From: wung@eecom.gatech.edu (Peter Wung)
Subject: Re: Is it in the Genes?
Reply-To: wung@eecom.gatech.edu
Organization: School of EE, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 17:34:42 GMT

In article 15431@seas.gwu.edu, claypool@seas.gwu.edu (Hyok H. Lee) writes:
>|Lately, I have been thinking more and more about differences between the
>|races.  Do Asian-Americans do well academically because they are born
>|that way or because they're more motivated?  Is it just a coincidence that
>|more blacks are in the NBA than whites?
>|

It might have something to do with the fact that the african-american population
sees athletics as a means to an end, i.e. playing ball is a way to escape 
poverty.  I think you are missing the point with the number of blacks in the athletic
arena, I believe that there are more afriacan american athletes because they work hard at achieving their athletic potential because they can see tangible proof that this is A way getting out.  Unfortunately, they can not see that hard work can pay off 
in the business world because there is a dire lack of role models in that area for african americans.

>|I read an article in "Runners World" magazine that reported that  
>|statistically, blacks (of western African origins) tend to have higher
>|percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers than whites.  Also, proportionally,
>|blacks tended to have larger thighs, smaller calves and smaller trunks--
>|all adding up to increased efficiency in running.  
>|
Does this advantage mean that these runners do not have to train at all?  Are they so
gifted naturally that they do not have to work toward honing their skills.  Does
it also mean that non-african runners should just quit training and leave the races for them to run?  I don't think so.  If these "genetic" evidences are so convincing,
why hasn't the governing boards of track established a handicapping system to 
even out the competition?  


>|Now if we apply the same logic to intelligence, could it be possible that
>|a certain racial group could tend to be more intelligent?  It would seem
>|really unfair if the blacks as a race were just as smart as us, would it
>|not?  Think about it.  They're superior to us physically and they are just
>|as smart.  It all has to even out somehow.
>|
You are assuming that ALL africans possess the same types of advantage over 
ALL non-africans.  I can find slow fat africans and I can find quick, athletic
whites, what does any of this prove?

>|I see intelligence as something physical.  If you perform a lobotomy on
>|someone, then that person is going to lose some cognitive function.  
>|Therefore I ask: if one race is taller than another, why can't one race be
>|more intelligent than another?  And by intelligence, I'm strictly speaking
>|of academics.  I'm not taking into account creativity, determination, or
>|other factor that cannot readily be measured.
>|

You are talking about AVERAGE intelligence of a group of people versus another.
That is a very large and complex can of worms that is best left unopened until 
there is a verifiable and comprehensive test for intelligence.  I don't believe
that such a test is possible because of the number of variables involved.  IQ
tests can be made flawed and/or biased, physiological testing of intelligence
is very flawed and inconclusive.  Physical performance tests are less subject to
biasing, but as anyone who has had any kind of competitive experience can tell
you, any one person or team can excel over more gifted competition at any time. 

>|This new line of thinking that I'm dabbling in goes completely contrary
>|to what I have believed in and have lived my life by.  Don't get me wrong,
>|I still firmly believe in equal rights of ALL humans.  
>|
>|Ignore your natural tendency to discount this question, even though it has
>|been drilled into your head by the "system" and the media that all humans
>|are the same.  Dig deep and give me your brutally honest response.
>|
>|Hyok Lee
>|

I believe that to indulge yourself in this type of thinking is to re-enforce 
certain traditional beliefs which seeks to rationalize certain inadequacies one
may feel about one's make up.  To indulge in this thinking is counter productive, 
I belive that initiative and drive is far more important.  I have known really gifted people who never applied themselves, and then I have met relatively ungifted
people who have excelled.  Giftedness really does not mean much. 

---
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*Peter Wung			Email:wung@ee.gatech.edu	   * 
*Electric Power Laboratory	Snail mail: 33787 Ga. Tech Station * 
*School of Electrical Engineering	    Atlanta, GA 30332      *
*Georgia Institute of Technology			    	   *
*Atlanta, Georgia						   *
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*  	Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad for a short, fat guy. 	   *
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