3 ms·

Would you say that the experience of the average cis gender white man is as unique as that of the average cis gender black woman? Or that the average cis gende

Would you say that the experience of the average cis gender white man is as unique as that of the average cis gender black woman? Or that the average cis gender white man would have the experiences required to have the perspective of the average cis gender black woman?

ironmagma 6y ago
No one has the experiences required to have the perspective of another person; that would require having lived two lives. Everyone has exactly one perspective, and because no one lives the exact same life, that perspective is unique. There’s some kind of belief going around that there are some kinds of people who understand some things in a way no one else can understand. This is tantamount to the “God works in mysterious ways” argument - because we can’t come up with a real dimension to make a claim about, we say there is something magically unique about being poor, or being asexual, or any number of things. Sorry to say, but I don’t believe in magic. There are a few dimensions poor people are more optimized along, for example, maybe grit and resiliency, and there are rough correlations along the racial boundaries as well. But until you actually talk to a person, you’ll have no idea who they are.
- knightofmars 6y ago
  I'm extrapolating here, but effectively you're arguing that diversity initiatives don't provide any value because everyone lives a unique life?
  - ironmagma 6y ago
    That’s not something I agree with at all. What was said was > in the minority when compared against the overall make-up of the position's peers What I am saying is that a company is using skin color or sexual orientation as the basis for knowing this is doing it wrong. Yes, I believe being different from your peers makes you a better hire. But that’s what you gain from the interview, not what is gained from the observation of someone’s appearance (diversity scorecard).

ironmagma 6y ago

No one has the experiences required to have the perspective of another person; that would require having lived two lives. Everyone has exactly one perspective, and because no one lives the exact same life, that perspective is unique. There’s some kind of belief going around that there are some kinds of people who understand some things in a way no one else can understand. This is tantamount to the “God works in mysterious ways” argument - because we can’t come up with a real dimension to make a claim about, we say there is something magically unique about being poor, or being asexual, or any number of things. Sorry to say, but I don’t believe in magic. There are a few dimensions poor people are more optimized along, for example, maybe grit and resiliency, and there are rough correlations along the racial boundaries as well. But until you actually talk to a person, you’ll have no idea who they are.

knightofmars 6y ago
I'm extrapolating here, but effectively you're arguing that diversity initiatives don't provide any value because everyone lives a unique life?
- ironmagma 6y ago
  That’s not something I agree with at all. What was said was > in the minority when compared against the overall make-up of the position's peers What I am saying is that a company is using skin color or sexual orientation as the basis for knowing this is doing it wrong. Yes, I believe being different from your peers makes you a better hire. But that’s what you gain from the interview, not what is gained from the observation of someone’s appearance (diversity scorecard).