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(BBC) Interesting Researchers discover possibility that voting Republican may be a genetically inheritable disease   (news.bbc.co.uk) divider line 124
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SushiJoe [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:08:07 AM  
maybe they should look into the fact that Old Money is a genetically inherited social disease

 
guilt by association 2008-03-28 09:22:56 AM  
Oh boy. Here comes the popcorn.

 
Donald_McRonald 2008-03-28 09:24:36 AM  
guilt by association: Here comes the popcorn.

Popcorn is coming. Open wide!

 
skunkmasher 2008-03-28 09:26:12 AM  
Here come the liberals with the "let's cure republicanism!" but as soon as someone says "let's cure homosexuality!" they'll be the first ones to burst into hyper-empathic tears.

/not interested in curing gayness. Don't care who you fark, that's your business.
//just saying is all.

 
INeedAName 2008-03-28 09:27:12 AM  
Suggested in Michael Crighton's latest book 'Next.' In the book it suggests the presence of a gene that may cause fear of change.
If that were true, then you would vote for the party that promotes little change.

 
mykie 2008-03-28 09:27:18 AM  
Bullocks!

Political orientation is a LIFESTYLE CHOICE, not by design!

 
Hobodeluxe [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:28:38 AM  
skunkmasher: Here come the liberals with the "let's cure republicanism!" but as soon as someone says "let's cure homosexuality!" they'll be the first ones to burst into hyper-empathic tears.

I see what you did there.

 
vernonFL [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:29:49 AM  
You know who else liked to do genetic experiments on twins?

 
Gosling [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:31:03 AM  
Nature or nurture! Pick a side, we're at war!

 
treecologist 2008-03-28 09:31:22 AM  
I dunno, what with all the news these days it seems to me that the desire to be a politician is a sex-linked trait.

 
Dorf11 2008-03-28 09:31:31 AM  
INeedAName: Suggested in Michael Crighton's latest book 'Next.' In the book it suggests the presence of a gene that may cause fear of change.

So it's really a "fight or flight or NEVER LEAVE THE CAVE!!!!" mechanism.

 
FarkOf40000Years 2008-03-28 09:31:37 AM  
If this is true, then I hope one day to meet my real parents.

 
HotWingConspiracy [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:32:12 AM  
That's farking stupid.

 
Hetfield 2008-03-28 09:32:15 AM  
skunkmasher: Here come the liberals with the "let's cure republicanism!" but as soon as someone says "let's cure homosexuality!" they'll be the first ones to burst into hyper-empathic tears.

Given the last couple of Republican sex scandals, I don't see much of a difference between "let's cure rebublicanism" and "let's cure homosexuality".

 
Donald_McRonald 2008-03-28 09:37:50 AM  
skunkmasher: Here come the liberals with the "let's cure republicanism!" but as soon as someone says "let's cure homosexuality!" they'll be the first ones to burst into hyper-empathic tears.

Let's cure your sandy vagina.

 
Crunch61 [recently expired TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:42:17 AM  
Well, I did originally register Republican specifically to counter my father's vote for Reagan...

 
Mnemia 2008-03-28 09:42:51 AM  
Not very surprising. Genetics helps to shape our personalities and thought patterns, most likely. So when two people with similar or identical genetics get exposed to a similar environment during childhood, it doesn't seem surprising at all that they would pick similar political views.

 
Headso 2008-03-28 09:42:54 AM  
Hetfield: Given the last couple of Republican sex scandals, I don't see much of a difference between "let's cure rebublicanism" and "let's cure homosexuality".

zing!

Donald_McRonald: Let's cure your sandy vagina.

and zinger!

 
DarnoKonrad 2008-03-28 09:45:34 AM  
These are the signs of Psychopathy. Many of these are Conservative Values -- and not incidentally a good guide to making money.



1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.

4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING -- can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.

6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT -- a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one's victims.

7. SHALLOW AFFECT -- emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.

8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY -- a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE -- an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.

11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR -- a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.

12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS -- a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.

13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS -- an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.

14. IMPULSIVITY -- the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY -- repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS -- a failure to accept responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.

17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS -- a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY -- behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE -- a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY -- a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.

 
Donald_McRonald 2008-03-28 09:46:14 AM  
INeedAName: If that were true, then you would vote for the party that promotes little change.

Midget Barack Obama is not amused.

 
USCLaw2010 2008-03-28 09:46:17 AM  
So did a Republican sneeze in Ronald Reagan's face and cause him to switch sides?

 
MugzyBrown [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:46:38 AM  
SushiJoe: maybe they should look into the fact that Old Money is a genetically inherited social disease

yeah like the kennedy's

 
SuperTramp [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:46:53 AM  
I don't know about "gentically inheritable," but voting Republican most certainly is a "disease."

 
bigmatty87 2008-03-28 09:54:15 AM  
DarnoKonrad,
These are the signs of Psychopathy. Many of these are Conservative Values -- and not incidentally a good guide to making money.

Conservative Values, huh?

That list looks to me like a case study on Bill Clinton.

Where are the conservative values in there again? Or was that line just a troll?

/oh yeah, you're an asshat

 
PlasticMoby 2008-03-28 09:54:21 AM  
DarnoKonrad: These are the signs of Psychopathy.

Oh shiat. i think i might be a psychopath.

Ehh, whatever.

 
PC LOAD LETTER [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:55:55 AM  
skunkmasher: Here come the liberals with the "let's cure republicanism!" but as soon as someone says "let's cure homosexuality!" they'll be the first ones to burst into hyper-empathic tears.

neveryetmelted.com


LIBS!!!


LIBS!!!

 
Snarfangel [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:56:02 AM  
Bah, they could change if they really wanted to. Perverts.

 
vernonFL [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:57:03 AM  
DarnoKonrad

I exhibit about 3/4 of those behaviors.

 
Saiga410 2008-03-28 09:57:19 AM  
Yes subby and in the same light voting liberal is also a genetic desease.

FTA The researchers say that how an individual reacts to social issues - whether as a radical or a conservative - is also influenced by their genes. This influence may then predispose them to vote Conservative, Labour, or Liberal Democrat.

Did anyone else RTFA?

 
Ed Willy 2008-03-28 09:58:40 AM  
If Republicanism is a disease, apparently it takes more than band aids to cure it.
static.flickr.com

 
bigmatty87 2008-03-28 09:59:18 AM  
SuperTramp,
I don't know about "gentically inheritable," but voting Republican most certainly is a "disease."

HAHAHAHA! Hilarious! Because it isn't a free exchange of ideas, it's the mentally ill versus the sane! SO FUNNY!

Hopefully someday you'll be able to get the AMA to classify the disease, then you can have all the conservatives put in mental hospitals and save the world with your perfect liberalness. I can't wait.

Who needs opposition anyway? Obviously one side is right and one side is wrong, the best answer is never a compromise of the two, not ever.

/you also, are an asshat

 
GanjSmokr 2008-03-28 09:59:34 AM  
DarnoKonrad: These are the signs of Psychopathy. Many Most if not all of these are Conservative Values traits of politicians -- and not incidentally a good guide to making money.

...


/all fixed for ya

 
Rev. Skarekroe [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 09:59:39 AM  
Saiga410: Yes subby and in the same light voting liberal is also a genetic desease.

FTA The researchers say that how an individual reacts to social issues - whether as a radical or a conservative - is also influenced by their genes. This influence may then predispose them to vote Conservative, Labour, or Liberal Democrat.

Did anyone else RTFA?


Well, that explains why I keep voting for the Labour party even though I live in the U.S.

 
Wrong_Intentions 2008-03-28 10:01:54 AM  
On the "plus" side, conservative fears of tinkering with god's perfect human genome will give way now to much more public funding for bio-tech. [I'm too lazy to Photoshop Karl Rove playing scientist.]

 
MFL 2008-03-28 10:02:02 AM  
8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY -- a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.

www.targetofopportunity.com

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.

images.google.com

 
Ed Willy 2008-03-28 10:03:44 AM  
The problem with studies like these is that they don't seems to cover independents. I have a feeling that being genetically geared toward beinga n independent would have some advantages. You're able to work better with more people in the population, build alliances, and such. There are two types of independents, of course. One is the critically thinking, skeptical type that seeks the best option, and the more common "fad independent".

The fad independent is the sort to vote for Bush despite his record because John Kerry went windsurfing and because some people wore a purple heart bandaid. These sorts are the beta members of the species, easily led astray and avoiding conflict. Not the greatest survival method, but it can work.

 
HotWingConspiracy [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 10:03:49 AM  
bigmatty87: DarnoKonrad,
These are the signs of Psychopathy. Many of these are Conservative Values -- and not incidentally a good guide to making money.

Conservative Values, huh?

That list looks to me like a case study on Bill Clinton.


We should add an odd obsession with Bill Clinton to that list.

 
bigmatty87 2008-03-28 10:04:34 AM  
FTA - The researchers say that how an individual reacts to social issues - whether as a radical or a conservative - is also influenced by their genes. This influence may then predispose them to vote Conservative, Labour, or Liberal Democrat.

I call BS on this. The only way you could study it is to use an equal number of children given up at birth by liberal and conservative parents and raised by an equal number of liberal or conservative adopters.

 
Wei Kai Xuan 2008-03-28 10:04:42 AM  
Intellectuals can discover genes, dinosaurs, etc all they want. It still won't change the fact that half of this damned society is a bunch of brainless idiots.

 
Bacontastesgood 2008-03-28 10:05:51 AM  
That republican gene must also ruin the humor part of the brain as it forms.

 
Saiga410 2008-03-28 10:06:03 AM  
Rev. Skarekroe: Saiga410: Yes subby and in the same light voting liberal is also a genetic desease.

FTA The researchers say that how an individual reacts to social issues - whether as a radical or a conservative - is also influenced by their genes. This influence may then predispose them to vote Conservative, Labour, or Liberal Democrat.

Did anyone else RTFA?

Well, that explains why I keep voting for the Labour party even though I live in the U.S.


Ok maybe the second sentence of my quote is not applicable to the US system but the first is totally applicable to my point.

 
bigmatty87 2008-03-28 10:06:39 AM  
Hot Wing Conspiracy,
We should add an odd obsession with Bill Clinton to that list.

OK, point taken, but seriously look at that list and tell me I'm wrong.

 
Onager 2008-03-28 10:08:11 AM  
Goddamn. How many times must it be said?

Genes are not blueprints. It is the exception, not the rule, when X gene gives you Y.

Even in the rare cases where X gene -> Y phenotype, it's never going to directly affect something so abstract as political party or philosophical leaning.

/bipartisan flamewar torpedo
//battleship sunk

 
HotWingConspiracy [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 10:09:37 AM  
bigmatty87: Hot Wing Conspiracy,
We should add an odd obsession with Bill Clinton to that list.

OK, point taken, but seriously look at that list and tell me I'm wrong.


Yeah, I don't think those things reflect "conservative" values.

I do think they reflect most of our ruling elite though. We've got a problem.

 
weiserfireman [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 10:10:27 AM  
It's probably BS, but think of this

Typical liberal position in this country is that we are overpopulating the world, have smaller families to save the planet.

Typical religious conservative position, that's BS, I love all of my vanload of kids and will encourage them to have big families too.

If this is true, liberals are an endangered species

/grin
//doesn't think it is true

 
GanjSmokr 2008-03-28 10:10:36 AM  
Wei Kai Xuan: Intellectuals can discover genes, dinosaurs, etc all they want. It still won't change the fact that half of this damned society is a bunch of brainless idiots.

you give the general public way WAY too much credit.

 
Smellvin 2008-03-28 10:12:37 AM  
Wei Kai Xuan: Intellectuals can discover genes, dinosaurs, etc all they want. It still won't change the fact that half of this damned society is a bunch of brainless idiots.

But in another decade or two we'll have people screaming, "It's not my fault I'm an idiot/fatty/criminal! It's just my imperfect genes!"

 
SuperTramp [TotalFark] 2008-03-28 10:13:09 AM  
bigmatty87
HAHAHAHA! Hilarious! Because it isn't a free exchange of ideas, it's the mentally ill versus the sane! SO FUNNY!

Hopefully someday you'll be able to get the AMA to classify the disease, then you can have all the conservatives put in mental hospitals and save the world with your perfect liberalness. I can't wait.

Who needs opposition anyway? Obviously one side is right and one side is wrong, the best answer is never a compromise of the two, not ever.

/you also, are an asshat


I sense quite a few components of the F scale in your response.

 
DarnoKonrad 2008-03-28 10:13:11 AM  
bigmatty87: Hot Wing Conspiracy,
We should add an odd obsession with Bill Clinton to that list.

OK, point taken, but seriously look at that list and tell me I'm wrong.


Supply Side Jesus (new window) says you're wrong.

 
MFL 2008-03-28 10:14:09 AM  
Wei Kai Xuan: Intellectuals can discover genes, dinosaurs, etc all they want. It still won't change the fact that half of this damned society is a bunch of brainless idiots.

 
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