New law requires IQ test and parenting licence before procreating.
Alt: thanks very much.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Wed 4 Apr 2012, 11:55, 4 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

What about stealing children by marrying older men?

(PsychoChomp, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 11:56, Reply)

If the children are older than you are
can you really be said to be 'parenting' them?
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Wed 4 Apr 2012, 11:57, Reply)

I was just being mean obviously, I don't know or care.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:00, Reply)

this is way too sensible
where's the lathery bathtime hoverboots?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 11:57, Reply)

I'm not sure about this one
What if the next Einstein happens to have thick as fuck waste of space parents.
( Peej, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:13, Reply)

that's vanishingly unlikely.
I'm prepared to take the risk.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:16, Reply)

Eugenics is kind of frowned upon, these days.

( Kroney, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:20, Reply)

On a purely theoretical level
eugenics gets a bad press.
Obviously it should never be used in the real world, but animal husbandry has shown how effective it could be. The difficulty would be, as with everything else, trusting the people who would make the decisions. Power corrupts, and all that.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:22, Reply)

History has shown than when people have tried to make other people "better"
they end up making things worse. Last guy that tried it ended up coming to a sticky end.
( Kroney, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:23, Reply)

That's what I mean.
It could never work in practice. But I do find the theory behind it fascinating.

Look at teh variety you have in dog breeds, yet a chihauha and a great dane are the same species. Imagine what someone could do with selective human breeding.
I mean, we're all programmed to a certain amount of selective breeding anyway. We're naturally attracted to people we think will further certain genetic traits.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:29, Reply)

We're nowhere near as genetically diverse as dogs.
You couldn't breed humans like that. Even in dogs it causes significant genetic problems and our pool is much, much shallower due to nearly going extinct at one point.
( Kroney, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:31, Reply)

I know. I know it couldn't possibly work.
But look at the traditional differences in isolated cultures - Asians being smaller, Scandinavians being blond and blue-eyed, etc etc...
These days we're becoming more homogeonised, but if it had gone the other way, someone could have emphasised those differences.

The danger there being you get into Hitler territory, and someone has to define racial ideals.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:35, Reply)

Those aren't really bred traits
Asians are only physically smaller due to a diet of mostly rice. Now they've started eating more meat, they're getting taller.

Regional variations in colouring aren't anywhere near that cut and dried, either. There are plenty of dark-haired people in Scandinavia. In Finland, they're the majority.

I get where you're coming from, but it's just not that simple.
( Kroney, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 13:03, Reply)

Like dog breeds
where nearly every peddigree has fundamental genetic faults. Or Thoroughbread horses that are so physically tuned they can't survive without near constant care.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:31, Reply)

I'm not sure not allowing stupids to breed is really eugenics
I mean, I can see the argument as to how it is, but really it's just common sense.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:42, Reply)

Child development studies show that it's not the IQ of the parent that is the major factor in the childs final intelligence
it's their social status and how much money they have.
Also there's a link to high powered successful parents having a negative impact after a certain level. (usually explained by a lack of time spent with the child)
If you're trying to get a smart population you should only let people with a household income of £20,000 to £150,000 have kids.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:52, Reply)

And they must live in a nice area.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 12:55, Reply)

Child development studies are almost universally total horseshit
I hope this helps.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 4 Apr 2012, 13:50, Reply)