The Corean Chronicles
Let's Try Again... or... "You" Are Not Everyone
Although there have only been a comparative handful of comments here about my earlier statements on "true believers," I've discovered that the negative comments elsewhere abound. I've been accused of being everything from a "big dope" to insensitive and not understanding just how enlightened and far-seeing and intelligent Christian, Mormon, Muslim, atheist, etc., F&SF readers are everywhere. I don't dispute their enlightenment and intelligence. I never have.
First, let's take a quick look at "everyone else." A recent article in The New Yorker noted that polls taken since 1945 consistently show that:
More than 50% of all American cannot name a single branch of our government or name their own Congressman.
More than 2/3 do not know the issue behind Roe v. Wade or the role of the FDA.
More than three quarters do not know the length of a Senate term.
More than 40% cannot name either of their senators.
In addition, a report issued by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005 noted that 69% of all college graduates lacked sufficient literacy to read and fully understand a standard newspaper editorial. Moreover, 59% of all advanced degree recipients in 2005 also lacked that ability. Obviously, this deficiency does not apply to those reading this blog, but then, and it's no secret that readers of science fiction and fantasy tend to be more intelligent than the general population. But is everyone else like F&SF readers?
Roughly 16% of all Americans have an IQ below 85, and that means close to 50 million Americans who cannot effectively read or understand the content of most science fiction and fantasy. Likewise, roughly 16% of all Americans have IQs above 115, and the majority of serious readers fall within this group. Now... if the proportion of fiction titles published in the F&SF genres compared to all fiction is roughly proportional to the reading population [and while that is an assumption, it isn't exactly unreasonable, except that it may overstate the number of readers, because I've observed that most F&SF readers are voracious in their reading] there are potentially 3-6 million "regular" F&SF readers in the USA.
So... please don't tell me that you're typical, or that "everyone else" is like you. Or that I am bigoted and close-minded because I'm suggesting that there are millions of people who don't and can't think like you do, because, like it or not, you are not like most people.
Do you think that closed-minded ideas stem from that lack of higher IQ scores?
I do . . .
I don't imagine that close-minded ideas stem from religious or political belief systems so much as they do from the general ignorance of society.
And as a random poll question thrown out to the peanut gallery--Is this ignorance the offspring of genetic fallacy or from the lack of appropriate nurturing in the home?
However, I will agree with Mr. Modesitt that people who read more tend to be more open minded due to their exposure to other peoples beliefs or philosophies.
Secondly, I think you're confusing disapproval with conception. 100 million or more Americans might disapprove of, or even find abhorrent, any religion besides a monotheistic one, or any family arrangement besides a traditional heretosexual two-parent home. But that does not mean that they cannot conceive of anything else. Intolerance does not equal lack of intelligence. Intelligence and cultural tolerance, in fact, have very little to do with each other.
Finally, I'd like to point out that Americans are among the people who buy your books. You *do* want us to buy your books, don't you? Then please, don't call us stupid. Don't tell us that we're not like most people, or that we aren't normal. I was considering picking up one of your works from the local library, to see if I like your writing style. However, your somewhat condescending attitude towards Americans (I am one) makes that less likely now.
One can charge me with a great number of sins, as one can charge anyone, but the fact still stands, that, for whatever reason, the absolute number, as well as the percentage, of readers who read science fiction and fantasy, as compared to all readers, and to the public at large, is comparatively quite small. No matter what you may claim, those who read fantasy and science fiction tend to be better educated, either formally or informally, more open-minded, and less doctrinaire. That was effectively what I was pointing out. BUT...those with these traits are a minority in any society, and yet, because I have pointed this out, you seem to feel that I am condescending to you and others. I certainly didn't intend that, but what your response and that of others reveals to men is that that some facts and statistics make at least some individuals unduly sensitive, perhaps because they have great difficulty in accepting the fact that they are not the sum of their demographic "identifiers." In addition, I might point out that, historically, Americans created in the Constitution a segregated nation, and have repeatedly in the years since elected blatantly segregationalist politicians in more than a few states, as well as voted against candidates whose "faith" did not fall within socially accepted norms. Since we do elect officials based on a majority of votes cast [at least in most cases], it is not unfair to suggest that very large numbers of Americans are less than open-minded in some form or another. One can certainly quibble over the absolute "numbers" of those with closed or biased minds, but history shows that the numbers and percentages are far from small. While you are free to read or not read any author, to suggest that you choose not to read my work because I have pointed out matters which conflict with your beliefs only reinforces the point I was trying to raise in the initial essay.
Why is it that we tend to find ourselves electing leaders which suffer from these same flaws? Likely as your experience suggests, since we tend to identify better with those that are similar, we tend to elect those that are similar. To others who may read this, please note, I did not and will not mention any specific leaders, political or otherwise...
While I tend to agree with your thoughts on IQ vs. being open minded, My experience has shown the shallow ends of the bell curve are where I find the most close minded behavior.
I truly enjoy your writings. I am very amused at how closely your books tend to describe current real world situations. The character development and situational background you provide allow one to truly look at things from many angles. I truly appreciate how well you drive a reader to identify with the character you write about, and then make them look at the other side with another book, or different character.
Your writings have shown me that you have not only common sense, but also an ability to be open minded. Where others may feel wronged by your statements here, I feel that your books are a testament to your character.
Thank you for so many great adventures and thought provoking scenarios. I look forward to many more.
-- James
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