[Andy Bennett]

There was a very interesting program last night on BBC4 entitled 'Race and Intelligence' written and produced by Rageh Omaar, (often referred to as 'The scud stud'), which is definitely worth watching.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/r...ces-last-taboo

In 2007, Nobel Prize winning US scientist James Watson was quoted referring to research suggesting that black people were less intelligent than other races. His comments caused a storm of controversy, Watson was condemned.

Although he apologised for the offence he caused, his public engagements were cancelled and he left his British speaking tour in disgrace.

Meanwhile, right wing websites hailed him as the new Galileo - a martyr to political correctness that was concealing the fact that there is indeed evidence that shows different races score differently in IQ tests. But are the tests biased? Is race really a scientific category at all?

In this documentary, part of the season Race: Science's Last Taboo, Rageh Omaar sets out to find out the truth, meeting scientists who believe the research supports the view that races can be differentiated as well as those who vehemently oppose this view. By daring to ask the difficult questions, Omaar is able to explode the myths about race and IQ and reveal what he thinks are important lessons for society.

Presumably it will be shown on BBC worldwide soon or there may be a torrent available. I wouldn't know about such things... obviously . It's also available on the 4 on demand, (4od), service atm.

The nub of the issue as far as I'm concerned is that whole 'nature-or-nurture' bit and it's that that he addresses with some very interesting facts.

For example, it turns out that about 20% of the genes in the 'so-called', (not my words I hasten to add), black community in the US are European so, logically, that should mean that those black people with a higher percentage of white European genes will be measured at a higher IQ level than other black people. In fact, if anything, the OPPOSITE is the case.

Like I say, interesting stuff.

[ViscaBarca]

hm, don't you confuse channel4 with BBC4? your link is to the channel4 website, and I watched parts of it yesterday, on channel4. and it was more on the level of a channel4 documentary then BBC4 level.

I've got to say though, didn't find it particularly interesting. I watched 1 hour, and it was, for me at least, just reprocessed old stuff, nothing new. things which I thought are bleeding obvious to anyone with half a brain by now, like the 'revelation' that the IQ test is a completely useless measure. that parents' attitude/background is very important for the development of a child, etc. all pretty obvious stuff.
it's a good film to show in a classroom, but educated adults should know all this already.

[dannytoone]

Well...there is evidence. Just not very good evidence. In fact, the evidence shows an inconceivably large misunderstanding of what intelligence is and how it is developed. That being said, I think the fact that his position is discussed is a good thing, not a bad thing.

[ViscaBarca]

Originally Posted by dannytoone

an inconceivably large misunderstanding of what intelligence is

that is the main problem

[argentine soccer fan]

Originally Posted by Andy Bennett

... so, logically, that should mean that those black people with a higher percentage of white European genes will be measured at a higher IQ level than other black people. In fact, if anything, the OPPOSITE is the case.

Really?

Go tell that to our president.

[Matt in the Hat]

If anyone has ever seen an episode of 'According to Jim' you wouldn't need this series to realize that white men are the dumbest people on the planet.

[Pathogen]

Originally Posted by Matt in the Hat

If anyone has ever seen an episode of 'According to Jim' you wouldn't need this series to realize that white men are the dumbest people on the planet.

Or shop at a Walmart.

[dna77054]

Originally Posted by Matt in the Hat

If anyone has ever seen an episode of 'According to Jim' you wouldn't need this series to realize that white men are the dumbest people on the planet.

then how do they get such incredibly hot women?

[royalstilton]

Originally Posted by Matt in the Hat

If anyone has ever seen an episode of 'According to Jim' you wouldn't need this series to realize that white men are the dumbest people on the planet.

i had no idea the show was written by women.

live and learn.

[Andy Bennett]

Originally Posted by ViscaBarca

I've got to say though, didn't find it particularly interesting. I watched 1 hour, and it was, for me at least, just reprocessed old stuff, nothing new. things which I thought are bleeding obvious to anyone with half a brain by now, like the 'revelation' that the IQ test is a completely useless measure. that parents' attitude/background is very important for the development of a child, etc. all pretty obvious stuff.
it's a good film to show in a classroom, but educated adults should know all this already.

Hmmm... I'm not sure about that VB. I think most people will think that IQ tests DO measure certain mental abilities, even if they're imperfect.

The point the program made about the way people in developed, (usually Western), societies think having altered over the past 100 years isn't something that's immediately obvious. Clearly, that being the case, if you use the same method to test people from sub-Saharan Africa you're not going to get a very reliable result.

There was also the fella that pointed out that, looking at the raw data for tests given 100 years ago, people with average IQ's then, (which would be an IQ of 100... obviously), would only be awarded between 50 and 70 now. Now, maybe we have become twice as clever as people 100 years ago but somehow I doubt it. That's not obvious, is it.

I suppose the other interesting aspect for our US friends is that, according to Rageh Omaar, IQ tests are actually quite closely related to SAT tests, used for all sorts of things in the educational field.