NationStates Jolt Archive

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=2288095&page=1

Research has shown that women who are infected with the parasite tend to be more warm, outgoing and attentive to others, while infected men tend to be less intelligent and probably a bit boring. But both men and women who are infected are more prone to feeling guilty and insecure.

Other researchers have linked the parasite to schizophrenia. In an adult, the symptoms are like a mild form of flu, but it can be much more serious in an infant or fetus. Oxford University researchers believe high levels of the parasite leads to hyperactivity and lower IQ in children.

Lafferty, who is a parasite ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is an expert on the role parasites play in the ecology of other animals.

Building on research by scientists in the Czech Republic, Lafferty took a long look at areas of the globe where infection levels are quite high, or quite low. In Brazil, for example, two out of three women of child-bearing age are infected, whereas in the United States the number is only one out of eight.

Lafferty argues in a research paper published Aug. 2 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology, that aggregate personality types, or what cultures tend to be like, fit neatly with the effects that the parasite causes on an individual level.

I find this interesting and compelling. Can parasites (and indeed other diseases) modify our brains, and hence our behavior, and ultimately, our cultures?

Are you willing to believe that the behavior of people in Brazil (whom the study finds have a high rate of infection from the parasite) behave the way they do because of this factor?

Or do you believe that this scientist is full of it, and no matter what our environmental pressures, we ALWAYS have the ability to choose who and how we will be?

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=2288095&page=1



I find this interesting and compelling. Can parasites (and indeed other diseases) modify our brains, and hence our behavior, and ultimately, our cultures?

Are you willing to believe that the behavior of people in Brazil (whom the study finds have a high rate of infection from the parasite) behave the way they do because of this factor?

Or do you believe that this scientist is full of it, and no matter what our environmental pressures, we ALWAYS have the ability to choose who and how we will be?

oh that s really interesting..i think that it is very possible, viral infections and such have the abbility to alter our DNA and DNA has a bit to do with your personality

oh that s really interesting..i think that it is very possible, viral infections and such have the abbility to alter our DNA and DNA has a bit to do with your personality

The thing that bothers me is that this sounds like "aliens are living in my brain and modifying my behavior".

I mean, it supposedly makes women more friendly and compliant.

Ohh. I can't wait to market this to young guys...

The thing that bothers me is that this sounds like "aliens are living in my brain and modifying my behavior".

I mean, it supposedly makes women more friendly and compliant.

Ohh. I can't wait to market this to young guys...
o gosh this made me laugh:p but you have a point it is a weird idea but even going out in the sun can tweak your DNA... but it does seem a little invasive.

give it two week once school starts and it will be all over the papers
" Teen Boy Give Girlfrind Mind altering Pariste":p :p

I KNEW cats were evil.

Brain slugs...

Of course it is possible. I'm not so certain about this specific parasite(if only for the affect it supposedly has on women) but there's been no proof to say that parasites and diseases don't affect the way we act. There has been, in fact, numerous proof in favor of that. It's not as if the human brain is some all-powerful, utterly impregnable fortress of solitude from which only the one who owns it can change. Taking such an attitude is viewing the ideal of responsibility far too severely, methinks.

Hah! Parasite. Right. It's a symbiotic relationship; They're in league with the cats in a bid for global domination! :eek:

...

*twitches. spasms* I mean... Hug your kitty. Love your kitty. They are your fluffy friends. :)

women who are infected with the parasite tend to be more warm, outgoing and attentive to others

Yes, please. When does the corporate manufacturing start?
[insert evil laughter]

I wonder why it affects males and females differently.

I wonder why it affects males and females differently.
Testosterone vs Estrogen is my guess.

Yes, please. When does the corporate manufacturing start?
[insert evil laughter]
I plan on selling "Stepford Max" pills as an "herbal remedy" for bitchy women.

If the parasites don't make you insane, the cats themselves will. The cute furry creature is just a cover.

http://home.wi.rr.com/knightofbaawa/pictures/kittyinasink.jpg

I plan on selling "Stepford Max" pills as an "herbal remedy" for bitchy women.
Stock it next to the midol.

Stock it next to the midol.
No, men will pay dearly for it.

No, men will pay dearly for it.
Especially when women figure out we're using it. Sheesh. Can't even take a joke.

This isn't so surprising. Our minds are colonies of living things; it's not too bizarre to suggest that adding things to the colony will also change the thoughts it generates.

I KNEW cats were evil.
Cats are wonderful.

Cats are wonderful.

Cats are lazy and arrogant, they also look down on the people who provide for them only to occasionly say thank you with a dead bird in your bed.

Cats are lazy and arrogant, they also look down on the people who provide for them only to occasionly say thank you with a dead bird in your bed.
If you think that then you either haven't spent much time with cats, or you've spent time poking them and getting attacked in response.

Another nail in the coffin of moral responsibility.

If you think that then you either haven't spent much time with cats, or you've spent time poking them and getting attacked in response.

I looked after 2 cats for a month and one of them would not shut up it made this continuing purring sound. I could hear outside my bedroom door at 2 in the morning, one time it actually managed to get in and jump on my face. The other generally spent the day sleeping and the nights scrapping with other cats. Neither of them attacked me though

I looked after 2 cats for a month and one of them would not shut up it made this continuing purring sound. I could hear outside my bedroom door at 2 in the morning, one time it actually managed to get in and jump on my face. The other generally spent the day sleeping and the nights scrapping with other cats. Neither of them attacked me though
Awe. They liked you. :)

Another nail in the coffin of moral responsibility.
I did it because the parasites told me to...

While I don't know enough about this specific parasite to make a judgement, it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were parasites that could modify human behaviour. I know parasites exist that can alter the behaviour of other animals. Such as forcing snails to climb to the top of a plant so they can be eaten be larger birds.

I did it because the parasites told me to...

Exactly.

Well, if the parasites are humans then they might change others' behavior.... :rolleyes:

Exactly.
So there may be a parasite that makes you post on NS General...

So there may be a parasite that makes you post on NS General...

Or it could be a natural predilection for masochism.

And those things even look like Futurama's brain slugs!!! :eek:
http://news-info.wustl.edu/images/2002/toxoplasma.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacculina

It works for crabs, I wont be suprised if theres a human 'Zombie worm' in a decade or so ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacculina

It works for crabs, I wont be suprised if theres a human 'Zombie worm' in a decade or so ;)
Wow! I'd heard about that but totally forgotten about it. [And maybe I don't even wanna know why... why... now, where was I? :p]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacculina

It works for crabs, I wont be suprised if theres a human 'Zombie worm' in a decade or so ;)
*hides in the corner, whimpering*
To the OP:
http://img126.exs.cx/img126/6956/pic00580.jpg
:p

Hmm, that's interesting and slightly scary.

Yes, I had two cats as pets recently. I wonder if there is a way to get tested for it and maybe even get a treatment if it turns out I do have it. I am slow, boring, and prone to guilt and insecurity, so who knows?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacculina

It works for crabs, I wont be suprised if theres a human 'Zombie worm' in a decade or so ;)

This is a "zombie parasite" that you get from cats.

It makes women affectionate and compliant.

Guys, buy your girlfriend a cat...

I find this interesting and compelling. Can parasites (and indeed other diseases) modify our brains, and hence our behavior, and ultimately, our cultures?

...Yes. Black plague, anybody? Heard of syphilis? What about AIDS, for crying out loud? All of these have modified our behavior and our cultures very radically.


Are you willing to believe that the behavior of people in Brazil (whom the study finds have a high rate of infection from the parasite) behave the way they do because of this factor?

It is almost 100% certain that there is absolutely nobody who's behavior can be entirely attributed to that factor.


Or do you believe that this scientist is full of it, and no matter what our environmental pressures, we ALWAYS have the ability to choose who and how we will be?
I believe, first of all, that you are mis-stating what the scientist said. They didn't say that this parasite is responsible for the entire culture. They didn't say it removed choice or individuality from the picture. They simple pointed out that if you introduce a significant behavioral change into a significant percentage of a population, then that population is probably going to show a resultant culture shift. That's kind of a no-brainer (pardon the pun), isn't it?

If 30% of Americans suddenly became twice as intelligent as they are now, that would probably cause at least a few changes, don't you think? If a huge chunk of our population got an infection that cause them all to become schizophrenic, don't you think our culture as a whole might change at least a little? This doesn't mean that the infection in question has removed individual choice or free will or anything. It doesn't even necessarily mean that the infection is the most important factor in the equation. It just means that there's a new variable you have to account for.

If 30% of Americans suddenly became twice as intelligent as they are now, that would probably cause at least a few changes, don't you think?
:eek: OMG! It could mean the end of NASCAR!!! :eek:

If 30% of Americans suddenly became twice as intelligent as they are now, that would probably cause at least a few changes, don't you think? If a huge chunk of our population got an infection that cause them all to become schizophrenic, don't you think our culture as a whole might change at least a little? This doesn't mean that the infection in question has removed individual choice or free will or anything. It doesn't even necessarily mean that the infection is the most important factor in the equation. It just means that there's a new variable you have to account for.
It means it wouldn't hurt me to buy you a set of cats.

This is a "zombie parasite" that you get from cats.

It makes women affectionate and compliant.

Guys, buy your girlfriend a cat...
The cat parasite only makes minor changes, the crab parasite actually changes the crabs entire body, and is thought to exert some control over the crabs nervous system.

Considering that there's more bacteria cells in the human body than there are human body cells, how are we to know that our thoughts are our own - and not the bacteria attempting to control us?

I don't think parasites could CONTROL our behavior, but they certainly could have an influence. I get cranky when I have a bad cold!

...Yes. Black plague, anybody? Heard of syphilis? What about AIDS, for crying out loud? All of these have modified our behavior and our cultures very radically.

Or to return to the parasites: Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia). It makes you urinate blood, and is so prevalent in certain regions that people have come to see it as a right of passage. Due to one of the symptoms being fatigue it also severly reduces the effectiveness of some countries workforces.