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Maybe it's not so much that I'm oversimplifying as others are over complicating the issue. It's funny you bring up dragging yourself to a library, because that

Maybe it's not so much that I'm oversimplifying as others are over complicating the issue. It's funny you bring up dragging yourself to a library, because that's exactly what I did in the early 2000s. My family did not have a computer. I'm not as unusual as you might think. My social circle is full of successful minorities, with similar stories. When we go out downtown for drinks if we talk about work we're usually talking about opportunities and things we're working on, not making excuses and blaming white men for things. That's why this stuff bewilders me. I know that certain white people being "tolerant" and "helping" us makes them feel good inside, and gives them a feeling of empowerment. That's fine. Just know that not all people of color are thrilled about it. It's condescending and counter productive. Of course there is discrimination in business, but if that's all you focus on you will fail. The rules apply to all races, nationalities, and genders: if you focus on why you can't do something, you'll fail. If you focus on why you CAN magic things happen.

gdulli 10y ago
For what it's worth, when I think of people who had to work harder than I did to get to the same place, I don't assume they're bitter and blame white men. I don't assume they need hand-holding in order to succeed and I don't think they should be given jobs they don't deserve. I've passed on women of color in job interviews before without feeling guilty. But there are people who lack the opportunity they do deserve, whether it's conscious bias or unconscious bias or just circumstances in life. We can try to do something to adjust the playing field instead of ignore that. I've worked with a lot of mediocre white dudes. There's plenty of opportunity to start displacing those types based on merit and not charity or guilt.
- dotnetisnotdead 10y ago
  Fair enough, I can respect that and it sounds like we mostly agree. I think some adjustment may be needed, but since this has become so political I fear things will be taken so far in one direction that the backlash will come back and punish us all.

gdulli 10y ago

For what it's worth, when I think of people who had to work harder than I did to get to the same place, I don't assume they're bitter and blame white men. I don't assume they need hand-holding in order to succeed and I don't think they should be given jobs they don't deserve. I've passed on women of color in job interviews before without feeling guilty. But there are people who lack the opportunity they do deserve, whether it's conscious bias or unconscious bias or just circumstances in life. We can try to do something to adjust the playing field instead of ignore that. I've worked with a lot of mediocre white dudes. There's plenty of opportunity to start displacing those types based on merit and not charity or guilt.

dotnetisnotdead 10y ago
Fair enough, I can respect that and it sounds like we mostly agree. I think some adjustment may be needed, but since this has become so political I fear things will be taken so far in one direction that the backlash will come back and punish us all.