3 ms·

> These may be true, but it misses the point: personal dignity is a worthwhile goal in and of itself. As a black engineer, seeing this maxim put into words rea

> These may be true, but it misses the point: personal dignity is a worthwhile goal in and of itself. As a black engineer, seeing this maxim put into words really felt like lifting a weight off my shoulders. It's like, why should we have to "sell" ourselves to the majority in order to maintain a job? It's 2014, not 1914, we should be included regardless.

thanatropism 12y ago
Everyone "sells" themselves to the "majority" in order to make things work. There's too much of a "precious tulip" assumption here - I'm sure you're a great person and all your friends love you, but you just can't be 100% quirks and doodads at work. Source: white, will-die-from-lithium-poisoning bipolar, has to keep it together to make it work at... work.
- potatolicious 12y ago
  > "but you just can't be 100% quirks and doodads at work." Being black is "quirks and doodads" now?
  - lsaferite 12y ago
    Here, let me help you out: > As a bipolar engineer, seeing this maxim put into words really felt like lifting a weight off my shoulders. It's like, why should we have to "sell" ourselves to the majority in order to maintain a job? It's 2014, not 1914, we should be included regardless.
- Mangalor 12y ago
  I'm not sure what you're arguing here exactly. If you're white you're in the racial majority. If you think having darker skin means someone is "100% quirks and doodads" then obviously I wouldn't want to have to "sell" myself to someone like you because the effort would be futile.
  - lsaferite 12y ago
    If you don't know a bipolar person I can see your confusion. Knowing a few I can say they quite often do not "fit it" with the norm, even if they are racially similar. Conformity happens on may levels. Racial conformity is an obvious one due to it being visual. Social conformity is a bit less visible but just as "important" in most cases.
    - Mangalor 12y ago
      wasn't the point of my last comment.

thanatropism 12y ago

Everyone "sells" themselves to the "majority" in order to make things work. There's too much of a "precious tulip" assumption here - I'm sure you're a great person and all your friends love you, but you just can't be 100% quirks and doodads at work. Source: white, will-die-from-lithium-poisoning bipolar, has to keep it together to make it work at... work.

potatolicious 12y ago
> "but you just can't be 100% quirks and doodads at work." Being black is "quirks and doodads" now?
- lsaferite 12y ago
  Here, let me help you out: > As a bipolar engineer, seeing this maxim put into words really felt like lifting a weight off my shoulders. It's like, why should we have to "sell" ourselves to the majority in order to maintain a job? It's 2014, not 1914, we should be included regardless.
Mangalor 12y ago
I'm not sure what you're arguing here exactly. If you're white you're in the racial majority. If you think having darker skin means someone is "100% quirks and doodads" then obviously I wouldn't want to have to "sell" myself to someone like you because the effort would be futile.
- lsaferite 12y ago
  If you don't know a bipolar person I can see your confusion. Knowing a few I can say they quite often do not "fit it" with the norm, even if they are racially similar. Conformity happens on may levels. Racial conformity is an obvious one due to it being visual. Social conformity is a bit less visible but just as "important" in most cases.
  - Mangalor 12y ago
    wasn't the point of my last comment.