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Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by x3tm on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @11:21AM (#19036364)
Strange article. Why give Watson, who most people forgot about anyway, publicity in this way? Seems to me that this kind of articles fuels racism by introducing bigots to a great bigot they can look up to, more than it actually fights racism. The fact that it mixes emotions, ideology, and science in the same pot is also problematic.

Then comes the "Black scientists are" part. This is a ridiculous and dangerous construction. Again it fuels racism more than it fights it. What's special about black scientists? Nothing. If we don't see race. A better phrasing is to express culture/feeling/history "Black people are"

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by beat on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @11:38AM (#19036563)
"I don't see race" is a luxury for those who aren't seen by their race.

Two days ago, a well-known black actor was attacked in Chicago. His attackers put a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him, while shouting racist and homophobic slurs. Do you think he gets to "not see race"?

What's special about black scientists? It's in the article. Until recently, they didn't exist, by and large. They weren't granted the opportunity, talent be damned. So there's a relevance to their experience, whether it makes you feel good or not.

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by x3tm on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @11:44AM (#19036645)
My comment was that I dont see race _when it comes to science_. Science is not influenced by race. Race is not relevant for scientific discussions.

I was criticizing the fact that the mixing between race and science is bad at best. Wherever it comes from.

Im certainly not denying the existence of racism, and I also don't need anecdotes to know that.

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by beat on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @11:56AM (#19036814)
Ok. I brought it up because "I don't see race" is a popular rebuttal to any attempt to discuss racism - as if sticking our heads in the sand will protect us from predators. I'm sure you've seen this, too. So when I see it, there's some reflex involved.

Science itself is, of course, not influenced by the race of the scientist. However, racism has been rationalized by "science" for centuries, which is what Watson was doing. That's what the article is about. I kind of wish the author had reached back to debunked nonsense like phrenology to show the history of how "scientific racism" works, but it is what it is.

I thought the author's point that using exceptionalism to reinforce "scientific racism" was really interesting and important. I think there's a lot of valuable ground to discover if we analyze racism itself through the lens of science, to figure out why so many people will make irrational excuses to justify a morally repugnant belief system.

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by x3tm on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @12:11PM (#19036962)
>Ok. I brought it up because "I don't see race" is a popular rebuttal to any attempt to discuss racism

Yes, I got the good intention behind your message. No worries.

> I think there's a lot of valuable ground to discover if we analyze racism itself through the lens of science, to figure out why so many people will make irrational excuses to justify a morally repugnant belief system.

Of course. But black scientists are not better suited to do that. Not more than Asians or Arabs for instance. That's the core of my comment. Science is just a method.

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by mondo9000 on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @02:25PM (#19038342)
That's what happened according to TMZ... I'll be surprised if 5% of the story is true.
Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by beat on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @04:06PM (#19039477)
Oh, and he wound up in the hospital with a broken rib. Maybe he broke his own rib.

Chicago PD is investigating it as a hate crime. Maybe they're in on the conspiracy.

Or maybe you're imagining a lie because you can't accept that it is true.

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by mondo9000 on Tuesday February 12, 2019 @12:24PM (#19145467)
I hope you are following this case, because I sure am

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/02/12/jussie-smollett-atta...

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by mondo9000 on Saturday February 16, 2019 @10:02PM (#19182439)
Of course it was a hoax because the story was so ridiculous on its face and now Smollett needs a defense attorney[1]. Not quite as outrageous as 2017 Jewish Community Center bomb threats [2] which were also blamed on "the rise of white nationalism in Trump's America." yet serving the same political purpose: demonizing republicans, conservatives, whites and unifying groups on the left as they feel they are under attack.

1) https://news.grabien.com/story-cnn-chicago-police-sources-sa...

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Jewish_Community_Center_b...

Re:James Watson and the Insidiousness of Scientific Racism by mondo9000 on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @05:54PM (#19040483)
I'm happy they are investigating it, and I look forward to their report.