Popular or Not? Your Genes May Help Decide

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They’re at it again. Yes they are… As part of the Rube Goldberg contingent from Mythinformation Central. From the people that brought you “you’re fat because of your friends” you are now presented with: “your genes influence who will become friends.”
They set up the straw man: that it is an error to suggest people are a function of a “simple model for the metabolic, neural and Internet networks, and the same model is applied to human beings -- that all parts of the network are identical and interchangeable”.
They never knock it down but extrapolate beyond the data with innuendo of their own PR.
"A second implication is that the [current] study suggests that if we really want to understand how things [?what ‘things’?] diffuse in social networks, we need to take into account people's locations in the social networks, which are due in part to their genes," Christakis pontificated while showing no data or peer-reviewed research here or elsewhere.
Please see any Baloney Detection Kit for those reading content from any media channel, including Buzz Creation or Mythinformation efforts by mainstream print media to get more subscribers and kooks to buy their fading printed words.
I am looking forward to more “sharper predictions” from the Christakis Mythinformation crew.

John Bryant of TX 11:18AM January 27, 2009

Even if you might be predisposed to shyness, you can learn how to control it, as most ppl agree to on this thread. Speaking from personal experience, it's completely worth it to face that initial fear no matter how strong. Eventually you'll see no harm is done...and even if a little harm is done (like saying the wrong thing at the wrong time), it might hurt, but eventually you learn the right mind-set that will help you get over those moments.

Malini of NY 10:27AM January 27, 2009

For people, the idea that variations in genes controlling our responses to others and interest in forming social networks is not only plausible its very likely.
1. we know there are variations in genes that control our brains and by proxy our personal responses to the world around us
2. Evolution favors genetic variations that enhance one ability to survive.
As a social creature it makes perfect sense that networking would benefit survival and therefore be a selected trait. Denying heritability has a basis in social preference because you think its foolish is hardly scientific and in all likelihood misguided.

mouse doctor of NY 10:18AM January 27, 2009

Okay as a student of psychology:
Our emotions are evolutionary traits. Genetics predict our predispositions for personality, but only about 50%. The rest of our personality comes from environment (parents, friends, society).
This article makes a lot of sense...if you have the genetic predispostion to understand big words and concepts.
Then again, if your brother married your sister and your goldfish raised you...it's not your fault you're ignorant.

kay of CA 9:49AM January 27, 2009

i think your genes dictated that you would have the illusion of free will to change yourself from a shy person into a more social one

harold me of KS 9:03AM January 27, 2009

While I do believe there are certain inherit traits that are passed on to us, those traits are not going to determine if we are shy or not...geez! I can recall very vividly being excruciatingly shy when I was very young. Then when I was about 5-6 I made a literal conscience decision to not longer be shy, and to become more extroverted.
Regardless of my own experience, it is 100% possible to alter a persons personality through conditioning; regardless of whether that conditioning occurs in a controlled or chaotic environment. The media and political establishment does this to people continually, so do our belief systems either religious or sectarian...
I'll bet that I could convince people to worship a head of lettuce by influencing them to believe that all good things come for it...make up some BS religious cult. Doing this proves that people determine who they want to believe or how they behave...assuming they are healthy whole people to begin with. This kind of crap research only attempts to remove the idea of accountability from a persons life...next thing we are going to say is that the serial killers could not help killing people because they are genetically predisposed to it...what utter nonesense!!!!

Zaff of FL 8:30AM January 27, 2009

I read Uncle Wiggly as a child, and also played the board game. Now, as an adult who has experience with illegal substance consumption, I can say without reservation that Uncle Wiggly himself provided me with the answers and allowed me to successfully pass the Maryland State Bar exam in 1969.

Zan and Janna of TN 7:29AM January 27, 2009

did they consider that identical twins look the same, and therefore probably have a lot of similar social experiences because of this?

randy woolf of NY 7:20AM January 27, 2009

The statements about existing models of social and other networks are just wrong; people don't assume that all parts are interchangeable.
Furthermore, genetics obviously can influence sociability, even through simple factors like depression and disease.

of CA 5:50AM January 27, 2009