Originally Posted by
Aries144
It is possible to speak the truth without hatred or ill intent. The idea that IQ doesn't matter or that it isn't primarily genetic is a poisonous one. It provides the foundation for real racial hatred and is a fundamental block in the foundation of the manipulative strawman construct of "white supremacy."
I grew up and spent 30 years in the living hell that accompanies poor white southerners. They have the same issues and stereotypes as other low IQ groups, and for the same reasons. I lived with frequent violence, theft, and rampant sexual recklessness, to include the violent sort. They aren't poor because they are in any way disadvantaged. They broadly have access to and take advantage of assistance programs, helpful caring teachers, small classroom sizes, and nutritious food. A few of them even have access to large amounts of monetary assistance from wealthy in-laws. They haven't ever really been anything you could call "oppressed." Avoided, yes, self segregating, yes, oppressed, no. Yet they still have problems with high rates of the aforementioned, generation after generation with no end in sight. They are poor because they have low IQs and so consistently make bad choices and are unable to function in any but the most basic jobs, and often not even there. They suffer higher rates of crime because men with low IQ and ability, accompanying poor impulse control, but high ambition find themselves unable to be competitive in a manner equal with their ambition in the social pyramid, so they create a parallel criminal hierarchy and enjoy short-term, high risk, success there.
Despite years spent and hundreds of attempts to compile such, there is no credible data indicating that IQ is based solely, or even largely, on nutrition and education. All credible research on the issue indicates that IQ is anywhere from 40-75% genetic. There are indications that childhood malnutrition can make base IQ worse, but only by about one standard deviation, which isn't enough to account for differences between distinct genetic groups. There's also absolutely no known way to raise the base IQ of individuals from 'lower IQ' populations.
Making up stories to tell the less fortunate out of one's own guilt only leads to resentment and makes them vulnerable to concluding that their lack of equal status is somehow due to some sort of oppression. This does not help them in any way, but it certainly does provide a powerful way to manipulate them for anyone clever, ambitious, and dishonest enough to make himself their champion.
It is entirely possible to humbly acknowledge that we are all victims of circumstance and genetics. I think the real issue is that, to the successful, ambitious, and powerful, it reduces the importance of their achievements if they are forced to acknowledge that their success is not solely from their own motivated hard work, but largely a lot of genetic luck. It adds tones of responsibility that I think many would prefer to avoid.
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