Gaming.... a "white mans" medium?

[Hobie-wan]

Are we a color blind society yet?

Well, maybe once we get to the point that we're all brown. But then people that are elitist jerks will pick up on some other trait to try and say some people are better than others like height.

[ZeroAX]

Are we a color blind society yet?

Well, maybe once we get to the point that we're all brown. But then people that are elitist jerks will pick up on some other trait to try and say some people are better than others like height.

or penis size

[AppleQueso]

Are we a color blind society yet?

Well, maybe once we get to the point that we're all brown. But then people that are elitist jerks will pick up on some other trait to try and say some people are better than others like height.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Tutsi_and_Hutu

very relevant

[CRTGAMER]

A fasinating study: Guns, Germs and Steel
1997 book/ 2005 DVD by Jared Diamond



This really blew me away. "Why does the white man have so much cargo?" A professor describes how one culture gets technology ahead of another not by intellect but just blind luck opportunity. How having the right climate for food and animals that can be domesticated can lead to not only more time for invention, but disease resistance due to being exposed to farm animals. Disease that later allowed for conquer of societies who did not have domesticated animals and technology.

The prologue to the book opens with an account of Diamond's conversation with Yali, a New Guinean politician. The conversation turned to the obvious differences in power and technology between Yali's people and the Europeans who dominated the land for 200 years, differences that neither of them considered due to any genetic superiority of Europeans. Yali asked, using the local term "cargo" for inventions and manufactured goods, "Why do white people have so much cargo, but we New Guineans have so little?"

Diamond realized the same question seemed to apply elsewhere: "People of Eurasian origin... dominate the world in wealth and power."

Diamond argues that Eurasian civilization is not so much a product of ingenuity, but of opportunity and necessity. That is, civilization is not created out of sheer will or intelligence, but is the result of a chain of developments, each made possible by certain preconditions.

This should be required reading or watching of the video documentary in all high schools.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Diamond

[J T]

Well, maybe once we get to the point that we're all brown. But then people that are elitist jerks will pick up on some other trait to try and say some people are better than others like height.

That reminds me of Jane Elliott's race demonstration that she did with her class in the 60's where she told the children that the blue eyed people were superior to the brown eyed people in the room (all of them white) and saw how the children suddenly turned on each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCjDxAwfXV0

[Hatta]

So, from which end do you crack your eggs?

[pepharytheworm]

So, from which end do you crack your eggs?

Or on which side do you butter your bread.

if you prefer the Dr. Seuss method over Swift.

[saturnfan]

A fasinating study: Guns, Germs and Steel
1997 book/ 2005 DVD by Jared Diamond



This really blew me away. "Why does the white man have so much cargo?" A professor describes how one culture gets technology ahead of another not by intellect but just blind luck opportunity. How having the right climate for food and animals that can be domesticated can lead to not only more time for invention, but disease resistance due to being exposed to farm animals. Disease that later allowed for conquer of societies who did not have domesticated animals and technology.

Diamond's book is a solid theory of how certain societies had the upper hand due to naturally occurring food sources and a favorable environment to thrive in. But there were a few holes in his theory I thought, I can't remember them of the top of my head since I read it a few years ago. I also don't think you can brush off race, ethnicity and culture has having virtually no effect or consequence on how society's develop and advance. Unique views and experiences create unique results.

In reference to Diamond's book, take China and Western Europe. By Diamond's theory, China should have been the dominate world power to conquer and colonize the earth. They were significantly ahead of the pack at one point in their history. But due to a complicated series of events relating to politics, culture and ethnicity, China was unified and had no reason to pursue technological advances in weaponry. Europe on the other hand was fragmented into several competing groups, fostering innovation in order to get the upper hand over their enemies.

I believe Diamond addresses this briefly, but I don't remember him giving it much weight to his overall theory. I suppose you recently read it, so you might be able to shed some better insight about his argument.