I recently went online to check out the Canadian Blood Services. I have not given blood before and it is something that I would like to start, but I wanted more information first.
After a bit of Googling, I ended up on the actual Canadian Blood Services site, a charitable organization that is responsible for a huge amount of blood donations a year. I figured that they would have the most up-to-date scientific information and could answer my questions.
Instead, one of the first things I see is the sentence: “What does your blood type say about you?” My heart sinking, I clicked on the link, hoping that it would tell me that my blood types means that I am a human being and that I can donate my blood to others who share that specific blood type.
Nope.
Instead, it tells me that:
So, you’re an A. You already know that having type A blood suggests that you are reliable, a team player and may benefit from a vegetarian diet. Did you also know that anthropologists believe that type A blood originated in Asia or the middle east between 25,000 and 15,000 BC?
Sigh. Ok, the anthropological data is cool. I am glad that I know that now. It is indeed interesting that different blood types evolved at different times. At least they acknowledge evolution. But my blood type means that I am a team player? My blood type says that I must be reliable? My blood type indicates that I should be a vegetarian?
Why is this here? I know that the silly blood typing personality thing is a cross over from a long standing Japanese tradition. I know that it remains popular there and can even impact job opportunities and marriages. But that doesn’t make it right. My blood type merely specifies what specific antigens that I have in my body. That is all.
I know that it is not a huge deal. But silly things like this do bother me. It’s pandering to ignorance and wishful thinking and has no place within an organization devoted to science.
