Toxoplasmosis
What if I told you that there was a disease that turned people into anti-social, promiscuous, neurotic oblivious-to-the-dangers-of-the-world-around-them leftists?
…and if I further told you that the disease is (a) spread by cats; (b) present in almost 90% of the French?
You’d accuse me of making stuff up. Wildly implausible stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmos…
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii…
It has been found that the parasite has the ability to change the behavior of its host: infected rats and mice are less fearful of cats — in fact, some of the infected rats seek out cat-urine-marked areas. This effect is advantageous to the parasite, which will be able to sexually reproduce if its host is eaten by a cat…
The findings of behavioral alteration in rats and mice have led some scientists to speculate that toxoplasma may have similar effects in humans…
Correlations have been found between latent Toxoplasma infections and various characteristics:…
* Slower reactions * Lower rule-consciousness and jealousy (in men)
…the parasite may influence personality … toxoplasma [ causes ] antisocial … promiscuity … and greater susceptibility to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder …
The U.S. NHANES (1999-2004) national probability sample found that 10.8% of U.S. persons 6-49 years of age…
in France, for example, around 88% of the population are carriers…
It’d be interesting to see if there’s a correlation between voting for Democrats (because you’re unable to perceive the real dangers that the world holds) and toxoplasmosis.
Wouldn’t it be fascinating if much of the US’s 20th and 21st century slide into socialism isn’t due just to letting women vote, but is also due to letting cats live indoors?
January 28th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Supposedly women become “more outgoing, trusting, and self-assured” (from “Parasite Rex”, by Marlene Zuk), in contrast to men becoming less trusting… The association between infected men and traits signaling high levels of testosterone (longer ring finger compared to index finger, for example) is less clear– is infection a cause or an effect?
The schizophrenia and bipolar disorder I think is from babies born to mothers who are infected.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:28 am
letting cats live indoors?
I note that in many jurisdictions it is illegal to let your cat outside without a leash.
disease that turned people into anti-social, promiscuous, neurotic oblivious-to-the-dangers-of-the-world-around-them leftists? …and if I further told you that the disease is (a) spread by cats
So .. the weird neighbor lady with all the cats isn’t that way in spite of her herd of cats but because of them?
January 28th, 2009 at 11:53 am
” Wouldn’t it be fascinating if much of the US’s 20th and 21st century slide into socialism isn’t due just to letting women vote, ”
Tell me this is a joke.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Oh, it’s a joke. It’s not the joke you want it to be, though. ;-/
January 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
It’s not the joke you want it to be, though
(jedi_voice) This isn’t the joke you’re looking for .. (/jedi_voice)
January 28th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Heard of this. Also believe it likely that I have it. Doesn’t seem to have made me a lefty, though.
If it makes rats attracted to cats, it could have the same effect on humans — then the crazy cat lady next door is that way because of her herd of cats, but also has a herd of cats because she’s that way. Figure she started out with a cat or two, got infected, started gathering more cats, in a feedback loop of crazy.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
[quote comment="179956"]Tell me this is a joke.[/quote]
New around here, I assume?
;-)
January 29th, 2009 at 8:50 am
[quote comment="179973"]Oh, it’s a joke. It’s not the joke you want it to be, though. ;-/[/quote]
LOL! Well said!
January 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am
[quote comment="179984"] in a feedback loop of crazy.[/quote]
My new favorite phrase!
January 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am
[quote comment="180011"][quote comment="179956"]Tell me this is a joke.[/quote]
New around here, I assume?
;-)[/quote]
Another LOL!
January 29th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I’m not sure what’s funnier, Travis’ joke or the comments. :)
‘feedback loop of crazy’ is in my vocabulary now, thank you.
Though I do have to admit, I laughed at the whole ‘women voting=socialism’ bit, and then I began to think back to what I learned about the rise of labor unionism and the suffrage movement…
…huh.