Current Events > Translate: "Diversity"

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Balrog0 posted...

my point is that I think human rights activists have a heavier lift in those countries than adequate representation for minorities

The problem, and you're not wrong there, is that any country I could list (Brazil, Egypt, Chile, Indonesia, etc) that is almost entirely homogeneous is going to come off as either authoritarian or otherwise 3rd world. It seems kind of unfair that the ONLY countries expected to diversify globally are the white ones. I'm not saying diversity is bad in the right context, but my point was whenever we as a western world complain about a need for greater diversity, it almost exclusively translates to "fewer white people." Nobody is arguing for more diversity in, say, BET programming, or for more men in daytime talk shows, or for a look into how we can inject more white people into the cities that are now majority minority. It's always "less white" not "more diverse"

EDIT: And really, in general I think we too often consider diversity solely through the lense of skin color. Diversity of thought, of skillset, of age, and of experience are all very important things that usually get pushed aside because they're less "visible" than diversity of skin color.
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s0nicfan posted...

Nobody is arguing for more diversity in, say, BET programming

i hate that shows like atlanta and insecure only have white folx in it for comic relief though
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Balrog0 posted...

s0nicfan posted...

Nobody is arguing for more diversity in, say, BET programming

i hate that shows like atlanta and insecure only have white folx in it for comic relief though

I'm fine with that, to be honest. If you're making a show targeting one particular demographic, and the show only uses other demographics as comic relief or side characters, that just means your audience isn't particularly interested in other people's problems. All I ask is that said logic is applied even-handedly to everything, and right now it isn't. There's a clear double-standard being applied and we're being told that not only is it NOT a double standard, but we should be openly supporting it or otherwise we're a bigot of some kind. It's the worst kind of disingenuous behavior, and most people can see right through it.
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Diversity is a natural reaction to everyone speaking the same language and having similar education levels.
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s0nicfan posted...

Nobody is arguing for more diversity in, say, BET programming,

BET exists as a response to the fact that most of the channels were focused more on White issues and "White programming".

s0nicfan posted...

or for a look into how we can inject more white people into the cities that are now majority minority.

Probably because White people tend to flock away from those cities and reestablish themselves in the suburbs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flight
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Solar_Crimson posted...

BET exists as a response to the fact that most of the channels were focused more on White issues and "White programming".

See this is what i mean. "Diversity" is great if it gives black people a space to avoid "white programming" but making sure BET has the same level of diversity as is being asked of other channels? All the sudden diversity is a bad thing. Every news network needs to be more diverse (less white). TV shows need a more diverse cast (less white). But BET, which is almost entirely one race, diversify (more asian, more latino, etc)? No... that's not necessary. Even in Solar's example, he's not even CONSIDERING that diversity could mean more of OTHER minorities on BET. His default mindset is "oh, he must be asking for more white people on BET", because that's what diversity has become a code word for: fewer white people.
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s0nicfan posted...

See this is what i mean. "Diversity" is great if it gives black people a space to avoid "white programming" but making sure BET has the same level of diversity as is being asked of other channels?

BET focuses on Black culture and Black issues, but there aren't only Black people seen in its programming; I don't watch the station much, but I do recall seeing White people and Latinos on its programming when I did.

All cable stations cover niches--or at least, they started out like that--and in a station focusing on Black culture, of COURSE there's going to be a focus on Black people over the others.

The other stations you're bringing up don't focus on specific cultures like that, exceptions being stuff like Telemundo and Univision whcih focuses on Latino cultures. Maybe if they were stuff like Italian culture or Swedish culture, you might have something, but to my knowledge, there aren't any major cable stations focusing on specific European cultures.

s0nicfan posted...

Even in Solar's example, he's not even CONSIDERING that diversity could mean more of OTHER minorities on BET. His default mindset is "oh, he must be asking for more white people on BET", because that's what diversity has become a code word for: fewer white people.

Usually when people complain about diversity, it's as you said: it's code for "fewer White people". As I've mentioned, there HAVE been non-Black people on BET, but since it focuses specifically on Black culture, there's going to be more Black people than anyone else by default.
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s0nicfan posted...

I'm fine with that, to be honest. If you're making a show targeting one particular demographic, and the show only uses other demographics as comic relief or side characters, that just means your audience isn't particularly interested in other people's problems.

I dont have to like that
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s0nicfan posted...

EDIT: And really, in general I think we too often consider diversity solely through the lense of skin color. Diversity of thought, of skillset, of age, and of experience are all very important things that usually get pushed aside because they're less "visible" than diversity of skin color.

This is supposed to be the whole point of diversity. What we get instead is people who want people with a different skin color than they do so they can feel better about themselves. It is the most shallow, disingenuous, most token form of "racial tolerance" I can imagine and I'm amazed that so many people put up with it.

Annihilated posted...

What we get instead is people who want people with a different skin color than they do so they can feel better about themselves

don't forget that the minorities selected are those who strongly conform to the same thoughts, skillsets, and ages etc of the dominant group
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Balrog0 posted...

Annihilated posted...

What we get instead is people who want people with a different skin color than they do so they can feel better about themselves

don't forget that the minorities selected are those who strongly conform to the same thoughts, skillsets, and ages etc of the dominant group

Oh I haven't. I considered using the term "palette swapped" in there somewhere.

Balrog0 posted...

Annihilated posted...

What we get instead is people who want people with a different skin color than they do so they can feel better about themselves

don't forget that the minorities selected are those who strongly conform to the same thoughts, skillsets, and ages etc of the dominant group

"Non-threatening"
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https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/400-current-events/75775539
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