Funny/WTF Articles

[WiseGuy]

That's awesome.

[ugly]

Waiting for pprt to respond.

That reminds me, I think I read somewhere, most likely some conspiracy theory website, that Japanese people are less aggressive because there are greater amounts of some element (lithium maybe) in their water supply, so the government wants to do it over here too.

[Passport]

Cochran and Harpending have worked out that Northeast Asians have significantly bred out many aggression genes, which mkes them generally docile unless they get worked up into a frenzy, in which case they go berzerk. This, along with an enviable IQ distribution, makes Asians a wonderful, ideally placate middle class.

The downside is that they are not particularly adept risk-takers, innovators or inventors.

[Derfel]

The downside is that they are not particularly adept risk-takers, innovators or inventors.

[Xzinum]

innovators or inventors.

In the engineering field, that is quite true. Japanese engineers are experts at perfecting existing technologies, they perfected the manufacturing electronics and cars, for example. The Germans are the innovators.

IBEngineerHere!

[WiseGuy]

Breeding out aggression reminds me back to the silver fox experiment you linked earlier. Didn't it suggest that the docile genes were closely related to childish features and lower maturity? Or something like this? I wonder if there's a link there to Japanese television programming.

[Passport]

Very true. Sony's present-day standing was built from the astute acquisition and licensing of American patents, notably transistors.

[edited for wiseguy's observation]

That's actually a good point and could explain a lot of Asian behaviour. I've never made the link between the engineering process behind the Russian fox experiment and Asian infantilism.. good connection you bring up there.

As noted by the Russian geneticists, accruing certain genes tends to have noticeable impacts elsewhere. The eugenic process that encourages intelligence in Ashkenazi Jews for instance has produced some of the greatest minds in history yet beleaguered their race with many genetic diseases.

[Derfel]

Having "bred out" aggressive genes doesn't totally explain their history of invading Korea, China, Indonesia, etc... but sure, I guess they were a gentle people when I visited? Mind you, their game shows...

[cujo]

The downside is that they are not particularly adept risk-takers, innovators or inventors.

Reminds me of their rankings in the Hofstede Cultural Dimensions

re: Derfel - he said many aggression genes, not all.

[Passport]

I think there was mention of those metrics in Hart's Understanding Human History. From what I recall, Asians tend to score low on individualism and high on collectivism. This could explain why many Asians demonstrate remarkable restraint towards aggressive outburst in their daily dealings but yet can muster intense protective emotions for home and nation.

This collectivism demystifies how the (Chinese) diaspora has remained so distinct throughout S-E Asia.