tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post5898212408361138016..comments2023-07-03T14:55:52.722+01:00Comments on Abu Al-Fin: Why Couldn't Sub-Saharan Africans Invent the Wheel?al finhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739269791915017382noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-84437742068998756792011-05-05T19:47:21.989+01:002011-05-05T19:47:21.989+01:00This seems very interesting. I have spent a year w...This seems very interesting. I have spent a year working in that part of Africa, Liberia actually. I am European, by the way. <br /><br />I did notice that the life is just different there, people are trying to live u=one day at the time, while us, meaning people from a bit richer countries, have plans for 20 years ahead. <br /><br />I would not call this racist or anything, I am not a racist to start with, but I think the reason for these results is the fact that for generations those people don't have the possibility to go to good schools and have normal lives. <br /><br />As you can see the highest IQ countries are the richest ones, so I think this is mostly due to financial reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-13299939445669572822011-04-24T12:54:27.130+01:002011-04-24T12:54:27.130+01:00Quite true, Peter. Certainly one important compon...Quite true, Peter. Certainly one important component of this story.<br /><br />But one cannot ignore the ongoing role of evolution in human affairs. Harpending and Cochran's "10,000 Year Explosion" is a fascinating look at how relevant ongoing evolution is to the human world.<br /><br />Something happened, genetically, to the humans who left Africa, which did not happen to the Africans left behind. Likewise, the Africans remaining in SS Africa underwent evolutionary change which did not happen to those who had left.<br /><br />Looking at human evolution honestly without value judgments is a pre-requisite to a clear view of global societies and where we should go from here to make the world a better and more just place.al finhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13739269791915017382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-8112719047860242122011-04-24T04:43:11.177+01:002011-04-24T04:43:11.177+01:00May I suggest that a primary reason for every jump...May I suggest that a primary reason for every jump in technology, understanding, innovation, etc. in the human species has been emigration?<br /><br />Those who can see the problems in staying where they are, are the first to be willing to move somewhere new, if necessary abandoning their current 'security blanket', risking everything to build a new and (hopefully) better life elsewhere.<br /><br />That attitude seems to carry with it an innovative, exploratory approach to life. "If we face this challenge, how can we solve it?" instead of "It's always been done this way!"<br /><br />I'd suggest those who led the migration of humanity from Africa were those who were self-selecting innovators, willing to step out into the unknown and brave whatever dangers were 'out there' in an attempt to build a better life. I'm not surprised that innovation should also be greater among such adventurous spirits. Isn't that what we've seen throughout recorded history?Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-87642732890054621452011-04-22T15:48:48.135+01:002011-04-22T15:48:48.135+01:00Black people are not stupid, Dr. Z. "Stupid&...Black people are not stupid, Dr. Z. "Stupid" is a slang term and a pejorative. Shame on you!<br /><br />Mike, when you have nothing important to do in the first place, being pissed off about "wasting 20 seconds" is a bit pointless.<br /><br />Pertz: The map is merely food for thought and conjecture. No need to get excited about it.<br /><br />You may be interested to know that modern brain imaging is developing into a magnificent objective IQ test which is culture-free.<br /><br />Knowing that, I am certain that you are eager to scientifically refute all possible claims of potentially innate differences in IQ, executive function, impulse control, etc. between population groups....right? Right???? Or is a little insignificant thing like PC perhaps holding you back?<br /><br />Low level comments such as these are unfortunately where the popular discussion is mired -- thanks to the much whined about and not-so-mythical PC.al finhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13739269791915017382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-74454616493932704342011-04-22T15:28:22.622+01:002011-04-22T15:28:22.622+01:00Suggesting that current geographic distributions o...Suggesting that current geographic distributions of IQ has any relevance on the development of ancient technology is a marked failure of critical thinking.<br /><br />I'm no historian, but there are astronomical discoveries that the Mayans (a culture without the wheel) that surpassed European knowledge.<br /><br />The fact is that world IQ rates (which are of course skewed to the culture that made them) correlate more with rates of infectious disease (and therefore brain development) than with "race". You can whine about "PCness" all you want, but the fact is that it's more likely that racist global policy causes unequal IQ distribution.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03683917655532999298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-62863279421429435272011-04-22T15:24:20.795+01:002011-04-22T15:24:20.795+01:00BLACK PEOPLE MAY BE STUPID BUT AT LEAST THEY R NOT...BLACK PEOPLE MAY BE STUPID BUT AT LEAST THEY R NOT RACIST LIKE U CRACKERUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11015169338152379791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23519451.post-89377307506548381282011-04-22T15:11:39.126+01:002011-04-22T15:11:39.126+01:00I'm not quite sure if I'm pleased that I o...I'm not quite sure if I'm pleased that I only wasted twenty seconds by merely skimming this article or pissed off that I'm out twenty seconds plus comment-time...Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06920964538229332567noreply@blogger.com