How Big Tech Is Importing India’s Caste Legacy to Silicon Valley • Hacker News Board

Re: How Big Tech Is Importing India’s Caste Legacy to Silicon Valley

#211

Post by iamshs » Fri, Mar 19, 2021, 5:10 PM UTC

naravara wrote: post #112

iamshs wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is already in US and is being defended by Hindu organizations with reason like - ‘Caste discrimination is a Hindu right that should go unchallenged’ https://twitter.com/YashicaDutt/status/1369314943061856261

That sounds like an uncharitable interpretation of what HAF said, but I can't verify because they never link to the source statement and the article she points at is behind a paywall. Come to think of it this "Attribute quotes to people and then say 'read the (paywalled) article' when someone asks for context" strategy seems like a pretty good way to spread misinformation. Edit: Okay did some googling and found the s…

HAF is saying exactly that. The case wants to make sure caste discrimination gets explicitly mentioned, but HAF is bringing in Hinduism angle and saying don't define Hinduism for us. You see the obfuscation here, they are doing? They are trying to defend casteism in a round about way. HAF is founded by Upper Caste Hindus hence they are invested in this matter to make sure the case does not set a precedent for them.

Re: How Big Tech Is Importing India’s Caste Legacy to Silicon Valley

#212

Post by doggodaddo78 » Mon, Mar 22, 2021, 12:55 AM UTC

ath92 wrote: post #141

doggodaddo78 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Absolute belief" is something you inferred that wasn't there. Human nature is what it is. Bring enough of any group of people to another place, there will be cultural replacement. What about the self reflection of those who let themselves be underpaid and displace the local culture for a quick buck? It seems like you're being sanctimonious. The Bay Area can keep Man Jose, Sunnyvale, and the East bay. I avoid America…

> who let themselves be underpaid So what should these people do instead? Stay where they are and get paid much less?

I think people should try to integrate into the community where they're at rather than invade it, change it, use it up, and treat it like a disposable holiday. "When in Rome..."

Re: How Big Tech Is Importing India’s Caste Legacy to Silicon Valley

#213

Post by FooBarBizBazz » Sun, Mar 28, 2021, 3:21 PM UTC

iamshs wrote: post #210

FooBarBizBazz wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To defend the "bad guy" for a second: In fairness to the HAF here, that "quote" is not a quote at all, but an uncharitable paraphrasing. If you're going to quote that "summary", it'd be best to also include a direct quote from the HAF along with it, so you appear fairer. Otherwise people will feel tricked and dismiss your argument.

Only if you had read the article where it is addressed in detail. Your colored language notwithstanding ("uncharitable paraphrasing"), the statement is actually an accurate summary by a well respected researcher on Dalit issues, of what HAF is doing here. https://thewire.in/caste/cisco-case-caste-discrimination-sil... Here is another good article which says the same and the dubious role HAF is playing in order to adv…

But I did read the article!

On the surface, it seems that the HAF is inserting itself to argue a side point. The core issue is about whether caste is a protected category, and whether discrimination actually occurred at Cisco. HAF isn't really talking about that at all! Instead, they're just trying to make sure that court documents don't describe the caste system as "part of Hinduism". On the face of it, that doesn't seem so bad.

Now, I do see that some people view this as a diversionary tactic by the HAF, and that it should not to be taken at face value:

> According to Anil Wagde of the Ambedkar International Center, HAF’s intervention is an attempt to obfuscate the matter and confuse the court.

It seems you also do not take HAF's objections at face value?

But on the surface, their demands are -- a little distracting, but basically orthogonal. It feels like the solution to this is to say, "fine, we'll change the language used here (i.e., the description of Hinduism), and then get on with dealing with the core issue (i.e., the discrimination)".