Watson Says Stupidity & Ugliness Should Be Cured
from the who's-going-to-argue-with-that? dept
With the various debates going on about genetic engineering, famously opinionated James Watson is making some others in the field squirm again. His latest claim is that stupidity and ugliness are genetic diseases that should be cured. The "stupidity" part many people agree with - though, there is still the question of just how you define "stupidity". Meanwhile, more people seem aghast at the ugliness question (which is an even more subjective topic than stupidity). However, it did lead Watson to make the following quote: "People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty. I think it would be great."
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Jukes and Kallikaks
Hollywood aesthetics have changed since, and now most celebrities are either multiracial or look multiracial. So I would be interested to know what Watson considers "attractive", since most of today's celebrities would probably be considered very ugly by 1920s standards.
But then, there are contemporary white actresses like Julia Roberts who are living proof that even a dog can be dressed up to look good.
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Eugenics
Unfortunately, there seems to be an unlimited supply...
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The million dollar problem
Peter: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what we'd do if we had a million dollars
then later
Micheal: No you're working at Initech because that question is bull**** to begin with. If everyone listened to her we'd have no janitors because no one would clean **** up off the floor if they had a million dollars.
So, Good Will Hunting aside, how would you get smart people to be janitors? Or any other blue-collar job (not to imply those filling those positions are dumb)
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Re: The million dollar problem
If the world was full of competitive people, then everyone would be at each other's throats and the world will become a cynical, vicious place. The world needs its social workers, school teachers, customer service reps to keep it going around.
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Watson needs to be careful...
old, white males out of the gene pool.
(everyone needs to do a little research about
the backs the watson and crick stood on to get
their fame and fortune).
...now if we could only "genetically engineer"
trailer trash out of the gene pool...
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Re: The million dollar problem
The world *IS* filled with cynical, vicious, super competitive people who are at each other's throats.
My personal favorate quote: China is the only place in the world where you can be one in a million and have the company of thousands of other people exactly like you.
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From what I can see...
I'd say there's a major societal influence that encourages stupidity.
A low common denomitator is very easy to market to.
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