3 ms·

I think specifying the race of applicants for positions is bad

by cdot2 5y ago

josteink 5y ago
One might even call it … racism?
zomglings 5y ago
First of all, they do not only whitelist/blacklist by race. They also whitelist/blacklist by other characteristics (gender, sexual preferences). It seems as if the Canada Research Chair is funded by the national government of Canada specifically to increase diversity in Canadian academia. It just so happens that UBC is hosting one position for quantum computing. Presumably there are other Canada Research Chairs available at other universities. Presumably, the government of Canada also offers funding for positions that does not discriminate based on the designations that this particular funding does discriminate on. Maybe the overall allocation of national funds to academic positions is not as biased as we may think just by looking at this job posting. All I'm saying is, if the source of the funding is the national government, then a knee-jerk reaction against UBC is irrational without because it doesn't take into account the national effects of higher education funding by the Canadian government. (Also, how is this different from any number of fellowships offered in the US higher education system to women and minorities?)
- cdot2 5y ago
  Any other examples of discrimination are also bad. How is this hard dude.
  - zomglings 5y ago
    I have worked in academia as a minority. To do so is to face constant exposure to discrimination on almost every front. Honestly, I believe the entire concept of higher education needs a radical change and that projects like Khan Academy will lead the way. Within the context of academia, though, I don't have any particular problem with small changes applied at a national level to try and address the systemic discrimination that the majority of people in the system are blind to.
    - cdot2 5y ago
      I dont think discrimination solves discrimination
      - zomglings 5y ago
        What do you think solves discrimination?
        inglor_cz 5y ago
        Does the OP need to have such answers ready? If someone observes that healing crystals and prayers do not cure cancer, should they be required to provide a perfect cure for cancer before the healing crystal and prayer practice is discontinued? I happen to agree with the OP. Discrimination to solve discrimination is rather similar to "war to end all wars". And as for your question, I don't think that wars, discrimination etc. can be ultimately solved; they aren't mathematical tasks but results of innate human flaws, so fundamentally unsolvable unless you redesign humans, which has always been a failure. But they or their consequences can be mitigated, much like we managed to mitigate many other human flaws. I would rather ask the opposite side for some reasons why they think that an end of discrimination will be achieved by lifting the categories of race or gender to a legally critical concept.

I think specifying the race of applicants for positions is bad

by cdot2 5y ago

I think specifying the race of applicants for positions is bad

josteink 5y ago

One might even call it … racism?

zomglings 5y ago

First of all, they do not only whitelist/blacklist by race. They also whitelist/blacklist by other characteristics (gender, sexual preferences). It seems as if the Canada Research Chair is funded by the national government of Canada specifically to increase diversity in Canadian academia. It just so happens that UBC is hosting one position for quantum computing. Presumably there are other Canada Research Chairs available at other universities. Presumably, the government of Canada also offers funding for positions that does not discriminate based on the designations that this particular funding does discriminate on. Maybe the overall allocation of national funds to academic positions is not as biased as we may think just by looking at this job posting. All I'm saying is, if the source of the funding is the national government, then a knee-jerk reaction against UBC is irrational without because it doesn't take into account the national effects of higher education funding by the Canadian government. (Also, how is this different from any number of fellowships offered in the US higher education system to women and minorities?)

cdot2 5y ago
Any other examples of discrimination are also bad. How is this hard dude.
- zomglings 5y ago
  I have worked in academia as a minority. To do so is to face constant exposure to discrimination on almost every front. Honestly, I believe the entire concept of higher education needs a radical change and that projects like Khan Academy will lead the way. Within the context of academia, though, I don't have any particular problem with small changes applied at a national level to try and address the systemic discrimination that the majority of people in the system are blind to.
  - cdot2 5y ago
    I dont think discrimination solves discrimination
    - zomglings 5y ago
      What do you think solves discrimination?
      - inglor_cz 5y ago
        Does the OP need to have such answers ready? If someone observes that healing crystals and prayers do not cure cancer, should they be required to provide a perfect cure for cancer before the healing crystal and prayer practice is discontinued? I happen to agree with the OP. Discrimination to solve discrimination is rather similar to "war to end all wars". And as for your question, I don't think that wars, discrimination etc. can be ultimately solved; they aren't mathematical tasks but results of innate human flaws, so fundamentally unsolvable unless you redesign humans, which has always been a failure. But they or their consequences can be mitigated, much like we managed to mitigate many other human flaws. I would rather ask the opposite side for some reasons why they think that an end of discrimination will be achieved by lifting the categories of race or gender to a legally critical concept.