this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2025
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Out of all those, I would be most open minded to someone who opposes DEI, since DEI is one particular strategy for combatting inequality and they might support another instead. I can't steelman any of those other qualities though.
I actually paused over that one myself, but while it is technically possible that someone could oppose DEI with the best of intentions, with the sincere belief that it's an ineffective or even counter-productive strategy, I just think it's orders of magnitude more likely that they oppose it because they're racist filth.
But yeah - that's one that I'd likely want to follow up on before a final decision.
I think you may be a bit polarized by social media on this issue. My dad (who doesn't social media) watches MLK's "I have a dream" speech every year. It's no surprise that he's not a fan of DEI, though it's not like he complains about it.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about DEI. I like seeing more diversity on TV and such, but I think that it's a better idea to focus on fixing inequality when people are young (e.g. in elementary school) than difficult-to-standardize hiring policies. Still, it's better than no strategy, so I can't say I'm "opposed" to it.
Probably.
Years ago, I was actually opposed to it myself (it was generally considered under the umbrella of Affirmative Action then) mostly because I saw it as a species of tokenism - a way to create the illusion of inclusion and diversity without the spirit of the thing.
But then I was confronted with a very compelling argument that basically held that it should be supported regardless of potential flaws because its long-term merits would oitweigh those flaws - it would condition people to see minorities in the workplace, and even in positions of power, as a common and unremarkable thing, and it would allow for new generations who would grow up already in that world because of their parents 'employment. Effectively, it wasn't for the current generations, for whom it would necessarily be at least somewhat problematic, but for future generations.
That's been my position ever since.
Somewhere along the way though - about the same time that "woke" became a pejorative, I started seeing a new rush of opposition to what was now known as DEI.
And the thing is that I never once saw a considered argument against it. All I saw was the new generation of overt racists - the people who fed exclusively on /pol/ and stormfront and AM talk radio and white supremacist podcasts - sneeringly referring to every minority in any notable position as a "DEI hire."
But yes - maybe those who oppose it sincerely and with good intentions are out there and I just don't see them.
I think woke becoming a pejorative (and the associated cultural shift) enabled people who were opposed to DEI (on the grounds that it's affirmative action) to be more vocal in their opposition to it. Of course, overtly racist people oppose DEI most vocally. I'm not sure. Anyway, among actual humans I talk to who dislike DEI, they generally are not especially racist.
Anyway, that is a compelling argument, but on the other hand, it also normalizes the belief that diversity requires affirmative action, and it does not -- equity is a fix for a symptom, but not the cure; it can be pre-empted by better equality earlier in the chain.
Opposing DEI is like opposing Gay Pride. There are many nefarious corporate influences weaponizing gay pride to the detriment of many lgbtq+ people and it makes sense for many of the parades to be boycotted on this basis. Many DEI programs can whitewash and excuse a lot of rascism induced issues people could face while providing a legal defense for the company to continue their racist practices. At the same time, I'm for gay pride and diversity, equity, and inclusion and would assume anyone who couldn't explain their opposition to these concepts to be a bigot.
sure, but, we're assuming here that the person can explain their perspective.
The assumption would be that unless they can explain it in a way that indicates their support of the rights of either affected group, they're bigoted and not worth anything to anyone other than to the thought leaders they let think on their behalf and are using them to profit themselves. I'll pity them as they are extremely pathetic and loathsome, but that's as much as I'm willing to give them. There's less than a percent chance that they're simply misled and willing to have a good faith conversation about what they were taught, but short of that they're easy to dismiss altogether in every way. This may sound harsh but I'm well past any patience I had for bigotry.
I would be open minded if only their opposition stemmed from misunderstanding what it was.
If I were to explain it, or point them in the direction of someone/something that explains it, and they're still opposed? Yeah, that's a deal-breaker.