I meant sociobiology as a theory -- it has come under much criticism recently and, intrinsically, doesn't make sense anyway, just as any other reductionist theory of knowing. I don't mean to pick a fight at all; I just feel obliged to say that sociobiology is not a good tool by which to analyze this (or any other) value or opinion.
My only other comment on this thread will be to urge anyone who has some definite statistics on the dangers of cycling and the related value of helmets to please post sources and links. I myself will immediately start using a helmet if it can be proved (1) that cycling is statistically significantly more dangerous than other common activities and (2) helmets help reduce this statistical risk. Again, not trolling, not being snide: I really want to know. On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 2:04 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery < thill....@gmail.com> wrote: > Just so everyone is clear, I never said, or meant to suggest, directly or > indirectly, that your political leanings are inextricably tied to your > helmet attitude. The point was that there may be biological reasons why we > find agreement difficult, or impossible. In that case, convincing arguments > will generally be fruitless. > > But there is a similarity in that it is a seemingly irreconcilable issue > and each of the two opposing camps seem to not place any importance on the > argument of the other side. Most of us would like to think that we come by > our attitudes and beliefs through a process of informed logic, but that is > probably not 100% true, of course, because we tend to weigh certain "facts" > more heavily than others for various reasons. A classic nature vs nurture > puzzle. If intelligent people exposed to the same information cannot come > to an agreement, then maybe intelligence and information are not the only > determining factors. > > > > On Wednesday, October 3, 2012 12:47:09 PM UTC-5, Patrick Moore wrote: >> >> I suggest we leave sociobiology out of this discussion. >> >> On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 11:44 AM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery < >> thil...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Now, Steve, I assume you're being humorous, but I can't say for sure >>> because I've learned over the years that you and I most likely have very >>> different personalities (based only on the limiting medium of this >>> discussion forum). I bet we have different brain structure, even if similar >>> intelligence. But no, that's not what I'm saying. Perhaps some PhD student >>> will identify and analyze that correlation someday, but my PhD years are >>> well behind me! >>> >>> All I'm saying is that we seem to have two sides in this debate (as in >>> politics), and for the most part they talk past each other because, I >>> believe, our brains are wired to light up in response to different inputs. >>> It would be nice if there was an objectively "right" answer that perfectly >>> intelligent people could agree on! >>> >>> On Wednesday, October 3, 2012 11:59:58 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote: >>>> >>>> On Wed, 2012-10-03 at 09:56 -0700, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote: >>>> >>>> > Discussing this topic in a different way is a puzzle, isn't it? On my >>>> > (helmet-free) ride to work today, I thought of an article I read >>>> > several years ago, about brain scientists identifying brain structure >>>> > differences between political conservatives and political liberals. >>>> > Finally an explanation of why these two groups can't understand each >>>> > other! The difference was primarily in identification of and response >>>> > to risks. The conservatives tended to have enlarged brain sectors >>>> that >>>> > were wired to identify and rapidly respond to risks. In other words: >>>> > "there's a risk, kill it!" The liberals tended to be enlarged in the >>>> > sectors that handle analysis and nuance. In other words: "this may or >>>> > may not be a risk, study it some more!" Not sure if order of >>>> causality >>>> > has yet been established. I don't know if politics correlates to >>>> > helmet attitudes, but it seems like the same pattern exists here. On >>>> > one hand, you have the helmet proponents who relate strongly to >>>> > graphic examples of cracked skulls, and on the other hand, you have >>>> > the group (typified by GP, I'd say) who seemingly cannot relate to >>>> > graphic examples and who tend to spend lots of bandwidth picking >>>> apart >>>> > the flaws in the statistics. >>>> >>>> So you're saying the conservatives favor helmets and liberals do not? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/** >>> msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/**0L54ao9Iwg8J<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/0L54ao9Iwg8J> >>> . >>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.**com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@** >>> googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/** >>> group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en<http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en> >>> . >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> "Believe nothing until it has been officially denied." >> -- Claude Cockburn >> >> ------------------------- >> Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA >> For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW >> http://resumespecialties.com/**index.html<http://resumespecialties.com/index.html> >> ------------------------- >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/eubNqI6-a-0J. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > -- "Believe nothing until it has been officially denied." -- Claude Cockburn ------------------------- Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW http://resumespecialties.com/index.html ------------------------- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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