tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post5982602695138252745..comments2024-03-28T17:44:11.289+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: Could worldwide declines in intelligence explain increased short-termism (such as extreme economic expropriation and ethnic cleansing)Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-58727903487534590932013-09-30T18:11:45.386+01:002013-09-30T18:11:45.386+01:00@J- It was a typo - thanks for pointing it out. Fi...@J- It was a typo - thanks for pointing it out. Fixed. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-3354203541815000432013-09-30T17:17:39.624+01:002013-09-30T17:17:39.624+01:00I'm sorry for asking:
What does it mean: repr...I'm sorry for asking:<br /><br />What does it mean: reproductive success is inversely Correlated with fertility?<br /><br />If you are so kind as to explain it to me.Jovenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-59676627922439641172013-09-29T06:14:35.914+01:002013-09-29T06:14:35.914+01:00Comment from Titus Didius Tacitus
"One exam...Comment from Titus Didius Tacitus <br /><br />"One example of the sort of thing that clever, respectable people worry about: The Future Of Democracy.<br /><br />...<br /><br />"What does genetically driven accelerating short-termism mean for The Future Of Democracy? That's it, in essence.<br /><br />"It doesn't matter what precedents we set now for The Future Of Democracy. None of that 1950s "civic religion" lawyer talk is going to mean a thing.<br /><br />"It's the same for all sorts of other issues that super-genius windbags like to talk about.<br /><br />"People who give away the vital interests of their tribes in return for setting precedents in respect of abstract principles that nobody in future will care about or even understand are the most foolish people of all."<br /><br />Hence: simplify your thinking before the rush. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-69543371680731755522013-09-27T20:43:58.114+01:002013-09-27T20:43:58.114+01:00@dearieme - Sounds a bit like Jonathan Swift's...@dearieme - Sounds a bit like Jonathan Swift's Modest Proposal...Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-55681041828214642502013-09-27T19:34:03.653+01:002013-09-27T19:34:03.653+01:00I think it's obvious that the recent troubles ...I think it's obvious that the recent troubles in Egypt and the rest of the region reflect this king of development. There isn't much anyone can do to help. Matias F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12018666354109074544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-79001258795257389532013-09-27T18:23:47.259+01:002013-09-27T18:23:47.259+01:00"because nothing much can be done about it&qu..."because nothing much can be done about it". Eat the stupid?deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-39077717149728142322013-09-27T17:34:47.825+01:002013-09-27T17:34:47.825+01:00Recommendation one: oppose the importation of larg...Recommendation one: oppose the importation of large numbers of people who are of a different race / culture / religion to you, because when they have the numbers to, they won't just exploit you, they'll kill you.<br /><br />Recommendation two: simplify your thinking before the rush.<br /><br />Recommendation three: don't worry about almost anything. Especially not things that clever, respectable people say you should worry about.Titus Didius Tacitusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-89043978987810173002013-09-27T15:51:30.106+01:002013-09-27T15:51:30.106+01:00@M - The point about lower intelligence is that yo...@M - The point about lower intelligence is that you would get more shorter-termism whether it was rational or not - often it would not be rational but you'd get it anyway. <br /><br />@NF - I can't see how any of this would shorten your reaction times, unless you were too ill to do the test. It's just a light coming on and pressing a button. <br /><br />I don't know about the stressors of modern life - they are different from those of the past, but not necessarily worse. Earlier generations were stressed by wars, more bereavement, lack of food, persistent cold and wet, work outdoors in all weathers and in very dangerous factories and sites, more frequent and long lasting serious illnesses, very long hours of (often) back breaking labour etc.Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-87878129509693923742013-09-27T14:48:18.516+01:002013-09-27T14:48:18.516+01:00It is probably a stretch to imply that short-termi...It is probably a stretch to imply that short-termism has a direct tie to intelligence. It may be one of several factors, (including functional intelligence which decreases due to multi-tasking and sleep deprivation amongst other things.) <br /><br />I notice that my attention span and comprehension have decreased due to chronic sleep deprivation which seems to be increasingly becoming the norm today. I design systems at day, and stay connected to forums like these that stimulate my mind, while trying to read enough to stay current--it all shortens my attention span and puts priority on the immediate over the long term. And yes, my reaction times are slower as a result. Cortisol levels are no doubt higher, tachycardia events happen, and my 5.5 hours of sleep at night get interrupted by acid reflux. <br /><br />So, are reaction times increased, and is the ability to stay focused decreased, and does this favour immediate gratification over delay?<br /><br />Yes, yes, and yes.<br /><br />I don't think that the genetic basis of intelligence has changed appreciably, (though the propensity for high IQ people to have fewer or no children could certainly have an effect over time), but without a doubt stressors of the modern life have an influence, and these may also include problems pertaining to the problems of people having children later in life when the "best before date" has passed for eggs and sperm.Nicholas Fulfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-17138331032103936852013-09-27T14:29:02.317+01:002013-09-27T14:29:02.317+01:00Increased short-termism is probably a factor in su...Increased short-termism is probably a factor in support for policies such as ongoing budget deficits, fiscal stimulus, money printing etc., demonising 'austerity' etc. <br /><br />And yet short-termism can be rational if people calculate that society has no long-term future. Misanthropistnoreply@blogger.com