Thursday, December 06, 2007

Barbara Oakley, the author of Evil Genes, has an interesting article on the amoral among us in the Chicago Tribune today.

18 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've mentioned many times the complete and total amorality of the modern American female, the 4 billion-pound gorilla that stares us in the face everyday as women murder their husbands and molest children with no remorse at all and only receive probation. Oddly, this article doesn't even mention this- just another useless piece of junk journalism that benefits no one.

The modern American female is a unholy and perversely unnatural adbomination; a Frankenstein monster of complete unaccountability, victim mentality and dysfuntion so severe that it is best to avoid them altogehter.

11:22 AM, December 06, 2007  
Blogger DADvocate said...

Oakley's comments about Russia remind me of stories from a friend of mine who visited Russia in the early 70's.

As for blind spots, I agree most of us have them. I assume I have them in an attempt to protect from them. I'm sensitive to the blind spots of several ultra-liberals I know. They often claim things that are in direct contradiction to their own past actions.

3:51 PM, December 06, 2007  
Blogger JohnAnnArbor said...

reality2007, know thyself.

4:03 PM, December 06, 2007  
Blogger Peregrine John said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

4:51 PM, December 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I'm gonnna guess he does, daily.."

My wife is from Argentina. You, on the other hand, are a magina, because only a magina would defend AW, and everyone knows who maginas spend the night with: Their left hand. (While the AW you lust for laugh at you behind your back:)

5:18 PM, December 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder if she sleeps with one eye open.

6:16 PM, December 06, 2007  
Blogger Dragon Hawk said...

American women are human beings, with the same DNA as women from, say, Argentina. Some american women are evil, it is true, but not all. Dr. Helen clearly cares about men's issues, and as far as I know she's american. *I* care about them too, and I am american. Blind vitriolic rage and hatred won't fix the problem, they will only make them worse.

Condemn individuals for their actions, not an entire gender/nationality.

6:42 PM, December 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I wonder if she sleeps with one eye open."

No, it's the husband of an AW that needs to sleep with one eye open. Can you say 'Mary Winkler?'

7:38 PM, December 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"American women are human beings, with the same DNA as women from, say, Argentina. Some american women are evil, it is true, but not all. Dr. Helen clearly cares about men's issues, and as far as I know she's american. *I* care about them too, and I am american. Blind vitriolic rage and hatred won't fix the problem, they will only make them worse.

No, you have it backwards. All we have listened to for 20 years are cattle like you who spout the same old tired rhetoric like this and things are worse than ever and keep getting worse every year. People like YOU are making things worse because you're passive cowards.

"Condemn individuals for their actions, not an entire gender/nationality."

I'm condemning a culture, Einstein. You have to be educated before you get 'preachy.'

7:43 PM, December 06, 2007  
Blogger ak said...

reality2007, let's spell it out for you. Your blind spot is that you're mentally ill. You're not a brave critic of the horrible state of modern American sexual politics. You're just nuts. Get some help.

Dr. Helen, I don't know your policy on banning commenters, but I wish you'd consider getting rid of this person. He has to respond to every single comment and only ends up ruining what are normally interesting discussions. He adds nothing to these comment threads.

1:43 PM, December 07, 2007  
Blogger Serket said...

If genes really are the cause of evil then how do religious choice and morals come into play? Is it that we can rise above our biology?

Reality, the author is referring to genetic reasons for blind spots and evil, not what is caused by culture.

2:30 PM, December 07, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If someone is genetically predisposed to poor impulse control and has never learned how to counteract it, he may not be able to make moral choices or act on them. In fact, the concept of making such choices may not even exist in that person's "mental world." On the other hand, religion or a strong moral code may give another similarly affected person the strength they need to discipline themselves. There's an awful lot of random chance involved.

6:11 PM, December 07, 2007  
Blogger Unknown said...

Our species, for the most part, can over-ride parts of our biology IF WE WANT TO. Nature says "you are X" : Nurture says "You can choose not to be X."

One must care enough to make the choice and then make the choice! A very few seem not able to do this.

I think this is an important part of the nature vs nurture debate.

The article, basically, speaks of the psychopaths. Those who for one reason or another cannot choose to be good. I think that is an important thing to think about!

3:46 AM, December 08, 2007  
Blogger TMink said...

JW, it is my understanding that most psychopaths do not like to experience pain and punishment. Under VERY strict supervision they can and do make better choices. Now what practicial import this has on our legal and incarceration system I do not know. I imagine that anything other than incarceration would be cost prohibitive and dangerous.

Trey

10:54 AM, December 08, 2007  
Blogger Sid said...

In Child Development field, there is a body of work on the concept "range of impact". Beyond the standard nature v. nurture debate, it is a good analysis of the interplay between genetic make-up and environmental forces. Basically, a look at why two individuals with the same DNA could have drastically different outcomes. There are some case studies I read a few years ago which are enlightening.

Genetics is often a trunp card. But the impact on the life of the individual can be lessened with a positive environment early in life.

Following that line of thinking, it is my professional opinion that Reality2007 is a jerk and no amount of constructive criticism will ever help at this stage in his life.

The blindspot that I see as very relevant in US society is our default appeal to reason with those who hold views that are markedly contrasting to ours. "Can't we all just get along?" Well, no. Not if getting along means that we are going to turn a blind eye to human atrocities for the sake of international treaties. The UN has a long and ugly history of simultaneously sitting on its hands during human atrocities while condemning any effective interventions.

Sometimes gun-packing nuts show up at malls and universities. They are not at a point in their soon-to-be-over lives that reason will dissuade them. The only option is to shoot them until all body functions have ceased.

Sometimes states and countries go rogue. An invasion to topple the leaders is the option that others would reason away, but is often the only solution.

11:15 AM, December 08, 2007  
Blogger Troy said...

I find it highly ironic that a post-modern agnostic decries the idea that we've lost the idea that "some" people are bad. Hmmmm... where did that idea gather steam?.

I will say I liked the article, but Western tradition had no problem starting with the Greeks -- and the Jews before them -- that mankind was inherently flawed and needed some form of control balanced with liberty.

1:39 PM, December 08, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

With all the incredible things that a portion of the human brain has done, collectively and individually, for all of mankind, there is ever another portion of it, that is such a waste of good space inside the skull.

8:43 PM, December 08, 2007  
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