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As someone who works in a very diversified company, and frequently hires candidates of all cultures and creeds, the entire "DEI" discussion is deeply cringe-wor
by winternett 2y ago
As someone who works in a very diversified company, and frequently hires candidates of all cultures and creeds, the entire "DEI" discussion is deeply cringe-worthy to me, especially the comments under this article.
A company that is homogenous in race and culture turns out products that don't support, they turn out ads that get called out for racial and cultural insensitivity, and actually exclude people that aren't reflected by the population making it's products. Running a company that excludes non-majority race and cultured employees is a deeply political statement that caters to old-world ideals that are dying fast, just like the politicians pushing them.
There is deep rooted bias around the entire world, to act like it doesn't exist is simply coddling the classic narratives of racial superiority propped up for ages by people who are creating a cultural advantage for themselves. We battle the ideal of immigration for some cultures, while other cultures can travel anywhere they want freely, and it highlights a willful ignorance and mentality that is deep rooted, but also contradictory to progress and innovation. It may feel comfortable to only be surrounded by people with the same cultural norms and upbringing as yourself, but if you only live in that bubble, you're part of the problem. Life is far better when we open up to new experiences and people, and that's exactly what diversity represents...
There is a far more fair way to interview candidates, where bias can be eliminated, but most companies foist untrained, unskilled, and politically biased leaders into leadership positions all the time without any sort of accountability. So many companies completely miss the mark on why diversity is necessary, even governments miss the plot completely. There are still so many racially homogenous countries out there build on ideals of racial and cultural superiority that it infects the world deeply in some of the most disguised ways possible.
On the inverse, as Bill Burr cited numerous times [Language Warning] (e.g. -- https://youtu.be/O1xgXJ5_Q34?si=n5XZ2MqPhHHgvSdu&t=195 https://youtu.be/O1xgXJ5_Q34?si=n5XZ2MqPhHHgvSdu&t=195), Diversity and inclusion programs often are frequently led and geared towards the advancement of already privileged Caucasian women, which although rightfully under-represented, rank far above racial minority women and often above racial minority men in terms of pay and responsibility.
They can fight all the political wars they want over this issue, but in my long history of work, I have never seen a culturally homogenous business succeed in the long term, without differences in experience and culture, ideas are stale and tone deaf. It works in all ways too of course, but these days, the biggest indication of flawed leadership is a company or agency leadership photo where the majority percentage of the people in it are all the same skin tone.
- somedude895 2y ago> It may feel comfortable to only be surrounded by people with the same cultural norms and upbringing as yourself, but if you only live in that bubble, you're part of the problem. What problem? > Life is far better when we open up to new experiences and people, and that's exactly what diversity represents... Why do you believe you know what a good life is for other people? > I have never seen a culturally homogenous business succeed in the long term I'm sorry but there is so much nonsense in your comment, it's hard to know where to begin.
- nyarlathotep_ 2y ago> culturally homogenous business succeed in the long term This was literally all Western businesses until quite recently.
- winternett 2y agoYou've made no point as to your views, you've only picked out parts of mine and then played higher ground.... There's nothing really to respond to in essence. Tell me why you're personally against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (With key skills and experience as the primary measure)? In my book, all of those things work better for everyone in finding success.
- somedude895 2y agoI don't believe there's any intrinsic value in diversity. I believe that there's truth in the argument that heterogeneity leads to lower group cohesion and solidarity. Personally I think that in business neither is it something desirable nor is it undesirable. As such, I'm against wasting resources and potentially hiring unsuitable candidates because some people believe it's morally correct. I'm decidedly against equity for multiple reasons. First off it's impossible to achieve. If you think even just of your own extended family, what would it take to achieve equity in say income and status? Who deserves how much in order to achieve equal outcomes? Secondly, who gets to decide all these things? Who's disadvantaged and why and by how much? How much is their own doing? How far are you going to drill down? There's so much potential for abuse for whoever makes those decisions. "Inclusion" I'm going to ignore because honestly suggesting someone is against it is mainly bait. The term seems to just be bunched in there with the other two, because it gives the acronym as a whole a stronger defense.