge"!
- kbart 12y ago
  At least he has provided scientific bases for all his "contraventions". I don't say I agree with him or that he's right, but all this politcorectness bullshit should not be brought to science and even such inconvenient topics (i.e. race influence on intellect or sex drive) should be open for research. Imagine the consequences if scientists were afraid to speak, because they might offend some group of people.
  - skc 12y ago
    I don't know, he just seems like one hell of a bigot in general. Science could probably just as easily prove that consuming human infant meat is very healthy, that wouldn't make the idea any less revolting when one applies common sense.
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- deleted 12y ago
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- aaron695 12y ago
  > “who have to deal with black employees find this not true”. Sigh... Ever notice how this is never put within a context? That's because it was never released, who knows why he said it and what it was related to. That to me means someone is playing games. Point one is considered true, re intelligence, most people in this area believe this but many won't say it out loud. Whether it could be used re policy who knows, but people are dying in Africa, how many are dying due to rich westerners sensibilities such that they won't even discuss it?

16 points by dollaaron 12y ago

btown 12y ago

Having never heard about the controversy, I was quite shocked to learn exactly what Watson said in 2007: In 2007, the Sunday Times ran an interview with Dr Watson in which he said he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”. He told the newspaper people wanted to believe that everyone was born with equal intelligence but that those “who have to deal with black employees find this not true”. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11261872/James-Watson-selling-Nobel-prize-because-no-one-wants-to-admit-I-exist.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11261872/James-Watso... It's painful to see scientists fall prey to overgeneralization from small, non-representative samples - especially when their words have influence. I'm glad Usmanov returned the medal - Watson certainly earned it for his earlier accomplishments - but I'm not surprised Watson's unable to find jobs.

vixen99 12y ago
'Small, non-representive samples'? Maybe, (I am in position to judge) but looking through some of the published scholarly papers relating to this subject and from what you've said, it looks as if the peer-review folk who've approved a fair number of scholarly papers providing substance for Watson's ill-advised comments have done a lousy job in not pointing this out. Certainly for whatever reason be it environmental, genetic or simply a matter of inappropriate tests, the data indicates a consistent pattern. According to you, this is poor science. Please provide the evidence and note that I am not saying it does not exist! You may be right for all I know.
- vixen99 12y ago
  Sorry - "I am NOT in a position to judge"!
kbart 12y ago
At least he has provided scientific bases for all his "contraventions". I don't say I agree with him or that he's right, but all this politcorectness bullshit should not be brought to science and even such inconvenient topics (i.e. race influence on intellect or sex drive) should be open for research. Imagine the consequences if scientists were afraid to speak, because they might offend some group of people.
- skc 12y ago
  I don't know, he just seems like one hell of a bigot in general. Science could probably just as easily prove that consuming human infant meat is very healthy, that wouldn't make the idea any less revolting when one applies common sense.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
aaron695 12y ago
> “who have to deal with black employees find this not true”. Sigh... Ever notice how this is never put within a context? That's because it was never released, who knows why he said it and what it was related to. That to me means someone is playing games. Point one is considered true, re intelligence, most people in this area believe this but many won't say it out loud. Whether it could be used re policy who knows, but people are dying in Africa, how many are dying due to rich westerners sensibilities such that they won't even discuss it?