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For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

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541–550 of 828 posts

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#541
post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't weigh in from personal experience, but I look at it like a marathon. One set of runners face a first half of the race with mud, crushed glass, vertical climbs, and other obstacles, while other racers had a nice tailwind and extra drink stations. Regardless of the obstacles faced in the second half (which are still more numerous than the competition's), can't you understand why runners would still look back at…

This analogy would work if it weren't for the immigrants who arrive with no connections and resources, and successfully make it through hardships within one or two generations. A more apt analogy may be a marathon where there are bystanders who latch on to half of the runners and keep telling them, "you cannot make it, you need us to help you, the race is unfair".

Starting from scratch is easier than starting halfway through the race with your shoe laces tied together.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#542
post #519

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you meant to say "doesn't need to be voluntary". "Needs not to be" has exactly the opposite meaning, though it's an uncommon way to put it in English.

I am not a native English speaker and I appreciate being corrected about grammar and usage. I thought it was the same meaning as "doesn't need to", and looking around forums etc. I cannot find confirmation of what you describe. Do you have an example where the expression has the opposite meaning? Thanks.

You're actually correct in how you used it, as a native English speaker, although I think "need not be" is the preferred/correct form. I think this expression is a little less common in the US compared to the UK.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#543
post #129
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" I honestly don't know what to do about it though." That's a major criticism I have of the crusaders against "systemic racism." While I think the term is intended to capture the accumulated, "death by a thousand cuts" set of disadvantages that are faced by marginalized groups, it characterizes the problem in such a way that it makes it seem intractable. This is a perfect framing for politicians and activists, whose…

Now that you mention it, it reminds me of another big "movement" that has a very nebulous problem statement with no clear instances of the problem to solve: Climate Change. Well, at least no problems + solution combinations that people are willing to do.

Both movements propose very concrete solutions for the respective problems. Both problem statements are also very clear to begin with.

And there seem to be quite a lot of people willing to implement said solutions.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#544
post #252
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the trouble here is the double meaning of the word racist. When some people hear the word, they think of cross-burning fanatics and mass murderers. On the other hand, the current big conversation is about how everyone is racist and that society is rife with systemic racism. That creates a catch-22 for anyone who commits a faux-pas (like mistaking the black CEO for a subordinate). Either admit to racism and ca…

The whole thing makes white people subconsciously want to avoid minorities because of the risk of mob punishment if they fail to follow new rules being created for conduct. Same thing happened after me too where many men were afraid to risk power for a real life hookup with the risks involved and have opted out for paided (where legal) risk free transactions. Which in turn has reduced the amount of relationships in g…

I would love to get some more details, ideally sources, for the last paragraph.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#545
post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The whole thing makes white people subconsciously want to avoid minorities because of the risk of mob punishment if they fail to follow new rules being created for conduct. Same thing happened after me too where many men were afraid to risk power for a real life hookup with the risks involved and have opted out for paided (where legal) risk free transactions. Which in turn has reduced the amount of relationships in g…

I can assure you that many older professional white men are conciously avoiding 1:1 interactions with women (moreso those under 40) and minorities in the workplace today. It would be dumb to assume this doesn’t impact managers hiring decisions, conciously or unconciously. Olds can just think of it as culture fit.

If true, it says a lot more about the men than anything else.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#546
post #525
post #499

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The very fact they find it necessary to use a different word to describe themselves, "expats", than what they call foreigners who live in their countries, "immigrants", shows that they do not at all consider themselves to be in any way similar. I've lived as part of a minority in other countries for half of my life. I try as much as I can to blend in, not because I think they are superior, but because I want to learn…

> The very fact they find it necessary to use a different word to describe themselves, "expats", than what they call foreigners who live in their countries, "immigrants", shows that they do not at all consider themselves to be in any way similar. I was taught these are two words for different concepts. An immigrant expects to take permanent residence in a foreign country, an expatriate – temporarily. The former doing…

Both those you label as your "immigrants" and your "expats" ofter entertain the notion that they will eventuelly move back, but in reality often they don't.

Meanwhile, the "expat" gets a free pass for being a general douche.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#547

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's also problematic because the workplace inherently has an underlying adversarial quality that can provide a never-ending supply of "microaggressions" Its also the only place in adulthood where people willingly or unwillingly must work together with people different than them and not necessarily of their choosing to reach a common goal.

The only place?

For me it is. Everywhere else I choose who I do and do not interact with, I go to stores where only “my people” go, I live in a neighborhood where only “my people” live.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#548
post #338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm skeptical about Robin Diangelo, I read her book a few months ago, and it only seems to be an advertisement for her services as an anti-racist instructor. Her entire argument frames race relations within the context of the workplace which is problematic because her approach is coercive, not educational. It's more a guide on "how not to get fired for being racist" than anything. There are much better books for foun…

Your skepticism is well warranted. Unfalsifiable theory, dogma you can't question, purity tests, good vs evil, original sin, heresy, excommunication, self-flagellation and so on... It's a religion and Kafkatrap, but not yet widely recognized as such. Further explanation: https://newdiscourses.com/2020/06/intellectual-fraud-robin-d... https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/why-third-... https://www.wsj.com/…

im so glad i didnt have to scroll too far to see rebuttle to the cult handbook that is "white fragility". Thank you for your post and links

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#549
post #358
post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you ever think it might be the way you dress or your demeanor? Obviously, it could be racial also, but how could you know that?

His clothes or demeanor can’t possible be the same for n > 100, but his race sure is. Let’s face it, the TSA blatantly discriminates against race and it’s not a secret.

Oh, but it can. I used to have dreadlocks and wear saggy clothes and I was randomly selected each and every time.

Re: For black CEOs in Silicon Valley, humiliation is a part of doing business

#550

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the things that confuses me quite a bit is the focus on laws that expired or have been abrogated 50-60-70-150 years ago and make it as if everything wrong with contemporary American society is caused directly by such laws and nothing else. * GI Bill: adopted in 1944, expired in 1956. * Social Security: adopted in 1935, unclear what the impacts were at the time. Unclear what the impacts are today. * Redlining:…

Well said. For those who didn't net out what he enumerated, there is a long list of things that will bring personal, family, and community suffering long before inequality on a race basis.

If that list so long, do you mind sharing it?
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