Archived Is racism something encapsulated in the idea that memories are carried through DNA? (Anson)
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Archived Is racism something encapsulated in the idea that memories are carried through DNA? (Anson)
submitted ago by Anson
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[–] P8rtsUnkn0wn ago
Are you suggesting that, for example, if a white woman in the early 1900's was raped by a black man, part of her genetic code would "remember" that experience? And that any off-spring might carry a gene that could cause an emotional (maybe even physical) response at the sight of black men?
Or conversely, if several generations of blacks were enslaved & beaten by whites, that population may build a distrust of whites on a genetic level?
[–] Anson [S] ago
i'll start by saying that I don't think racism is evil or even bad. i subscribe to the pure definition in that is means someone focused on race and i only extend the definition to one having a focus on in-group preferences.
to address your response, I don't think the memories are quite that specific (maybe they could be, who knows? there's the re-incarnation thing; but that's not where i'm going right now with this). I think it would mainly influence people to favor their own people. but perhaps it could also store things like habits, especially those of great duration through generations. I guess i could extend this to obvious examples like OCD with certain things or more subtle, subconscious behaviors.
that being said, we have to understand that human behaviors have changed. generations of lumberjacks' stored memories will manifest themselves in different ways given new environments. but one factor is very constant with all races: they see their race more than others, and even anyone who's crossed bred, especially people with dominant genes, will only be slightly off from the rest of them.
just some thoughts. I'm working on this whole notion really; it's pretty nebulous right now. it was an idea that i discarded every time someone started talking about it because i didn't even see a possible connection.
[–] P8rtsUnkn0wn ago
Just so I'm clear, you're saying that, by your definition, someone practicing "racism" is simply expressing ones preference for one's own race?
I'm not talking about memories. I'm talking about experiences so tramatic (or joyful) to a human that it actually leaves a mark on there dna. It doesn't have to be "race" specific. It could be the origin for an irrational fear of spiders or why some people freak out at snakes.
This sounds more cultural than racial.
Generations of lumberjacks manifested into generations of loggers. The behavior hasn't changed, only the vocabulary.
Similarly, consider the large influx of millenial's turning to farming. Hundreds of thousands of people with no/very little experience, many leaving comfy jobs, suddenly turning toward agriculture. It's like a calling they can't really explain...almost as if their being pushed toward it on a genetic level.
What you're explaining sounds more like a genetic preference for one's own culture, not necessarily race.