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‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

theguardian.com

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Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#81

Post by whenchamenia »

eecc wrote: post #24
okasaki wrote: post #7

What a banal way to advertise your book.

There, that’s one of those “knock down” the article is about. There’s this point I heard someone made about internet toxicity: “it used to be that if you didn’t have anything positive to say you’d just shit up and move on; if anything to avoid a bitter quarrel in person. On the internet, the lack of any immediate personal consequence removed this restraint, allowing the worst thoughts to pour out, and drown whatever…

Maybe you should make an effort not to be an *ss on the internet next time as well. Wtf. This comment is more hateful and demeaning than OP. Why not set a good example instead of stooping lower.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#82

Post by macspoofing »

ulisesrmzroche wrote: post #79
macspoofing wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I am saying that the stereotype he detected really exists and somehow happily coexist with other stereotypes. Of course each of us has to deal with a plethora of cultural influences and pressures, but in this case you're just asserting things and maybe gaslighting a little. Someone shared an anecdote that counteracts your assertion and you go and post hoc fit your conclusion by claiming there are in fact other secre…

It says something about tunnel-vission and horse blinders and so on.

On my part? Yeah. Could be.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#83

Post by MaxBarraclough »

jodrellblank wrote: post #42
burfog wrote: post #10

You do have the right kind of brain for science. Even healthy brains are desired. https://braindonorproject.org/ https://www.brainsupportnetwork.org/brain-donation/ https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/br... https://hbtrc.mclean.harvard.edu/donate/ I love how the NIH explains things: "As an organ donor, you agree to give your organs to other people to help keep them alive. As a brain donor, your…

" As a brain donor, your brain will be used for research purposes only—it will not be given to another person. " How many people had to ask/worry about that for them to write it? Isaac Arthur's YouTube video on identity[1] includes a comment "if someone transplanted Bob's brain into Joe's body, we would not think of it as Joe-with-Bob's-brain, but rather Bob-with-Joe's-body". In that sense it might be impossible to g…

Right on - if your brain is placed in another body, that body becomes your body. Your brain remains 'yours' almost by definition.

> what if it was only a bit of my brain? If my motor cortex could be transplanted into a stroke victim or a Parkinson's patient, or whatever; writing that down doesn't sound objectionably or identity-breaking.

I think it does break identity, but that doesn't mean it should be discarded. Your thought-experiment strongly suggests that 'identity of mind' (at least as far as it tracks the brain) is not atomic or indivisible.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#84

Post by ulisesrmzroche »

macspoofing wrote: post #82
ulisesrmzroche wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It says something about tunnel-vission and horse blinders and so on.

On my part? Yeah. Could be.

So then? You see the mistake and keep the same view?

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#85

Post by tuesdayrain »

areoform wrote: post #54
wvh wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with you until you bring up gender. Girls also talk about how boys are idiots. Women's remarks can also bring down men or uplift them. Boys also think they're not good enough. Where I'm from (North-West Europe), I can't say there's a black and white difference between boys' and girls' behaviour or perceived academic ability. It's just that (especially young) women seem more susceptible to social pressure and…

As your comment is the strongest iteration of this line of thought (which seems to be shared by a lot of people). I'll reply to it and explain why. > I agree with you until you bring up gender. Girls also talk about how boys are idiots. Women's remarks can also bring down men or uplift them One is not like the other. Teenage female peer dynamics are heavily dominated by corumination and is directed heavily inwards. W…

I think if the gender stereotypes are as accurate as you imply they are, then the current state of women in tech is pretty much at its natural equilibrium (as in heavily male-dominated).

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#86

Post by tuesdayrain »

0815test wrote: post #32
jakubp wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point is we've identified gender is used to knock people down a lot, that this particular angle seems to have little basis in fact, and so are trying to make people aware to stop this particular angle. If we find more systematic ways in which people are getting knocked down, we should probably work on those, too.

> gender is used to knock people down a lot "Toxic masculinity" says hi. It's definitely a two-way street!

"Toxic masculinity" refers to a subset of masculinity that is harmful, e.g. saying things such as "you're not man enough to do x" to peer pressure someone. I feel like 90% of arguments surrounding that term are between people who interpret the definition differently.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#87

Post by macspoofing »

ulisesrmzroche wrote: post #84
macspoofing wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On my part? Yeah. Could be.

So then? You see the mistake and keep the same view?

It isn't really about holding or not holding any specific view. I shared my personal experience. I admit the possibility that all kinds of biases could be coloring my perspective. But it is what it is.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#88

Post by belorn »

tuesdayrain wrote: post #86
0815test wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> gender is used to knock people down a lot "Toxic masculinity" says hi. It's definitely a two-way street!

"Toxic masculinity" refers to a subset of masculinity that is harmful, e.g. saying things such as "you're not man enough to do x" to peer pressure someone. I feel like 90% of arguments surrounding that term are between people who interpret the definition differently.

It similar to when people talk about illegal immigrants. One group refers to a subset of immigrants, while the other interpret it as an attack on all immigrants and thus racism.

They are very poor words if the intention is to communicate and find agreement on each topic.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#89

Post by ergo14 »

jakubp wrote: post #74
ergo14 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also from same country, and I have seen both genders call other stupid when I was a teen. I have very rarely encountered any hostility towards women in professional environment though. I you hear that a lot in your environemnt - maybe its time to speak up against it and/or change it for something better.

Interesting. I wonder if we had different experiences, or was I blind to something done _to_ boys. Something to ponder.

Honestly, I have no idea.

Re: ‘I believed I didn't have the right kind of brain for science’

#90

Post by 0815test »

belorn wrote: post #88
tuesdayrain wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Toxic masculinity" refers to a subset of masculinity that is harmful, e.g. saying things such as "you're not man enough to do x" to peer pressure someone. I feel like 90% of arguments surrounding that term are between people who interpret the definition differently.

It similar to when people talk about illegal immigrants. One group refers to a subset of immigrants, while the other interpret it as an attack on all immigrants and thus racism. They are very poor words if the intention is to communicate and find agreement on each topic.

Ironically, the common attitude among some people is that "racism doesn't apply" to the male gender, because they're "toxic" and "hold all the power" anyway. Which sure does strike me as a fallacy of begging the question, but meh, whatever. Some people will never try to seriously change their mind; I don't view this as something that could be "fixed" in any way, and I respect free speech even when it doesn't provide me with an immediate advantage; so why should I even be expected to complain? What's there to complain about?
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