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Except that no one says white people that hire friends--most of which are white friends from their childhood and school background--are racially motivated and y

Except that no one says white people that hire friends--most of which are white friends from their childhood and school background--are racially motivated and yet the impact is white people hire more white people. This implicit bias might not be intended to be harmful, but it is racially informed. If we, as a society say we need to make a conscious effort to have more decision makers from a variety of backgrounds so that this human tendency to hire friends and people we know can actually result in a broader group of people being able to access opportunity. I still say allowing people to be passive aggressive and "ask the question" about whether someone is qualified because there was a effort to be inclusive is a way to undermine the credibility of the candidate and this effort doesn't seem to ever be directed at white people. You ever hear someone question another executive for hiring a college frat brother? or someone that worked at the same investment bank? Hiring preferences exist.

cmdshiftf4 6y ago
Yes - in-group bias is a real thing and is prominent across all races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities etc. But in-group bias has literally nothing to do with the conversation we're having here.
- digitaltrees 6y ago
  Yes it does. Building a board and management team that is more representative of the demographics in society is an effort to reduce the effect of in group bias. This is important because the argument that someone picked with their race in mind to achieve this goal is used to create the subtext that the person would not otherwise have been qualified and is used to undermine their legitimacy and the legitimacy of the goal to eliminate in group bias. This is a real problem because it distorts the discussion from the real argument. In reality if we want a true meritocracy, as most proponents of anti affirmative action / opponents diversity goals claim then we should want the widest funnel of candidates possible. What we actually have is a small funnel of people that, while not intentionally racist, classist or discriminatory, results in exclusion of many people. We’re all worse of for it.
  - blockmarker 6y ago
    >Yes it does. Building a board and management team that is more representative of the demographics in society is an effort to reduce the effect of in group bias. Then when will they include conservatives in the board? They are after all half the population, but there doesn't seem to be any in all of Reddit's board or company.
    - digitaltrees 6y ago
      Are you really conflating the under representation of black people in corporate boards and management with conservatives? I mean seriously, that’s not even a serious argument. Let’s go ahead and ignore the systematic and historical oppression of minorities and black people in particular, if anything conservatives have dominated business culture and are over represented in leadership positions of companies. Reddit, if anything is an outlier, not some propped up example of oppression of conservative voices. But I take your point. And I agree people should hire from across the political spectrum.
trophycase 6y ago
"Except that no one says white people that hire friends--most of which are white friends from their childhood and school background--are racially motivated and yet the impact is white people hire more white people. This implicit bias might not be intended to be harmful, but it is racially informed." Except they do. In fact, you're saying it right now.
- digitaltrees 6y ago
  And I am getting down voted more than ever before on HN. You really expect me to believe that people question white candidates credentials anywhere near is frequently as minorities? How would you propose we identify an Ivy League candidate that benefited from a legacy boost or a large donation?

cmdshiftf4 6y ago

Yes - in-group bias is a real thing and is prominent across all races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities etc. But in-group bias has literally nothing to do with the conversation we're having here.

digitaltrees 6y ago
Yes it does. Building a board and management team that is more representative of the demographics in society is an effort to reduce the effect of in group bias. This is important because the argument that someone picked with their race in mind to achieve this goal is used to create the subtext that the person would not otherwise have been qualified and is used to undermine their legitimacy and the legitimacy of the goal to eliminate in group bias. This is a real problem because it distorts the discussion from the real argument. In reality if we want a true meritocracy, as most proponents of anti affirmative action / opponents diversity goals claim then we should want the widest funnel of candidates possible. What we actually have is a small funnel of people that, while not intentionally racist, classist or discriminatory, results in exclusion of many people. We’re all worse of for it.
- blockmarker 6y ago
  >Yes it does. Building a board and management team that is more representative of the demographics in society is an effort to reduce the effect of in group bias. Then when will they include conservatives in the board? They are after all half the population, but there doesn't seem to be any in all of Reddit's board or company.
  - digitaltrees 6y ago
    Are you really conflating the under representation of black people in corporate boards and management with conservatives? I mean seriously, that’s not even a serious argument. Let’s go ahead and ignore the systematic and historical oppression of minorities and black people in particular, if anything conservatives have dominated business culture and are over represented in leadership positions of companies. Reddit, if anything is an outlier, not some propped up example of oppression of conservative voices. But I take your point. And I agree people should hire from across the political spectrum.

trophycase 6y ago

"Except that no one says white people that hire friends--most of which are white friends from their childhood and school background--are racially motivated and yet the impact is white people hire more white people. This implicit bias might not be intended to be harmful, but it is racially informed." Except they do. In fact, you're saying it right now.

digitaltrees 6y ago
And I am getting down voted more than ever before on HN. You really expect me to believe that people question white candidates credentials anywhere near is frequently as minorities? How would you propose we identify an Ivy League candidate that benefited from a legacy boost or a large donation?