BBC: Human Species may split in two

[Hayden]

Re: BBC: Human Species may split in two

LOL - are you sure that hasn't begun happening already?

How long it would take for the two populations to loose the capacity to cross breed, I don't know. I am not a geneticist.

It has started already.

Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of Economics expects a genetic upper class and a dim-witted underclass to emerge.

Then he goes on:

The descendants of the genetic upper class would be tall, slim, healthy, attractive, intelligent, and creative and a far cry from the "underclass" humans who would have evolved into dim-witted, ugly, squat goblin-like creatures.

Again, very good except for one thing: It has started already !!

Take a look at this picture:



Then compare the above with these following fine examples of modern day humanity:




Please tell me it hasn't already happened.
The subspecies of "dim-witted, ugly, squat goblin-like creatures" is already with us.

The world seems split into those who understand reality and deal with it in an appropriate fashion, and those who live in their Morlock-like world of fantasy, refusing to learn, to conform, or to evolve.

In fact, some of these idiots seem to be going backward. Ignoring such basic things as Grammar, Personal hygiene, and Healthy diet which are all just some of the minimum criteria for life, not added extras.


So congratulations Professor Curry. Sitting in your ivory tower pontificating on the future of humanity. Take a look outside your window and discover that your prediction of 100,000 years is a little on the long side isn't it?

I've been tripping over squat in-bred goblins for years now.
All we need to do is reclassify them as a different species to us and we've found an easy answer to the ban on fox-hunting.

Anyone for a quick round of goblin-sticking?

[hopejoy]

Re: BBC: Human Species may split in two

What are you doing to help educate and elevate humanity? Sitting in your own ivory tower, do you make the world a better place? Or are you here as judge and jury?
When you are busy pointing your finger at others there are 3 pointing back at you. Just be careful you are not guilty of that which you critique. Being short, is not an indication of intelligence.
Ethnic cleansing has been done many times and is currently going on now in parts of this earth. It's not funny. Hating people who don't conform to your standards is nothing new. It's called evil.
liz

[Hayden]

Re: BBC: Human Species may split in two

Err ?? Are you talking to me or Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of Economics?

[TitianWasp]

Re: BBC: Human Species may split in two

From a biological perspective, it's largely out of our hands. People/cultures with vastly different habits are likely to diverge (into more than just two subsets) to better accomodate their environment. Success, ultimately, will depend on two things: a) environmental superiority (intellect, health, wealth, ambition/competition) and b) reproductive superiority (who makes the most babies).

Strangely enough, in 1st world countries, the two factors seem mutually exclusive.

Without substantial altruism and philanthropy, that tends to support the theory that there will be a very large, brutal underclass, and a very minute and tenuous overclass.

Historically, instances like that have not ended well.

[CATBLUE]

Re: BBC: Human Species may split in two

Ok... Genetics is sort of a hobby for me... and Oliver Curry's theories tend to come under the "bug-a-boo" school of thought.

The thought that our current cultural situation is going to lead to two seperate species would have to be predicated on the notion that our society would remain static for at least a quarter of a million years. Chances of that happening are highly unlikely... The determining factor for any genetic trait to be the survival factor of a species under stress in not predictable. We could have another ice age.. and find that short people tend to thrive while tall light skinned, light eyed people become extinct. Intelligence had served us well so far... but what if in the future speed and strength becomes the most advantageous survival factors... It won't matter if you are an Einstein (by the way he was short) or not.

This man is showing the same narrow minded prejudices that most racists exhibit..

The truth is we can't know what the future holds for our species.. the small mammals running under the feet of the dinosaurs could never have imagined us. Just as we can't imagine our next evolutionary step. It may already be here... we're loosing our wisdom teeth and our jaw is getting smaller, perhaps that will translate to a bigger brain...?

We simply don't have enough of the facts to predict what we will become. Or if we'll dodge the extinction bullet.