So Mr. Watson what do you think of Michael Jackson? (646 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.22 on 34 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by BillyGoat (View user info) at 2007-10-22 06:16:00 EDT
Coz, I think he's a borderline genius. Having come from the humblest beginnings, sharing his house with seven siblings and a father who was less than forgiving, he went on to be the definitive pop star of the 20th century. Garnered numerous awards and was adored by fans. In between being one of the weirdest, elusive people ever to grace our screens. He is still loved despite what has gone on in his personal life....
Yada, yada, yada...if you don't know the Michael Jackson story, then-you must live under a rock or are sucking on his cock... whatever.
Ok, that was an aside; the real reason I'm writing this is because of a story that has been hot over the past days. It concerns the esteemed, Professor James Watson- you know him, the guy that co-discovered the structure DNA and through his findings we've gained a greater understanding of ourselves. Make no mistake; it was an amazing feat of human curiosity/moment of clarity. Undoubtedly it's something that he'll be remembered for, for the rest of eternity. But here's the question; what led a man of such high standing to risk ridicule and alienation from the scientific community by concluding that Africans (we all know he was referring to blacks) were less intelligent than whites without producing any evidence? Was it to stimulate debate or was the remark motivated by something else? Something more selfish. This is how I see it.
Dude wakes up in his 5 star hotel in central London. He's feeling good because the spotlight will be on him this afternoon, when he launches his book at the prestigious Royal Society. Everyone will be there, hanging on his every word, keen to hear his offering. Just like those heady days in 1962 when he was handed the Nobel Prize. But this is not 1962 and he knows that the media moves fast and people do not appreciate or praise scientists as much as they did back in the day. So obviously he needs an angle to attack this shit, if wants to be on the front pages tomorrow.
I mean, it's not enough to have discovered the key to our being, to be an internationally recognized servant to science. To be someone whom lots of documentaries have been made and to have your name grace some of the most highly regarded science text these days. You need more if you are to compete.
So after breakfast, he heads into the lounge area, turns on the tv to see what his up against. He flicks to the breakfast show. Two figures appear on screen; one- a middle age lady wearing a blue dress which clings to all the right places. The look suits her and she is quite beautiful despite being slightly overweight. The second is an equally middle aged- silver haired man- not so rotund as his fellow presenter. They are the dream team, Phillip and Ferne, the British institution. Watson, being the scientist that he is ponders working out their BMI, as a mental exercise-to lubricate the gears- if you like, before the big presentation. But he decides against it, as it detracts from the main aim of the morning.
The camera pans round to reveal a swanky waif like brunette- about 22, shimmering in the bright studio lights. Constituting of 40% tits, 10% lips and the rest teeth and hair and wearing the most daring of outfits for this time of day.
On the table is a book. Its not so obvious at first what kind on book it is, but judging from how many times the presenters have referred to her, it can only be one thing; An autobiography. She is answering questions about the biography; what drove her to write it and what she is so desperate to let out at such a young age. What message she's trying to convey? Let's face it, what warrants a 22 year old to write an autobiography. Watson is thinking. Where is the story? Unless she was born deaf, played with Stevie wonder and went up Everest in her 22 years, then - by all mean she should share her story because it would be astounding. James remembers how at 22 he was cleaning windows during the summer trying to make enough money for his tuition. Why would anyone shell out £17.00 to hear about her sexual exploits, failed relationships, foray into glamour modelling and fiddling on reality television? Why?
But this is it, the world thirsts for this drivel. They can't wait for the next kiss and tell. Oh, the joy they have when they discover that this and that sports star is a failure in bed or a wife beater. How their favourite celebrity found love while high on some illegal substance...this is what drives the tabloids. So is the hunger, that a new magazine is launched each week. The titles scream at you; NOW, MORE, HEAT, OK, HELLO, all sucking you into the lives of those who wouldn't look twice at you if you ever came across them in Harvey Nichols or something of that nature.
Not that James is ever worried about appearing in these publications, but he knows that this vamp spouting her mouth will certainly generate more heat than his offering. It isn't enough for him to be a Nobel laureate, pshsss...who gives a shit. The bimbo wouldn't care that his discovery allowed the surgeon to safely inject the collagen into her lips without turning her into elephant man. That stuff doesn't matter. What matters is when she'll launch her pop career and break America with her 'amazing array of talents.'
So five minutes after tuning into 'This Morning' he switches off. He is an intelligent man and he can argue with the best of them. So he has a brain wave; why not say what has been burning in his and everyone else's mind, whether we admit it or not. A question that a normal person would think twice about asking, but not 'honest Jim.' Part of his career has been built on courting controversy. So why stop now, it's no like he's getting any younger. At best he'll get a debate going and at worst they'll shoot him down as the senile old man who has lost his bearings. He's 79, so he has nothing to lose.
And so,later that afternoon, he goes to the Royal Society and rustles a few feathers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now obviously this is not what happened but he still said what he said, so I ask, what makes someone intelligent?
Are there categories of smartness e.g. does doing well in school mean you are intelligent. How many university graduates can you truly say are intelligent? Can one be truly intelligent if they know a lot about a specialized field?
Does your level of education dictate your intelligence?
And finally does it really matter if you are black or white?
User Reviews
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-10-25 08:31:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
maybe this line "Now obviously this is not what happened," passed you by Jester. i suggest reading the whole thing next time.
Submitted by Jester_and_Traxx (user info) at 2007-10-24 19:46:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
JESTER: I got about 2 paragraphs in before I realized pretty much what your entire post would be about. Either you're patronizing us, or going very slowly for idiots. Which ever it is, you know who else did something like that, thus securing his place in the history books? Zinédine Zidane.
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-10-24 19:39:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
anyone see the michael jackson documentary:
"michael jackson: what really happened"
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2007-10-24 15:20:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i know merlina dear, I was being ironic.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-24 03:10:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
and apollo - its 'intelligence'
:P
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-24 03:09:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2007-10-23 18:00:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 11:18:57 CDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:47:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:13:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think intelligence is a mixture of knowledge, common sense and learnt experience. I also think that it is part genetic and part upbringing.
If all of these factors sit in the right place you have a good chance of being intellgent. But only a chance.
For example - due to my parents alcoholism I missed school between the ages of 9 and 14. I wasn't taught at home - I was caring for a senile grandmother. My father was very intelligent and my mother was less so. However, I read an read and read and when I came to England at fourteen I was smarter than most and achieved exceptionally high grades.
--------------------------
OH GOOD ONE C1NDY SOME CELTIC DRUIDESS OWN3ND YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
c1ndy?
I'm not c1indy.
Her breasticles are at least a size above mine.
And Goat, I agree. I just used that one as an example of genetics.
nice one merlina, you just disproved your intelligents
~~~~~~~~
aah crap, so I did.
DAMN YOU DANGER.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2007-10-23 18:00:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 11:18:57 CDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:47:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:13:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think intelligence is a mixture of knowledge, common sense and learnt experience. I also think that it is part genetic and part upbringing.
If all of these factors sit in the right place you have a good chance of being intellgent. But only a chance.
For example - due to my parents alcoholism I missed school between the ages of 9 and 14. I wasn't taught at home - I was caring for a senile grandmother. My father was very intelligent and my mother was less so. However, I read an read and read and when I came to England at fourteen I was smarter than most and achieved exceptionally high grades.
--------------------------
OH GOOD ONE C1NDY SOME CELTIC DRUIDESS OWN3ND YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
c1ndy?
I'm not c1indy.
Her breasticles are at least a size above mine.
And Goat, I agree. I just used that one as an example of genetics.
nice one merlina, you just disproved your intelligents
Submitted by shadow (user info) at 2007-10-23 17:35:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Last I heard we had deduced (by "we" I mean someone in the genetic community) that the entire human race could have been born of 32 females with the proper genome. Only 32, and we know that the heart of all civilization began in Africa. We are all African, some go back further than others.
Humans in the far northern and far southern climes have evolved slightly differently, and thus have different physical characteristics, but we're talking less than ten thousand years' evolution at best, not nearly enough to make claims about any sort of grand separation. All humans are essentially identical in terms of physiology, except where specific defects or mutations occur.
I think you could argue that culturally Europeans are more ambitious than Africans, gauged by penetration into foreign nations and industrial achievement... but we're talking culture not skin color. Having or lacking melanin should not (genetically speaking) alter your brain power, unless it could be difinitively proven that the two attributes lay on the same chromosome, which they don't.
Nevertheless, you'll find more genetic variance inside of a single "race" than between any two "races". And when you're speaking in terms of intelligence, there are plenty of smart black men and women with profitable careers, and plenty of white trash idiots.
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2007-10-23 02:32:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2007-10-22 21:41:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Now obviously this is not what happened but he still said what he said, so I ask, what makes someone intelligent?
Are there categories of smartness e.g. does doing well in school mean you are intelligent. How many university graduates can you truly say are intelligent? Can one be truly intelligent if they know a lot about a specialized field?
Does your level of education dictate your intelligence?
And finally does it really matter if you are black or white?
-----------
The ability to learn and to put acquired knowledge to use.
"Good Grades" =/= "Intelligent" necessarily, but that dosn't mean that "Good Grades" = "Stupid". Yes, but one can also memorize and recite, which is not knowledge.
Absolutely not. Mensa has a number of members who never graduated high school.
Yes. Sad but true.
Submitted by ColchesterDr (user info) at 2007-10-22 21:05:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-10-22 20:21:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
you must be watching the re-runs then
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-10-22 19:59:13 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
SORRY I ONLY WATCH THE BIG BREAKFAST
Submitted by triangle_man (user info) at 2007-10-22 16:28:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-10-22 14:59:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
SORRY I ONLY WATCH THE BIG BREAKFAST
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-10-22 12:54:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-10-22 12:54:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 12:18:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:47:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:13:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think intelligence is a mixture of knowledge, common sense and learnt experience. I also think that it is part genetic and part upbringing.
If all of these factors sit in the right place you have a good chance of being intellgent. But only a chance.
For example - due to my parents alcoholism I missed school between the ages of 9 and 14. I wasn't taught at home - I was caring for a senile grandmother. My father was very intelligent and my mother was less so. However, I read an read and read and when I came to England at fourteen I was smarter than most and achieved exceptionally high grades.
--------------------------
OH GOOD ONE C1NDY SOME CELTIC DRUIDESS OWN3ND YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
c1ndy?
I'm not c1indy.
Her breasticles are at least a size above mine.
And Goat, I agree. I just used that one as an example of genetics.
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-10-22 10:32:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i agree with Merlina. But i still think achieving high grades is not a strong enough marker. that's just short term memory in most cases. ask someone about a particular topic in an exam, a week after they have taken it and they will not be able to give you a good enough answer, yet they still manage to get the highest grade.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:13:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think intelligence is a mixture of knowledge, common sense and learnt experience. I also think that it is part genetic and part upbringing.
If all of these factors sit in the right place you have a good chance of being intellgent. But only a chance.
For example - due to my parents alcoholism I missed school between the ages of 9 and 14. I wasn't taught at home - I was caring for a senile grandmother. My father was very intelligent and my mother was less so. However, I read an read and read and when I came to England at fourteen I was smarter than most and achieved exceptionally high grades.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2007-10-22 10:03:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2007-10-22 09:47:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"I am wise because I can admit that I know nothing." - Socrates
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-10-22 09:45:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think that intelligence is measured by one's acceptance of their limitations of knowledge.
In other words: the more that we know, the more we realize that there is an infinite amount of additional knowledge that is unknown/unfathomable to our human mind.
This is the great paradox of psychology.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2007-10-22 09:18:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A very interesting post for once.
I have known several very intelligent (ie: combination of book smart intellectual and common sense street smarts) African Americans that grew up in shit in Detroit. I have also know several very stupid Anglo Americans who where brought up with everything they could have ever wanted including a stable family and pricey private education who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.
Both races have their elite and their trash when it comes to the concept of intelligence.
I have seen a rather interesting correlation between high intellect and common sense in my life. Those who seem beyond the sphere of common intelligence have been some of the most clueless when it comes to common sense or even instinctual social reaction. DOES increased logical ability some how squeeze out the ability for common sense? Does the stronger left brain activity in these individuals some how lessen the ability of their right? This is a concept formed by what I noticed as a teen, saw the results of as an adult and for the last 2 years or so become intimate with due to serious personal experience. Ease of understanding all things linear and exact does not make for a well rounded individual if they don't recognize and react to instinctual social cues that most of us respond to unconsciously. How do you teach those few with limitless intellectual potential how to exist with the rest of society in harmony instead of being considered brilliant but backwards and socially shunned by all but their kind?
That is what I have spent the better part of the last year on exclusively (hence my excessive absence from this den of inequity) and will continue to do so for as long as the sun rises and the individual in question takes a breath. I would do no less for them, but I ask myself always "Could I do more?"
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-10-22 09:18:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You know for a minute there I thought I was crazy. hehehehehehe
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2007-10-22 09:16:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I forget the guy's name, but there was a guy that studied skulls and was obsessed with white peoples' skulls (caucasian is actually a racist term that this particular man used to label people with what he thought were beautiful skulls. he used mongolian for asians and ethiopian for blacks)
Anyway, he was basically bonkers.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2007-10-22 08:34:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I am so far from educated on the topic of sciences, I don't feel qualified to even waver in on this.
But, my good sir, the HEAT you will generate from this should be astounding...
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:47:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:13:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think intelligence is a mixture of knowledge, common sense and learnt experience. I also think that it is part genetic and part upbringing.
If all of these factors sit in the right place you have a good chance of being intellgent. But only a chance.
For example - due to my parents alcoholism I missed school between the ages of 9 and 14. I wasn't taught at home - I was caring for a senile grandmother. My father was very intelligent and my mother was less so. However, I read an read and read and when I came to England at fourteen I was smarter than most and achieved exceptionally high grades.
--------------------------
OH GOOD ONE C1NDY SOME CELTIC DRUIDESS OWN3ND YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:37:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It's an abhorrent theory, but without having studied the data, I don't see how anyone can dismiss out-of-hand the potential that whites posess higher average intelligence than blacks. Even if it comes down to the sad fact that Western whites are given way more opportunity for education then those in Africa, then we're still left with a difference in 'intelligence'. I certainly believe that intelligence/I.Q. is as much nature as nurture so the possibility of racial differences remains. Science has to be governed by fact rather than political correctness.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:16:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Merlina is right. Knowing facts and figures is no use unless you understand them and apply them.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-10-22 07:13:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think intelligence is a mixture of knowledge, common sense and learnt experience. I also think that it is part genetic and part upbringing.
If all of these factors sit in the right place you have a good chance of being intellgent. But only a chance.
For example - due to my parents alcoholism I missed school between the ages of 9 and 14. I wasn't taught at home - I was caring for a senile grandmother. My father was very intelligent and my mother was less so. However, I read an read and read and when I came to England at fourteen I was smarter than most and achieved exceptionally high grades.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2007-10-22 06:59:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
earth to billy and james, come in nobel force this is a code red 24: africans aren't black you morons, they're dark-brownish. And intelligence is dictated by gender. jesus.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-10-22 06:40:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Interesting. Your posts always make me think.
I am the stereotypical 'dumb blonde' (does it matter if your hair colour is black or white).
I am educated to a high standard yet my complete lack of common sense means i am mostly regarded as stupid.
It is hard to believe, as Drogo says, that in this day and age, someone can claim a link between intelligence and skin colour.
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-10-22 06:39:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
*isn't , *just
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-10-22 06:38:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i agree Drogo, there really insn't a definitive measure of intelligence. we might look towards the IQ test, but juat like any other test, you can practice for it and improve with repetition.
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-10-22 06:27:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Interesting questions.
Personally i dont think Colour can carry and meaning towards intelligence. Here we sit in the 21st century and we are still going on about race and colour, it's rather sad really. As advanced as we are we are still purile little creatures at heart.
Also intelligence is odd and hard to measure. My sister once turned to me and said "For an intelligent bloke your really are stupid sometimes" And I agree with her, what is intelligence without common sense?