So a news story has popped up today that caught my interest. I was on the BBC when I saw it first of course, then followed a link to the FOX story (the first link) so I could link that on my twitter feed and perhaps throw in a witty little slur about FOX viewers' IQ.
But something prevented me from so doing. Partly it was the phrasing; I couldn't conscionably poke at a number of people's intelligence (simply for thinking differently than myself) without some sort of facts to back it up. Enter the Google searches, where rather than finding anything conclusive or even remotely informative I was subjected to forum after forum of nitpicking, various blog entries (with varying grammatical and logical errors), and basically two ideologies pitted against each other in a semi-anonymous, all-out bickering environment.
So I scrapped the tweet and delved into the warm composty goodness of online viscera, surprised at times by thoughtful answers and helpful links but mostly disappointed (and occasionally amused) by the slew of name-calling, racial bashing, and partisan sniping from either side (though <cough> one side seemed a bit more trigger happy than the other). Which leads me to my sighing point, that really IQ is hardly a practical measure of worth in any case and that surprisingly few people could really describe what it represents, much less how that effects voting or web browser choice, or even favorite color, religion, etc.
It's another status symbol, a latter-day cootie of the global schoolyard. We may as well be reporting on average demographic thetan levels or blood type; either would make a similarly grand gesture at nothingness, sending people who deeply care about those things helter-skelter to change their browsers, clothing, soft drink, et al to the appropriate preference. Because it's an ego thing, really a matter of preying on self-identity rather than news.
So while I may truly believe the FOX news family is aimed at exploiting and largely viewed by the generally ignorant, fearful, and/or bigoted, I have no hard facts to prove it. Just gut instinct and a personal prejudice.
Showing posts with label Popular Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Popular Science. Show all posts
03 August 2011
23 April 2011
Gerrymandering, For the Brain
Akin to:
Political Satire,
Popular Science
Capitalizing on recent findings[i] that suggest a biologically political predisposition in the human brain, Pfizer has announced a new drug that could help clinch both the Senate and Presidency for the GOP in 2012. Called Conservatol®, this daily chemical supplement has been shown in clinical studies to enhance the amygdalal region of the brain. Integral to emotional learning and consolidated memory, the amygdala also contributes to a person’s sensitivity to fear behavior and personal space. To make room for the improved amygdala Conservatol® makes cutbacks in other, left-leaning parts of the brain, particularly the anterior cingulate cortex[ii]. In its enhanced state, key platform issues such as national security and lower estate taxes trump those more influenced by the ACC, such as socialism and popular science. Already Republicans are excited for this new pharmaceutical, hoping that it will usher in a new wave of support unseen since the 1994 elections.
Side effects may include: dry mouth, dizziness, intensified sense of smell, heightened furcht, inability to detect errors and general inattention, difficulty resolving stimulus conflict, bowel trauma, emotional instability, internal bleeding, and in severe cases, akinetic mutism. Use as directed.
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