Talk:Moron (psychology)

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In his later years, Goddard recanted all his previous writings, but they had already been translated and published, including in German. They were a heavy inspiration for the Nazis who sent people deemed "morons" to the gas chambers first

This is nonsense. There is no term "moron" in German. The Nazis called such people "Schwachsinnige".--84.57.229.233 17:00, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

The comment is sourced. Watch the documentary, which can be viewed at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5524186889927580412, and if you feel that the comment is not supported by it, then by all means delete it again. I haven't got time to watch it now. SilentC 22:12, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

OK it's a slow day at work. The comment is supported by the documentary. The relevant part can be found at 24 minutes 30 seconds:

"Although he later recanted his theories, Goddard's books were translated into German where they inspired, among others, the Nazis. Morons were some of the first Germans sent to the gas chambers."

I will edit it slightly to more accurately reflect what was said. SilentC 22:54, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

It's really nonsense, documentary or no documentary, to state that the Nazis sent 'morons' to the gas chambers because of Goddard's 'translated books'. Goddard was an early eugenics theorist; he wanted (before the 1920's) the mentally disabled in institutions, and sterilized. The Nazis perverted eugenics theories to support their ideas of removal of the unwanted. They used general, widespread ideas about eugenics, they didn't need Goddard's book. For only one book by Goddard has been translated in German, Die Familie Kallikak. See: Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue (always a useful site to check for German publications). It was an insignificant paper in 1914, reprinted in 1934. Maybe it influenced some people. You may check contemporary German books about racial theories for this. But without Goddard, the Nazis would have had exactly the same ideas. Soczyczi 12:06, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Submoron

I believe that submoron is also a technical term used to describe those below moron. Can anyone cite this? WilliamKF 19:17, 2 February 2007 (UTC)