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I can think of a number of reasons: While it may be too blunt of a tool to address the core systemic causes of issues like inequality of opportunity and discri

I can think of a number of reasons: While it may be too blunt of a tool to address the core systemic causes of issues like inequality of opportunity and discrimination, it is a relatively simple way to mitigate their effects. E.g. long term we should try to make sure that the hiring process does not discriminate against various groups, but in the short term making sure that you have at least some of each group helps mitigate any problems. Having diverse team may allow a team to develop a wider range of potential solutions to problems. Having a diverse team may help avoid unanticipated interactions between a product and different groups of people. E.g. facial recognition software that doesn't work well on people with dark skin.

abduhl 4y ago
You’re talking about people like they’re different types of Pokémon to collect.
- theshrike79 4y ago
  That's an excellent comparison! If you only have electric-type Pokémon, you can theoretically beat every Pokémon Gym. But it's a lot easier if you have a _diverse_ set of Pokémon with different abilities. =)
  - abduhl 4y ago
    As an electric-type Pokemon (aka a minority), I'd prefer it if people didn't tailor their demeanor towards me and their hiring/firing decisions about me based on my type but rather on my abilities. Let's not forget that Pikachu starts with a normal type ability and isn't only able to learn electric type moves. Build your team based on ability, not Pokemon type, especially when there isn’t even a good correlation between Pokemon type and ability and ability can be inspected directly. Stereotyping about a person's ability based on their skin color is similarly bigoted. And try not to use a =) when endorsing racism so openly.
    - theshrike79 4y ago
      Wait, what. How did this suddenly get into racism? Gen Z would call that a "chronically online take", how else would someone get from a silly analogue of Pokémon types and abilities into racial issues? Of course people are hired for their ability, their background is just the bonus. And again, background isn't the same as skin colour, that's an American thing. Europeans judge people based on what country people are from, not based on their skin colour - we have a long tradition in doing so. =)
      - abduhl 4y ago
        Don’t play coy. You know and I know that diversity discussions are always a thinly veiled proxy for talking about race-based decisions (or gender/LGTBTQ+). The person I originally responded to literally gave an example of dark skin impacting facial recognition.
    - wonderwonder 4y ago
      Throw away but what an awesome comment.
    - harimau777 4y ago
      The question being answered was "why is diversity a good thing" not what standards should we use to hire people.

abduhl 4y ago

You’re talking about people like they’re different types of Pokémon to collect.

theshrike79 4y ago
That's an excellent comparison! If you only have electric-type Pokémon, you can theoretically beat every Pokémon Gym. But it's a lot easier if you have a _diverse_ set of Pokémon with different abilities. =)
- abduhl 4y ago
  As an electric-type Pokemon (aka a minority), I'd prefer it if people didn't tailor their demeanor towards me and their hiring/firing decisions about me based on my type but rather on my abilities. Let's not forget that Pikachu starts with a normal type ability and isn't only able to learn electric type moves. Build your team based on ability, not Pokemon type, especially when there isn’t even a good correlation between Pokemon type and ability and ability can be inspected directly. Stereotyping about a person's ability based on their skin color is similarly bigoted. And try not to use a =) when endorsing racism so openly.
  - theshrike79 4y ago
    Wait, what. How did this suddenly get into racism? Gen Z would call that a "chronically online take", how else would someone get from a silly analogue of Pokémon types and abilities into racial issues? Of course people are hired for their ability, their background is just the bonus. And again, background isn't the same as skin colour, that's an American thing. Europeans judge people based on what country people are from, not based on their skin colour - we have a long tradition in doing so. =)
    - abduhl 4y ago
      Don’t play coy. You know and I know that diversity discussions are always a thinly veiled proxy for talking about race-based decisions (or gender/LGTBTQ+). The person I originally responded to literally gave an example of dark skin impacting facial recognition.
  - wonderwonder 4y ago
    Throw away but what an awesome comment.
  - harimau777 4y ago
    The question being answered was "why is diversity a good thing" not what standards should we use to hire people.