From: Olga Bourlin (fauxever@sprynet.com)
Date: Tue Sep 24 2002 - 20:26:08 MDT
From: "Rafal Smigrodzki" <rms2g@virginia.edu>
> Damien wrote:
>
> > All this is fair enough, and I'm sorry if I seemed to be implying that
> > *your* comments were racist. But this thread is about THE BELL CURVE.
>
> ### But the Bell Curve is not about races. It's about IQ. So why mention
> race?
Well, now, did The Bell Curve cite studies measuring the IQs of pigeon-toed
people cf. the IQs of blue-eyed people; or the IQs of people under 5'6" cf.
to the IQs of people between 5'6" and 6' cf. to people who were over 6"
tall? No?
Did The Bell Curve reveal the IQs of multiparas cf. to the IQs of primaparas
cf. to the IQs of women who have never given birth to children. No?
Or maybe the IQs of left-handed people cf. to the IQs of right-handed
people? No?
Or maybe the IQs of chee'burgers cf. Pepsi? No?
Hmmm ... the Bell Curve wasn't about "races"? (why ... you don't say!)
> If a racist posts here, we'll crush him like a bug. Otherwise the whole
idea
> of race needs not to be mentioned at all, because it's so trivial. Race as
a
> value is so pre-transhumanist. Leave it to kluxers.
It will be a great day when there is *no one at all* between "us": the
oh-non-non-non!-pre-transhumanist "color-blind" "meta"
oh-so-sophisticated-don't-talk-to-us-about-"race"-that's-so-outre-and-unscie
ntific types (pat pat pat ourselves on our hunchy little backs) and "them":
the kluxers. I don't mean to bring you down, Rafal, but that day hasn't
arrived yet.
While I agree with you that the concept of "race" lacks scientific validity,
many people are still "racist" (and "racism" has been revealed in
interesting ways ... even on this list). And, regarding what you term as
being "pre-transhumanist" - why, That's America To Me (using the phrase from
an old Frank Sinatra song). The effects of "racism" can only be measured by
those who have experienced "racism." I've heard a hundred *current* stories
that have made me want to cry. I would like to, but I can't say "race needs
not be mentioned at all, because it's so trivial ..." Some people don't
have the luxury of being so cavalier about it. Maybe someday. But we're
not there yet.
Olga
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