tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post110868896017524470..comments2024-01-13T18:57:18.243-05:00Comments on Information Processing: Summers firingSteve Hsuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1109012851249867922005-02-21T14:07:00.000-05:002005-02-21T14:07:00.000-05:00Summers is a hypocrite.
Here's what he said about...Summers is a hypocrite.<br /><br />Here's what he said about those who propose that colleges divest from their investments in Israel: that they're "anti-Semitic in effect, if not intent."<br /><br />If he wants to fling slurs like that around, he shouldn't wince when people call him a bigot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108919777970880292005-02-20T12:16:00.000-05:002005-02-20T12:16:00.000-05:00If Summers had said - we seem to see gender differ...If Summers had said - we seem to see gender differences in test scores as early as 12 years of age in males and females and a small discrepency here can lead to much larger differences later, then I would have no problem with the statement. However, what he said was - hmm, even though there is discriminatory bias, there could also be an additional factor because in 12 year olds... The messageCarson C. Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464737817585277975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108886235682761012005-02-20T02:57:00.000-05:002005-02-20T02:57:00.000-05:00I didn't mean to suggest that success in science c...I didn't mean to suggest that success in science could be reduced to a single exam score - of course factors like work ethic, creativity, dedication, etc. are not easily captured by an exam. But on the other hand we wouldn't use such exams if we didn't find them predictive in some way.<br /><br />It is clear to me that women face a lot of hurdles at all stages in their careers that men don't haveSteve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108872295176036962005-02-19T23:04:00.000-05:002005-02-19T23:04:00.000-05:00Steve,
Actually, I understand his point exactly. ...Steve,<br /><br />Actually, I understand his point exactly. We could even try to test his hypothesis by seeing whether or not male brains have more variation in some measure like synaptic density or size of prefrontal cortex, etc. I wasn't arguing the science per se.<br /><br />However, I don't think we're ready for such a study. The argument is that if there are small discrepencies in the Carson C. Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464737817585277975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108860629651001602005-02-19T19:50:00.000-05:002005-02-19T19:50:00.000-05:00This debate seems to have left the issue of Summer...This debate seems to have left the issue of Summers (who made a big mistake and may be forced out of his position) and moved on to the subject of his comments. I think he posed some interesting hypotheses, but the system (gender participation differences in science) is far too complex to be explained by simply a single parameter, intelligence. Beyond some lower threshold, it is not a good Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108845799994455442005-02-19T15:43:00.000-05:002005-02-19T15:43:00.000-05:00There is no need to be angry with Larry Summers, j...There is no need to be angry with Larry Summers, just to use the dialogue to foster institutional integration or the conditions for institutional integration.<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108845631037035462005-02-19T15:40:00.000-05:002005-02-19T15:40:00.000-05:00Steve I agree with you. Finding on ability differ...Steve I agree with you. Finding on ability differences are not inherently threatening provided institutional supports of the differences are being actively worked against.<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108840729191333292005-02-19T14:18:00.000-05:002005-02-19T14:18:00.000-05:00Carson wrote:
Who is to say how far out on the ta...Carson wrote:<br /><br /><I>Who is to say how far out on the tail you need to be to be on the faculty? What does it even mean to be out on the tail? What measure are you using? It seems to me that the only measure that is meaninful is whether or not you are successful in science and that can't rule out anything.</I>Uhh... are you saying there is NO correlation between traditional metrics (GRE or Steve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108827562888153032005-02-19T10:39:00.000-05:002005-02-19T10:39:00.000-05:00The speech was no doubt written with fine intent, ...The speech was no doubt written with fine intent, not to offend, and apologies were made, and a proper chance for more discussion and change has arisen. Then we can criticize the ideas, sharply, and expect change, but I do not find any need to set aside Larry Summers.<br /><br />For me, the most telling point is the extent to which there are women in biology. Ah, we hear, how often do I hear, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108785071053893832005-02-18T22:51:00.000-05:002005-02-18T22:51:00.000-05:00I have to agree with WJEV on this one. As a unive...I have to agree with WJEV on this one. As a university president, the message that comes across is "It's not my fault that there are huge gender disparaties in some departments because it could be due to intrinsic differences." Even if we could test and verify his hypothesis, what would it solve? Would everyone suddenly feel comfortable with the lack of women? Are we going to recruit based onCarson C. Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464737817585277975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108780668583109942005-02-18T21:37:00.000-05:002005-02-18T21:37:00.000-05:00WJEV,
I agree, lynching is a bad term to have use...WJEV,<br /><br />I agree, lynching is a bad term to have used.<br /><br />I also agree that Summers should have anticipated the PC furor his remarks elicited, and hence as a CEO should probably have not made them at all.<br /><br />The scrutiny he is under now is warranted not only because of his comments, but because he has exhibited an abrasive management style.<br /><br />But, I don't think Steve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108779670658908592005-02-18T21:21:00.000-05:002005-02-18T21:21:00.000-05:00Your “defense“ of Summers deserves a few strong cr...Your “defense“ of Summers deserves a few strong criticisms.<br /><br />“Lynching” - Summers is under attack for statements he made, but this is a far cry from lynching. Clarence Thomas certainly abused this phrase, but his mis-use or ignorance need not be propagated any further. There are many historical documents the address the practice of lynching, and here is one that I found using a quickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108772636956861672005-02-18T19:23:00.000-05:002005-02-18T19:23:00.000-05:00There is a most difficult but important article fr...There is a most difficult but important article from Malawi in the New York Times, but this tread was not the proper place for this posting. There will be a place.<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108772518393636332005-02-18T19:21:00.000-05:002005-02-18T19:21:00.000-05:00Interesting to find how Ernst Mayr would have cond...Interesting to find how Ernst Mayr would have conducted the argument.<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108772413102578062005-02-18T19:20:00.000-05:002005-02-18T19:20:00.000-05:00The speech was finely and sensitively written, and...The speech was finely and sensitively written, and might be argued with at length to much avail. There was nothing wrong with the speech; the lack of extensive friendly argument however is a loss.<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108767772166544522005-02-18T18:02:00.000-05:002005-02-18T18:02:00.000-05:00DB,
See the previous post on Summers and Asperger...DB,<br /><br />See the previous post on Summers and Asperger syndrome for more on his genealogy - dad was an econ prof, too!<br /><br />Judging by the transcript Summers was *far* from aggressive in the NBER talk, at least by physics standards :-) Things may be very different in other fields...<br /><br />BTW, for those who don't read the whole transcript, he says right at the beginning that Steve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108767058271234232005-02-18T17:50:00.000-05:002005-02-18T17:50:00.000-05:00I'm astounded and ashamed at the heat Summers is g...I'm astounded and ashamed at the heat Summers is getting for proposing a perfectly plausible statistical hypothesis (and clearly stating it as such). We MIT grads thought that's how science was done: hypothesize, test, refine. It's another example of political correctness trumping the scientific method.<br /><br />Did you know Summers is the nephew of two Nobel laureates in Economics (Paul Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108750483227190642005-02-18T13:14:00.000-05:002005-02-18T13:14:00.000-05:00Agreed 100%. I don't think he should be (or will b...Agreed 100%. I don't think he should be (or will be) fired over this.<br /><br />However, I am glad to see his feet being put under fire. I am unimpressed with his 'economic brilliance', as in this discussion or his brilliant insight about "the insufficient use of the third world's capacity to absorb pollution": I think many people (of all stripes) can entertain several such hyotheses or sources Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108712241971396702005-02-18T02:37:00.000-05:002005-02-18T02:37:00.000-05:00Anne: Blogger has been congested for a few days. S...Anne: Blogger has been congested for a few days. Seems to be better now...<br /><br />I guess since lynching implies violation of due process, it is never really justified :^)<br /><br />Probably not the best choice of words on my part, although the concept of mob justice does seem appropriate.Steve Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02428333897272913660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108711315622447532005-02-18T02:21:00.000-05:002005-02-18T02:21:00.000-05:00When exactly are lynchings justified in your opini...When exactly are lynchings justified in your opinion?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108690117283498532005-02-17T20:28:00.000-05:002005-02-17T20:28:00.000-05:00Comments are sluggish for several days, Steve. Po...Comments are sluggish for several days, Steve. Possibly here, possibly there?<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880610.post-1108690010738638872005-02-17T20:26:00.000-05:002005-02-17T20:26:00.000-05:00Agreed!
AnneAgreed!<br /><br />AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com