Are All Men Created Equal?

From the best biology we know: the acquisition of traits (phenotype) is both a product of nature (genotype) and nurture.   Is it racist to say that we should not expect a cat to do calculus?  Is it racist to say a mouse may never be able to write a book?  These are rhetorical questions, but as a bottom line I would say it is good to not expect complete uniformity of ability in all of Hashem’s created beings, which of course does not dictate license for bigotry.

G-d does not harbor excess in His creation.  When something exists, it is supposed to be that way because Hashem has ordained for it to be as such.  Thus, it is such that while I won’t deny anyone, even a different species of animal or a computer (maybe someday), proper education if aptitude is demonstrated, there does come a time when we should realize that it is cruel to hold onto expectations that the problem of dumbness be alleviated merely by endless hard work.  Rather, we should give credit and encouragement where it is due.

Should we expect a human to run as fast as a cheetah?  Should we expect humans to regularly give birth to as many offspring as mice?  Some of our greatest strengths may be in our inherent differences because created species, nations, and beings are not meant to be completely alike.

The Physics of Binge Eating

I believe that I know what binge eaters are so likely to turn to the comfort of food when they are feeling emotions.  Food adds fat to their body, such that it enables a greater amount of resistance to having an emotional meltdown.  The exact physical equation I am commenting on is Voltage equal Current times Resistance.  It is such that feeling lots of emotions increase the amount of thoughts, such people need to feel the resistance to their emotions primarily by adding fat to their diet.  That is of all properties of foods, fat is the one that is most resistant to current, meaning that as resistance works against the circuitry of emotions via providing relief.

Clearly, binge eating is not an optimal answer to controlling one’s emotions.  However, the way I see it is that it is important not to talk someone out of eating.  That is, though overeating is unhealthy, it can also be protective and necessary, such that it can help prevent an emotional breakdown.  However, I am in definite agreement that overeating is not the best way to handle emotions.

The best way is to reorient one’s thinking such that emotional responses are decreased even when the same stimulus is given.  Thus, the optimal way of combating binge eating is not encouraging people not to eat, but changing how they feel about certain things, or even avoiding problem situations that cause emotional instability.