Diversity....

[NeTrips]

Have you seen his other threads?

If you don't tolerate intolerance, isn't that intolerance itself?

It caused folks to think about how the term was used and when it is appropriate, and isn't self-examination a good thing?


But back to the topic.

Are there times or situations when diversity is not a good thing or you wish not to be in such a diverse situation? (let's try and stay away from cannibals if we can )

One example that comes to mind is when my wife had a mammogram, she expressed her wish that it would be a female tech. Now that goes against diversity of genders, but I understand the concern and the motive.

 

[MoonlessNight]

I don't see diversity as being inherently good or bad. It might be good or bad in specific situations, but that depends on the situation, not on diversity itself. But even in a lot of specific situations I see it as pretty neutral.

I would say diversity is generally good when it allows different perspectives or specializations.

I would say diversity is generally bad when it is a departure from the truth or the good for the sake of being different.

To spice up this thread a bit, I'll answer the question: "On religious diversity: Would it be better if everyone had one religion?" My answer would be yes, if it was the right one.

To questions like "would it be better if everyone was the same race/ethnicity/etc." I would answer no.

 

[GryffinSong]

Are there times or situations when diversity is not a good thing or you wish not to be in such a diverse situation? (let's try and stay away from cannibals if we can )

Definately. I can think of lots of examples.

A rape victim support group is certainly not going to open its membership to rapists.

A mountain climbing group is going to have certain physical restrictions on participants.

Like any philosophical discussion about human rights, we need to inject common sense. If there's no harm, and no limitations on the activity, then diversity is at the least, neutral, and in many cases a positive thing.

 

[Texas Lynn]

It is a terrible thing. 100 years ago people came here to be Americans. Now they come to be hyphanated Americans and send money back to the old country. It is the destruction of America.

It is certainly true that much of the United States' problems stem from the extremely liberal policies of the Native Americans from 1492 on.

 

[Beanieboy]

It caused folks to think about how the term was used and when it is appropriate, and isn't self-examination a good thing?


But back to the topic.

Are there times or situations when diversity is not a good thing or you wish not to be in such a diverse situation? (let's try and stay away from cannibals if we can )

One example that comes to mind is when my wife had a mammogram, she expressed her wish that it would be a female tech. Now that goes against diversity of genders, but I understand the concern and the motive.

That doesn't go against the diversity of genders, though.

If a male wanted to get a job helping women with breast cancer, but couldn't get a job because the career was only available to women, that would go against diversity of genders. Hospitals not allowing men to be OBGYNs simply becaiuse they are men would again, go against diversity issues.

The idea of diversity is that having a diverse staff will make everyone bring something different to the table.

If you have a diverse teaching staff, the black teacher will have a better understanding of racism than the white teacher, the female teacher will have a better understanding of sexism than the male teacher, etc., and these things will benefit the organization as a whole.

I remember when Mattel went to little girls to ask them how to improve Ken. The girls wanted him to be more hip. Not really understanding the youth culture, they gave Ken two toned hair, a mesh shirt, and a necklace with a ring on it. This was after attending a rave to find out what hip kids were wearing.

Had they had even one young employee working with them, they would have realized that they made Ken, well, gay - he was dressed like a gay Raver, and didn't even understand the significance of the "necklace" that he was wearing, a ring that helps keep something Ken doesn't have erect.

So, you get that. You get commercials aimed at kids with random "extreme" added to it, "Extreme Cherry!" And it ends up making a fool of itself.

 

[Steezie]

It is certainly true that much of the United States' problems stem from the extremely liberal policies of the Native Americans from 1492 on.

Im guessing this was sarcasm...but I'd like to be sure...

 

[mpshiel]

That doesn't go against the diversity of genders, though.

If a male wanted to get a job helping women with breast cancer, but couldn't get a job because the career was only available to women, that would go against diversity of genders. Hospitals not allowing men to be OBGYNs simply becaiuse they are men would again, go against diversity issues.

Actually this sort of is why diversity and more information and understanding is a good thing. Becuase men make up 10% of those who get breast cancer - so getting a job helping out with breast cancer would be something for both genders (since currently many clinics are not set up for males with breast cancer).

Of course, the second irony is that it is WOMEN getting these jobs that makes diversity since traditionally since Ob/GYN is a speciality, thus the top of the medical tree, most OB/GYN doctors until recently have been male (and that was for about 250 years) - so, it is good that WOMEN are getting these jobs and doing things like designing tampons: you know "By women, for women."

 

[Beanieboy]

Men get breast cancer??

 

[Steezie]

Men get breast cancer??

Rarely, but yes they can

 

[Kaelestis721]

Is diversity always a good thing?

Yes. I brings new ideas to the table. Albert Einstein was NOT the most intelligent person in the world...even at the time he was living (I believe he only had like a 140ish IQ). However, he thought in a DIFFERENT way from his peers. Diversity and difference of ideas are always great things.

On the other hand, fear and prejudice are not good things.

 

[Sapphos]

I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be. Diversity is afterall what made my nation great (that and Opium and Tea, lol)

 

[Yusuf Evans]

I believe tolerance is more applicable to a better world vice diversity.

 

[Texas Lynn]

Im guessing this was sarcasm...but I'd like to be sure...

Why would you guess it was sarcasm?

 

[Texas Lynn]

just what it means in the "Celebrate Diversity" poster at the office, the one with 8 faces of people. Nothing else on it. Just the two words and the eight faces. I want to know if diversity is always a good thing if I am being encouraged to celebrate it.

I haven't seen the poster.

I think all it means is that the application of "The Golden Rule" applies to those who are both like you and not like you and that is all.

 

[Sapphos]

I believe tolerance is more applicable to a better world vice diversity.

But without diversity, there'd be no need for tolerance, lol

 

[kopilo]

Even without diversity we would still need (to some degree) acceptance of others.
Humans are capible of both hate and hipocracy.

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.

-Herman Hesse, German novelist


Of course there would still be the need for tollerence without diversity, we would have to tollerate others being exactly the same as ourselves.

 

[Beanieboy]

I remember reading about a group at the University of Minnesota when I worked there. All student groups must sign a contract saying that they do not discriminate in membership based on gender, religion, race, sexual orientation, etc.
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2003/11/05/7299

The Christian Maranathas, always using something to grandstand, said that they refused to sign, because that would mean that they would have to allow membership of those that were contrary to the faith - namely, gay people. They didn't want a gay person trying to be one of their leaders, and because it was against their belief.

In response, students responded negatively. One said, "If you are going to receive student funds for your organization, you can't discriminate against students. You can't take money from some of the gay students, then refuse them access to your group that they helped to contribute to.

However, every other group signed the contract. Are University Republicans afraid of liberals infiltrating and trying to bring down their organization, or change their beliefs? Are vegetarians afraid of meat eaters becoming leaders?

There seems to be in conservative christians, such as Maranatha, a suggestion that they are protecting themselves, but which rings much clearer as fear - and often, imagined fear.

Maranatha has to use gimmick (Quote the 10 commandments and win a candy bar) to draw anyone to their table. Most of the time, the people that they draw are those who simply want to argue, but few are running to join their group. They have a really bad rep on campus. A christian, when I went there in the 80s, told me that it was closer to a cult, and to watch out for them.

If this forum was used to only allow the postings of those that agreed with the church (if they could ever agree on anything), it would be a really boring forum. No one would dare question, no one would be forced to think, to consider if their understanding is wrong, etc. Jesus was always confounding his disciples by doing things that were clearly out of their understanding.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan (which people think of as a person that does something good), two holy men pass the beaten man. The Samaritan, who were considered a step down from the tax collectors and prostitutes, helped the man. And often, being showed that the one who showed mercy was following God, and not the one who simply appeared to follow God, (the holy men), it often shocked those that listened to him.

Diversity. Even Jesus brought that to people to give them better understanding.

 

[Steezie]

Why would you guess it was sarcasm?

Because it's horribly off-the-wall to the point of being comedic

 

[Verv]

It is hard to say that anything is good. Diveristy can produce conflict of interests and undermine the integrity of an organization if the organization needs to be capable of acting as one body.

But by and large, attitudes and opinions of people need to be more open to new ideas. New ideas is the hallmark of diversity in many ways. It's unacceptable to be left so ignorant.

 

[SallyNow]

Is diversity always a good thing?

Is fire always a bad thing? Electricity always a good thing? There needs to be context.

just what it means in the "Celebrate Diversity" poster at the office, the one with 8 faces of people. Nothing else on it. Just the two words and the eight faces. I want to know if diversity is always a good thing if I am being encouraged to celebrate it.

Ah! This is specifically about racial diversity, that is, treating people of all races with equal respect, and not being motivated by race when making judgements about someone or a group of someones. Then yes, it is good. There is no reason to ignore or exclude someone based on their race, as a person's biological race does not dictate what a person will be.