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posted by chromas on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:00PM   Printer-friendly
from the race-to-disgrace dept.

James Watson: Scientist loses titles after claims over race

Nobel Prize-winning American scientist James Watson has been stripped of his honorary titles after repeating comments about race and intelligence.

In a TV programme, the pioneer in DNA studies made a reference to a view that genes cause a difference on average between blacks and whites on IQ tests. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory said the 90-year-old scientist's remarks were "unsubstantiated and reckless". Dr Watson had made similar claims in 2007 and subsequently apologised.

He shared the Nobel in 1962 with Maurice Wilkins and Francis Crick for their 1953 discovery of the DNA's double helix structure.

Dr Watson sold his gold medal in 2014, saying he had been ostracised by the scientific community after his remarks about race. He is currently in a nursing home recovering from a car accident and is said to have "very minimal" awareness of his surroundings.

Previously: Disgraced Scientist is Selling his Nobel Prize


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:18PM (33 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:18PM (#786054) Journal

    PC police attack man in his nineties, who isn't even really aware of the world around him. Those are our brave Social Justice Warriors! But, they won't go to Saudi Arabia to demonstrate for women's rights, or gay rights, or any such thing.

    --
    ICE is having a Pretti Good season.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +4  
       Offtopic=1, Insightful=4, Touché=1, Total=6
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   5  
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:21PM (29 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:21PM (#786058)

    Runaway defends unsubstantiated racist claims that lead to eugenics and genocide, news at 11.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:29PM (9 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:29PM (#786063)

      There's nothing wrong with you that a steel pipe won't fix.

      • (Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:32PM (8 children)

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:32PM (#786066) Journal

        I'm not a real good welder, but I can weld that steel pipe in place after you slide it into his anus.

        --
        ICE is having a Pretti Good season.
        • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @11:50PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @11:50PM (#786121)

          That escalated quickly!

        • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @12:25AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @12:25AM (#786135)

          Is that how you and the boat boys managed to say it wasn't gay? Seems likely to cause serious internal burns, but hey some people are into pain.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @04:15AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @04:15AM (#786259)

          Did you just threaten to ass-rape him?

        • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday January 14 2019, @07:23AM (4 children)

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 14 2019, @07:23AM (#786334) Journal

          +Informative.
          Tells heaps about the character of Runaway.

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 14 2019, @07:41AM (3 children)

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 14 2019, @07:41AM (#786343) Journal

            LOL As sophisticated as you seem to be sometimes, I wonder if you really understand something. Ninety percent of everything you read on the on the internet is bullshit. It's up to you to figure out which is the ten percent. The post above should have been as obvious as being beaten over the head with the aforesaid steel pipe: there's not enough iron in the human body to weld a pipe to it.

            Geez, Louise, you actually have to hold some of these kid's hands!!

            Super glue, on the other hand, has some interesting possibilities in that regard.

            --
            ICE is having a Pretti Good season.
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @08:57AM (2 children)

              by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @08:57AM (#786366)

              The post above should have been as obvious as being beaten over the head with the aforesaid steel pipe: there's not enough iron in the human body to weld a pipe to it.

              Ah, I see. You feel the urge to contribute to the 90%.
              Is it because you love competitions with lots of players?

              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 15 2019, @08:11PM (1 child)

                by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 15 2019, @08:11PM (#787029)

                No, he gets paid by the post.

                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 15 2019, @09:59PM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 15 2019, @09:59PM (#787073)

                  The cheque is in the male?

    • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday January 14 2019, @12:41AM (18 children)

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday January 14 2019, @12:41AM (#786143) Journal

      He does have one point though: the ME in general and the hardline Islamic parts of it in particular are shit for womens' basic rights. I have watched slackjawed as people who deride me for not being feminist enough for one reason or another then go on to say that if someone wants to hijab it's her business and the choice empowers her.

      What. The. Actual. Fuck.

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:06AM (4 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:06AM (#786164)

        I am not certain, and I trust your reasoning in this matter over my own. Would this be a case where we are looking at a culture where first wave feminism has yet to happen in a Hegelian qualitative sense (as opposed to quantitative)?

        • (Score: 0, Troll) by NPC-131072 on Monday January 14 2019, @01:38AM (3 children)

          by NPC-131072 (7144) on Monday January 14 2019, @01:38AM (#786197) Journal

          Would this be a case where we are looking at a culture where first wave feminism has yet to happen in a Hegelian qualitative sense (as opposed to quantitative)?

          No, Islam is the most progressive religion. [quran.com] This is why we on the left welcome it in our war against the nazis. [dailycaller.com] Azuma doesn't appreciate Islam as the progressive force for change it is. [theguardian.com]

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:49AM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:49AM (#786206)

            Ah! My NPC fren! I've been meaning to ask you something! What is your opinion of Caitlin Johnstone, and what is your take on Germaine Greer's body of work?

          • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday January 15 2019, @05:32AM

            by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday January 15 2019, @05:32AM (#786795) Journal

            Again, your trolling attempts lack subtlety. These posts are the equivalent of Gilbert Gottfried when the situation calls for, say, Eddie Izzard. I appreciate the personalized attention, but the delivery is amateur and the hand is rather overplayed.

            --
            I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Monday January 14 2019, @01:13AM (2 children)

        by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Monday January 14 2019, @01:13AM (#786172) Journal

        I don't think the hijab should be banned. But we should also get rid of any remaining anti-mask laws [wikipedia.org] in this age of facial recognition (soon to be gait recognition).

        --
        [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:43AM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:43AM (#786201)

          soon to be gait recognition

          Get your strut on! [youtube.com]

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @05:13AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @05:13AM (#786279)

            I saw your link but didn't click on it cause I thought "I gotta add in that Monty Python walking skit!" and rushed to do that first.

            Then I thought I should check to see what kind of video you linked. Good stuff.

      • (Score: 2) by Arik on Monday January 14 2019, @01:18AM (2 children)

        by Arik (4543) on Monday January 14 2019, @01:18AM (#786177) Journal
        What if I wanted to wear a hijab, would that be ok with you?
        --
        If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
        • (Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:27AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:27AM (#786190)

          Only if it isn't cultural appropriation. ;-)

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:40PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:40PM (#786430)

          I like you Arik, as much as it's possible for one person to like another in a non sexual way only by reading posts written on a bulletin board style messaging system.

          Don't die.

          If you're going to do that, at least wear one of those jackets that have on the back
          'Don't shoot!
          Not a muslim!'

          Mmmmkay?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:51PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:51PM (#786433)

        According to My-Ass-min "islam is the most feminist religion".

        I suspect the lot of them are either brainwashed or subjugated.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @05:46PM (5 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @05:46PM (#786515)

        He does have one point though: the ME in general and the hardline Islamic parts of it in particular are shit for womens' basic rights. I have watched slackjawed as people who deride me for not being feminist enough for one reason or another then go on to say that if someone wants to hijab it's her business and the choice empowers her.

        What. The. Actual. Fuck.

        What if she actually wants to wear it? I know an Afghani family here in America. The women actually feel more comfortable covering their head out in public. Is that OK with you? Is there some sort of approval process that they need to go through in order to get an Azumi-approved exemption? Is there any other part of the dress code that needs your approval up front? Just asking (for my Afghani friends). I do, on the other hand, agree with you that much of the ME (and the Islamic world, in general) are shit for women's basic rights.

        • (Score: 2) by qzm on Monday January 14 2019, @07:49PM (3 children)

          by qzm (3260) on Monday January 14 2019, @07:49PM (#786594)

          I'm pretty sure there were some Blacks who felt pretty damn uncomfortable sitting in the front of a bus not so long ago also....

          However you are missing the point.

          It could well be more comfortable for a motorcyclist to wear a full face helmet when they pop in to the bank.. But that doesn't mean the bank will allow it..
          The bans are about clothing that hides ones identity.
          Not all hijabs do.. and not all are banned.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @11:16PM (2 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @11:16PM (#786695)

            However you are missing the point.

            It could well be more comfortable for a motorcyclist to wear a full face helmet when they pop in to the bank.. But that doesn't mean the bank will allow it..
            The bans are about clothing that hides ones identity.
            Not all hijabs do.. and not all are banned.

            No, I think I get the point. Perhaps you should go back and read what Azumi Hazuki actually wrote. Azumi apparently takes issue with Muslim women wearing a hijab, regardless of whatever reasons they may have. I, on the other hand, think that people should be allowed to wear whatever they feel comfortable wearing, even if I don't agree with their reasons. We don't have a dress code in the West. I also think black people should be allowed to sit wherever they want on the bus, regardless of what I might think about it. Why the hell are you liberal types so damn controlling anyway? And I think you need to learn some Islamic terminology. A hijab covers the hair. A niqab covers the whole head, including the face. Just so you know.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 15 2019, @02:21AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 15 2019, @02:21AM (#786747)

              We'll discuss it after they stop forcing prepubescent girls to wear a piece of cloth on their head to honor a god their parents claim to believe in

            • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday January 15 2019, @06:15AM

              by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday January 15 2019, @06:15AM (#786814) Journal

              "Azuma," for the love of little green onions. It's like the most common surname after Tanaka and works as a given name too. It's like Johnson or Smith. Everyone in Japan knows or is an Azuma, including some pets, proportionally more so the closer to Tokyo your family is from IIRC. It's even written with the ideograph for "east."

              --
              I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday January 15 2019, @05:38AM

          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday January 15 2019, @05:38AM (#786798) Journal

          My general feeling is "if they want to that's up to them," but there is some worry over *why* they want to. And it's a bit bizarre to call that feminism or empowerment given the roots of the hijab and its horrible cousin the niqab. The overarching theme is exactly the same as "if you would only dress more modestly you wouldn't have been raped," which is insulting as hell to women *and* men if you ask me; to women because it reduces us to, bluntly, a warm hole for the taking, and to men because it reduces them to the level of the beasts of the field.

          --
          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
  • (Score: 2) by RandomFactor on Monday January 14 2019, @12:30AM (1 child)

    by RandomFactor (3682) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 14 2019, @12:30AM (#786139) Journal

    Protesting in Middle Eastern countries without superior firepower conspicuously visible is contraindicated. It is a harsh reality that activists and activism are most needed where risk is highest, and against those governments and groups that respond the most mercilessly to criticism.
     
    Those people are worthy of respect who apply their efforts outside of the tolerant western countries, even the slightest progress on human rights in some of these places can benefit millions (e.g. Lu Guang, detained and presumably RIP or in a 'reeducation' camp as of November 2018 [soylentnews.org])

    --
    В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 16 2019, @09:48AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 16 2019, @09:48AM (#787315)

      If everyone else puts down their weapons in the middle east there will be peace.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @09:11AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @09:11AM (#786376)

    Buzzz my man, why are you advocating suicide?