More racist bigotry from the Trump administration

[Monty92]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/02/us-government-threat-to-unwind-affirmative-action-at-universities

[Burney]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/02/us-government-threat-to-unwind-affirmative-action-at-universities

Good man.

Did you see this, by the way? Written in 1969, it accurately predicts the consequences affirmative action would have on American universities. It argues that, rather than overcome harmful racial stereotypes about academic ability, such policies would only serve to reinforce them, thus increasing divisions.

https://heterodoxacademy.org/2016/05/12/the-amazing-1969-prophecy/

[Monty92]

Good man.

Did you see this, by the way? Written in 1969, it accurately predicts the consequences affirmative action would have on American universities. It argues that, rather than overcome harmful racial stereotypes about academic ability, such policies would only serve to reinforce them, thus increasing divisions.

https://heterodoxacademy.org/2016/05/12/the-amazing-1969-prophecy/

Thanks, will read later. I do know that drop-out rates among African American kids who have been parachuted into college are pretty appalling.

And then there's just common sense based on what we know about human nature. In any context, if you know you made it somewhere through merit and the person next to you is only there because of the colour of their skin, resentment is inevitable.

[Burney]

Thanks, will read later. I do know that drop-out rates among African American kids who have been parachuted into college are pretty appalling.

And then there's just common sense based on what we know about human nature. In any context, if you know you made it somewhere through merit and the person next to you is only there because of the colour of their skin, resentment is inevitable.

The key passage is this one, which basically describes the situation on most US campuses today.


No one can be expected to accept an inferior status willingly. The black students, unable to compete on even terms in the study of law, inevitably will seek other means to achieve recognition and self-expression. This is likely to take two forms. First, agitation to change the environment from one in which they are unable to compete to one in which they can. Demands will be made for elimination of competition, reduction in standards of performance, adoption of courses of study which do not require intensive legal analysis, and recognition for academic credit of sociological activities which have only an indirect relationship to legal training. Second, it seems probable that this group will seek personal satisfaction and public recognition by aggressive conduct, which, although ostensibly directed at external injustices and problems, will in fact be primarily motivated by the psychological needs of the members of the group to overcome feelings of inferiority caused by lack of success in their studies. Since the common denominator of the group of students with lower qualifications is one of race this aggressive expression will undoubtedly take the form of racial demands–the employment of faculty on the basis of race, a marking system based on race, the establishment of a black curriculum and a black law journal, an increase in black financial aid, and a rule against expulsion of black students who fail to satisfy minimum academic standards.

[Ash]

The key passage is this one, which basically describes the situation on most US campuses today.


the employment of faculty on the basis of race, a marking system based on race, the establishment of a black curriculum and a black law journal, an increase in black financial aid, and a rule against expulsion of black students who fail to satisfy minimum academic standards.

I can't believe he missed out the Society of Black Lawyers.

[Burney]

I can't believe he missed out the Society of Black Lawyers.

He can't be expected to predict everything. He also missed out the fact that large numbers of white students and faculty would bend over backwards to support the black students in these endeavours out of 'solidarity'.

[redgunamo]

.. out of 'solidarity'.

And naked self-interest, of course. "Virtue signalling", as it seems to be known nowadays.

[Monty92]

And naked self-interest, of course. "Virtue signalling", as it seems to be known nowadays.

The thing about virtue signalling is that it must surely have now reached a point that there is no social reward for engaging in it. After all, if everyone's doing it, all the time, then where is the virtue? it's just what you do, right? There's nothing to be gained, as such.

Which tell me that there's something else going on...

[redgunamo]

The thing about virtue signalling is that it must surely have now reached a point that there is no social reward for engaging in it. After all, if everyone's doing it, all the time, then where is the virtue? it's just what you do, right? There's nothing to be gained, as such.

Which tell me that there's something else going on...

Virtue is self-rewarding, M. People of virtue simply feel (as if they are) better than the rest of us.

[Monty92]

Virtue is self-rewarding, M. People of virtue simply feel (as if they are) better than the rest of us.

It's funny how easy our virtue can slip, though, isn't it. For example, a couple of weeks ago, we cancelled a garden party because the weather forecast was looking terrible. When it came to the day, my partner was praying for it to rain (in order to justify our decision to cancel) even though her friend was also having a party on the same day and had decided to go ahead.

This to me gets to the heart of the bull**** of virtue rather neatly.

[redgunamo]

It's funny how easy our virtue can slip, though, isn't it. For example, a couple of weeks ago, we cancelled a garden party because the weather forecast was looking terrible. When it came to the day, my partner was praying for it to rain (in order to justify our decision to cancel) even though her friend was also having a party on the same day and had decided to go ahead.

This to me gets to the heart of the bull**** of virtue rather neatly.

Oh, sure. It's only a facade anyway, and so, if everyone's doing it that way then where's the harm.

[Sir C]

It's funny how easy our virtue can slip, though, isn't it. For example, a couple of weeks ago, we cancelled a garden party because the weather forecast was looking terrible. When it came to the day, my partner was praying for it to rain (in order to justify our decision to cancel) even though her friend was also having a party on the same day and had decided to go ahead.

This to me gets to the heart of the bull**** of virtue rather neatly.

A garden party? Are you married to the queen?

[Monty92]

A garden party? Are you married to the queen?

Like a barbecue thingy. In the garden.

Just us and a few neighbours. (Mesut not invited, the contract-running-down ****).

[redgunamo]

A garden party? Are you married to the queen?

Only thing to do when the weather's this fair and agreeable, innit.

[Ash]

The thing about virtue signalling is that it must surely have now reached a point that there is no social reward for engaging in it. After all, if everyone's doing it, all the time, then where is the virtue? it's just what you do, right? There's nothing to be gained, as such.

Which tell me that there's something else going on...

It's only a new way to describe something that has always been there, though. What we are calling virtue here is a kind of status, and status-signalling is as old as the hills, doncha know? The way it manifests is subject to local conditions.

Remember the parable of the ostentatious rich fella who was extravagantly making a large donation to the collection-bowl, versus the little old lady humbly and discretely adding her penny?

Oh no, you wouldn't. Sorry.

[redgunamo]

Like a barbecue thingy. In the garden.

Just us and a few neighbours. (Mesut not invited, the contract-running-down ****).

A mistake, in my view. You could have leant on him a little, twisted his arm a bit.

[redgunamo]

It's only a new way to describe something that has always been there, though. What we are calling virtue here is a kind of status, and status-signalling is as old as the hills, doncha know? The way it manifests is subject to local conditions.

Remember the parable of the ostentatious rich fella who was extravagantly making a large donation to the collection-bowl, versus the little old lady humbly and discretely adding her penny?

Oh no, you wouldn't. Sorry.

No-one would've remembered him had he been poor. That one?

[Ash]

Like a barbecue thingy. In the garden.

Just us and a few neighbours. (Mesut not invited, the contract-running-down ****).

You socialise with your neighbours? Blimey.

Fair play to you, of course. Are they hanging on your bell all the time asking to borrow a quarter-pint of beer in a pint glass?

[Burney]

It's only a new way to describe something that has always been there, though. What we are calling virtue here is a kind of status, and status-signalling is as old as the hills, doncha know? The way it manifests is subject to local conditions.

Remember the parable of the ostentatious rich fella who was extravagantly making a large donation to the collection-bowl, versus the little old lady humbly and discretely adding her penny?

Oh no, you wouldn't. Sorry.

:nod: The lesson of the widow's mite, a.

[Burney]

You socialise with your neighbours? Blimey.

Fair play to you, of course. Are they hanging on your bell all the time asking to borrow a quarter-pint of beer in a pint glass?

His mum's hanging on my bell all the time.

[Ash]

No-one would've remembered him had he been poor. That one?

We remembered the poor lady, though.

What kind of a Christian are you, anyway? I'm not sure you are getting into the spirit of modest humility here, tbh.

[redgunamo]

:nod: The lesson of the widow's mite, a.

Of course. My mistake.

[Monty92]

You socialise with your neighbours? Blimey.

Fair play to you, of course. Are they hanging on your bell all the time asking to borrow a quarter-pint of beer in a pint glass?

It's kinda unavoidable with a communal garden and children.

[redgunamo]

We remembered the poor lady, though.

What kind of a Christian are you, anyway? I'm not sure you are getting into the spirit of modest humility here, tbh.

That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, A.

It's true, the redgunamos don't do modest humility. For us, that's just another dishonest way for rich people to convince poor people of the worthlessness of money.

[Sir C]

It's kinda unavoidable with a communal garden and children.

Communal garden.

Children.

Where did it all go wrong, m?

[Viva Prat Vegas]

Like a barbecue thingy. In the garden.

Just us and a few neighbours. (Mesut not invited, the contract-running-down ****).

He was unwilling to travel over from Hampstead

[Ash]

That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, A.

It's true, the redgunamos don't do modest humility. For us, that's just another dishonest way for rich people to convince poor people of the worthlessness of money.

So essentially Christianity is a con perpetrated by the rich to subdue the poor. An opiate of the masses, as it were?

[Burney]

So essentially Christianity is a con perpetrated by the rich to subdue the poor. An opiate of the masses, as it were?

Yes. Bit concerned to discover that red is a commie.

It will be with the greatest reluctance that I have to put him up against the wall when the glorious day comes. :-(

[Burney]

Communal garden.

Children.

Where did it all go wrong, m?

Communal gardens are awful. In order to use them, you have to interact with all sorts of ghastly types. :-(

[redgunamo]

So essentially Christianity is a con perpetrated by the rich to subdue the poor. An opiate of the masses, as it were?

Perhaps it's more to keep the rich rich. Nobody cares about the poor, do they, until they get rich?

[redgunamo]

Yes. Bit concerned to discover that red is a commie.

Not at all; I'm a married man with four siblings and four sons. I've no truck with corportate identities.

[Sir C]

Communal gardens are awful. In order to use them, you have to interact with all sorts of ghastly types. :-(

Yes, I know exactly the 'types' to which you refer. :myers:

[Monty92]

Communal gardens are awful. In order to use them, you have to interact with all sorts of ghastly types. :-(

Not when you live in Hampstead :cloud9: Everyone's wonderfully, inoffensively middle class. Obviously ****s, still, but not common at least.

[Burney]

Yes, I know exactly the 'types' to which you refer. :myers:

God, no! I'd never interact with Jews.

What sort of person do you take me for? :-(

[redgunamo]

God, no! I'd never interact with Jews.

What sort of person do you take me for? :-(

An Irishman? :-(

[Ash]

Not when you live in Hampstead :cloud9: Everyone's wonderfully, inoffensively middle class. Obviously ****s, still, but not common at least.

You've moved?

[Viva Prat Vegas]

Obviously ****s, still, but not common at least.


You've moved?

Which is why he fits right in