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> but by being a mediocre straight white male promoted and supported by other mediocre straight white males. That sounds kind of nice actually. If that was ac

> but by being a mediocre straight white male promoted and supported by other mediocre straight white males. That sounds kind of nice actually. If that was actually the case why would the mediocre straight white male feel threatened? Honestly that would be a pretty powerful safety net.

Marazan 8y ago
The thing that is threatening to them is having the concept of 'meritocracy' rumbled and exposed as an unclothed emporer for all to see.
- sheepmullet 8y ago
  Why would that threaten them?
  - lj3 8y ago
    It wouldn't. Meritocracy, on the other hand, certainly threatens the SJW crowd. Being measured by your accomplishments is terrifying to somebody who has no accomplishments and who measures their worth by their identity (race, sex, political affiliation, etc).
    - sheepmullet 8y ago
      > Meritocracy, on the other hand, certainly threatens the SJW crowd. Yes, I think that’s true - especially in tech. Look at all the amazing open source contributions from people far worse off than even the bottom quartile of Americans.
dragonwriter 8y ago
> If that was actually the case why would the mediocre straight white male feel threatened? Because revealing that gets the majority of people who aren't straight white males united in opposition against it, while the myth of meritocracy, as long as the facade holds up, gets at least some significant share of the losers to buy into the system, which reinforces it's stability to the benefit of the straight white male winners. > Honestly that would be a pretty powerful safety net. It is, as long as only the beneficiaries see it, and as long as they don't have any kind of moral compass. If everyone else sees it (including beneficiaries with a moral compass), they start lighting it on fire, which makes it less effective of a safety net.
- sheepmullet 8y ago
  > Because revealing that gets the majority of people who aren't straight white males united in opposition against it Why would that be the case? What would hold all of these very different groups together? The obvious outcome is a balkanization of the workforce (and maybe broader society). Why would that scare the mediocre people in the most powerful group?

Marazan 8y ago

The thing that is threatening to them is having the concept of 'meritocracy' rumbled and exposed as an unclothed emporer for all to see.

sheepmullet 8y ago
Why would that threaten them?
- lj3 8y ago
  It wouldn't. Meritocracy, on the other hand, certainly threatens the SJW crowd. Being measured by your accomplishments is terrifying to somebody who has no accomplishments and who measures their worth by their identity (race, sex, political affiliation, etc).
  - sheepmullet 8y ago
    > Meritocracy, on the other hand, certainly threatens the SJW crowd. Yes, I think that’s true - especially in tech. Look at all the amazing open source contributions from people far worse off than even the bottom quartile of Americans.

dragonwriter 8y ago

> If that was actually the case why would the mediocre straight white male feel threatened? Because revealing that gets the majority of people who aren't straight white males united in opposition against it, while the myth of meritocracy, as long as the facade holds up, gets at least some significant share of the losers to buy into the system, which reinforces it's stability to the benefit of the straight white male winners. > Honestly that would be a pretty powerful safety net. It is, as long as only the beneficiaries see it, and as long as they don't have any kind of moral compass. If everyone else sees it (including beneficiaries with a moral compass), they start lighting it on fire, which makes it less effective of a safety net.

sheepmullet 8y ago
> Because revealing that gets the majority of people who aren't straight white males united in opposition against it Why would that be the case? What would hold all of these very different groups together? The obvious outcome is a balkanization of the workforce (and maybe broader society). Why would that scare the mediocre people in the most powerful group?