Comments on: James Watson http://www.eqsq.com/vivreladifference/2007/10/24/james-watson/ Vivre La Difference Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:53:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tim Worstall http://www.eqsq.com/vivreladifference/2007/10/24/james-watson/#comment-8731 Tim Worstall Sun, 04 Nov 2007 13:47:40 +0000 http://eqsq.com/vivreLaDifference/james-watson.html#comment-8731 It's true that us urban types would do pretty badly on an IQ test designed by a Khoi San (what used to be called Bushmen). So I'm not all that much of a fan of the system anyway. Plus, err, I do really badly on IQ tests so obviously they must be wrong. It’s true that us urban types would do pretty badly on an IQ test designed by a Khoi San (what used to be called Bushmen). So I’m not all that much of a fan of the system anyway.
Plus, err, I do really badly on IQ tests so obviously they must be wrong.

]]> By: lucy http://www.eqsq.com/vivreladifference/2007/10/24/james-watson/#comment-8191 lucy Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:34:40 +0000 http://eqsq.com/vivreLaDifference/james-watson.html#comment-8191 I read more about James Watson today in the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/science/25cnd-watson.html?em&ex=1193457600&en=dbaf904a72be118a&ei=5087%0A. According to the article, Watson was shunned and dismissed after the comments he made. He was relieved of his position as chancellor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, while a lecture he was to give at Rockefeller University (in a ceremony to honor him) was cancelled by the university. It seems, Tim, he really should have been bright enough to think before speaking. Imagine ending a brilliant Noble Prize winning career like this. I read more about James Watson today in the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/science/25cnd-watson.html?em&ex=1193457600&en=dbaf904a72be118a&ei=5087%0A. According to the article, Watson was shunned and dismissed after the comments he made. He was relieved of his position as chancellor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, while a lecture he was to give at Rockefeller University (in a ceremony to honor him) was cancelled by the university.

It seems, Tim, he really should have been bright enough to think before speaking. Imagine ending a brilliant Noble Prize winning career like this.

]]> By: lucy http://www.eqsq.com/vivreladifference/2007/10/24/james-watson/#comment-8152 lucy Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:02:30 +0000 http://eqsq.com/vivreLaDifference/james-watson.html#comment-8152 I would absolutely account most or all of this difference in intelligence, especially as identified through an IQ test, as the difference in culture and environment. IQ tests, and even paper tests in general, are very much a “Western” phenomena – testing is simply ingrained in our culture. While we might test higher on a paper test, I’m guessing most Africans (especially those living outside of cities) would exhibit a much higher intelligence that we regarding survival. As Leah, in Poisonwood Bible, said of her Congolese friend while she and her family lived in the Congo, while she and her sisters were playing games such as “Mother May I,” her African friend was playing “find food” or “build a house.” The idea of comparing intelligence based on paper exams here is ludicrous. There is even much controversy about measuring intelligence in this way amongst people in our country. Educators and others have long noted a cultural bias in such tests – the Neag Center for Gifted Education notes that here: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/NRCGT/ford5.html. Comparing and contrasting the intelligence of westerners and non-westerners would be a highly complicated task at best. I would absolutely account most or all of this difference in intelligence, especially as identified through an IQ test, as the difference in culture and environment. IQ tests, and even paper tests in general, are very much a “Western” phenomena – testing is simply ingrained in our culture. While we might test higher on a paper test, I’m guessing most Africans (especially those living outside of cities) would exhibit a much higher intelligence that we regarding survival.

As Leah, in Poisonwood Bible, said of her Congolese friend while she and her family lived in the Congo, while she and her sisters were playing games such as “Mother May I,” her African friend was playing “find food” or “build a house.”

The idea of comparing intelligence based on paper exams here is ludicrous. There is even much controversy about measuring intelligence in this way amongst people in our country. Educators and others have long noted a cultural bias in such tests – the Neag Center for Gifted Education notes that here: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/NRCGT/ford5.html.

Comparing and contrasting the intelligence of westerners and non-westerners would be a highly complicated task at best.

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