Hard-Wired for Prejudice? Experts Examine Human Response to Outsiders

NY Times ^ | April 20, 2004 | NANCY WARTIK

[Pharmboy]

Wow, Cy, that is pretty interesting. Do you know how reliable this outfit is? Have you or someone you know gone through the process?

[prion]

While the differences among them may not be as clear as those between red and brown hair, they do exist.

Ladies and gentlemen, my point in its entirety.

[Pharmboy]

Sexual desire also has evolutionary roots. But we civilized non-sociopathic folk keep it under control. Same thing for prejudice: I am convinced it has genetic/evolutionary roots, but intellectually I have taught myself to override that and judge people as individuals.

[guitfiddlist]

"Two arms, two legs...I just can't tell those little human goobers apart."

[Pharmboy]

Well, then we agree (I think).

[cyborg]

Well I was thinking of doing it to see if it's crap or not.

[dirtboy]

Over the years I have tried to train myself to differentiate between various Asians and can now--in a reasonably reproducible manner--differentiate between Vietnamese, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese. While the differences among them may not be as clear as those between red and brown hair, they do exist.

And the Asians probably have an easier time telling each other apart than they do the various breeds of European. Likewise, I can't tell apart a Pathan from a Tajik from a Baluchi, but THEY sure as heck can.

[cyborg]

I thought it was interesting that when I went to Italy, Italians seemed to know that I was half Italian (without even aksing).

[Pharmboy]

As I remember, you have a pretty interesting and varied background. If they can tease your ancestry apart, I'll fork over my 200 bucks!

[cyborg]

LOL... if they can figure it out, then there will be one less person confused (me!).

[neverdem]

BTTT

[neverdem]

PING

[cyborg]

I'm hard wired to hate libs and commies. Wait. That's pretty redundant!