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That's bullshit. Meritocracy means some people are better equipped for task, job or position, and therefore they should be preferred, since they will likely per

That's bullshit. Meritocracy means some people are better equipped for task, job or position, and therefore they should be preferred, since they will likely perform better. It doesn't matter how they came to be better at the skill, which often does involve lots of hard work and taking chances where others don't. What matter is that they are better. If you don't like the distribution of who's at the top, then you can address that elsewhere, such as providing more educational opportunities, or promoting qualities like hard work, appropriate risk-taking and persistence across the board.

goodpoint 4y ago
You are making a completely arbitrary definition of meritocracy and missing the whole context.
- goatlover 4y ago
  So what is the definition? It's not best person for the position?
  - goodpoint 4y ago
    It's very complex and there are contradictory definition. Who is the best person? The one who put most effort in the past? Had better outcomes? Or shows more promise for future outcomes? And how do you define and measure outcomes? Not to mention the second half: is it acceptable to reward merit with 10x salaries? 100x? So it's extremely complex and a politically charged topic.
andrepd 4y ago
> That's bullshit. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Meritocracy: "the notion of a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people based on talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class", as per wikipedia. > If you don't like the distribution of who's at the top, then you can address that elsewhere, such as providing more educational opportunities, or promoting qualities like hard work Isn't this exactly what I said?
- causi 4y ago
  Thanks for saving me the time of reading the rest of your comment. I would point out that responding to the strongest possible interpretation of someone's argument is also in the HN guidelines.
  - andrepd 4y ago
    Fair enough, edited.
dang 4y ago
Please don't break the site guidelines. "When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. 'That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3' can be shortened to '1 + 1 is 2, not 3." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Unfortunately, you've been breaking them in other places too, and posting a lot of flamewar and ideological battle-style comments. This isn't allowed on HN, regardless of which ideology you're for or against. Would you mind reviewing https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and sticking to the rules in the future? Note these: "Eschew flamebait." "Have curious conversation; don't cross-examine." "Please don't use Hacker News for political or ideological battle. It tramples curiosity." "Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive."
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

goodpoint 4y ago

You are making a completely arbitrary definition of meritocracy and missing the whole context.

goatlover 4y ago
So what is the definition? It's not best person for the position?
- goodpoint 4y ago
  It's very complex and there are contradictory definition. Who is the best person? The one who put most effort in the past? Had better outcomes? Or shows more promise for future outcomes? And how do you define and measure outcomes? Not to mention the second half: is it acceptable to reward merit with 10x salaries? 100x? So it's extremely complex and a politically charged topic.

andrepd 4y ago

> That's bullshit. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Meritocracy: "the notion of a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people based on talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class", as per wikipedia. > If you don't like the distribution of who's at the top, then you can address that elsewhere, such as providing more educational opportunities, or promoting qualities like hard work Isn't this exactly what I said?

causi 4y ago
Thanks for saving me the time of reading the rest of your comment. I would point out that responding to the strongest possible interpretation of someone's argument is also in the HN guidelines.
- andrepd 4y ago
  Fair enough, edited.

dang 4y ago

Please don't break the site guidelines. "When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. 'That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3' can be shortened to '1 + 1 is 2, not 3." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Unfortunately, you've been breaking them in other places too, and posting a lot of flamewar and ideological battle-style comments. This isn't allowed on HN, regardless of which ideology you're for or against. Would you mind reviewing https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and sticking to the rules in the future? Note these: "Eschew flamebait." "Have curious conversation; don't cross-examine." "Please don't use Hacker News for political or ideological battle. It tramples curiosity." "Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive."

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]