Diversity is strength

• Virtue wrote on 2010-09-22 20:05
  Why does everybody take the statement 'diversity is strength' at face value? Why don't they offer substantiation for this assertion?
  
  I don't believe in it.
  
  A lot of people seem to think diversity is a good thing in of itself.
  
  Why? What evidence do those people have for this?
  
  Can you cite one speck of hard evidence of the benefits of ‘diversity’ that we have heard gushed about for years? Evidence of its harm can be seen, written in blood, from Iraq to India, from Serbia to Sudan, from Fiji to the Philippines. It is scary how easily so many people can be brainwashed by sheer repetition of a word.
  
  [SIZE="1"]To avoid any confusion: This thread is meant at the subject of homogenous <--> cultural diverse/non-homogenous countries. So, I don't mean it as in "you should have friends, you hermit".[/SIZE]
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-09-22 20:08
  So many nice discussions at this time of day!
  
  I'll answer when I get back.
  
  Good questions though!
• Shirayuki wrote on 2010-09-22 20:13
  There was a quote or something that said 'in society today, being apart from one another is one of the hardest battles man ever fought.' or something like that. I guess it just means that when the people around you try their hardest to make you the same as everyone else, being your own person is one of the greatest strengths known to man, because it's damn hard to be yourself.
• Rose wrote on 2010-09-22 20:13
  Just die, Virtue!
• Virtue wrote on 2010-09-22 20:30

  Quote from Shirayuki;163065:

  There was a quote or something that said 'in society today, being apart from one another is one of the hardest battles man ever fought.' or something like that. I guess it just means that when the people around you try their hardest to make you the same as everyone else, being your own person is one of the greatest strengths known to man, because it's damn hard to be yourself.

  I've added a note to explain better what I meant by this thread.
• abc33kr wrote on 2010-09-22 20:35
  I believe it comes from evolution theory.
  
  It is the belief that the specie with the most diversity will come to produce what is fit. While less diverse specie will have less of what is fit.
• Virtue wrote on 2010-09-22 20:42

  Quote from abc33kr;163085:

  I believe it comes from evolution theory.
  
  It is the belief that the specie with the most diversity will come to produce what is fit. While less diverse specie will have less of what is fit.

  The problem with this idea is it only works for two genetically depressed populations that have been inbred for too long, for example, ornamental plants that have been artificialy selected for a certain type of petal without regard to other vital traits that affect health, growth and reproduction. The resulting "vigor" of the progeny of the cross(hybrid) is really just a return to some standard of functional genetic fitness.
  
  The hybrid most likely inherits at least one working copy of genes that code for functional proteins, whereas in the genetically depressed parent genome, both copies may have produced "broken" non-functional or semi-functional products.
  
  Proponents of multicult ideas should at least try to understand the science behind their claims before spouting off.
  
  Then again, truth really isn't their goal, is it?
  
  Thanks for your reply.
• Athde wrote on 2010-09-22 20:45
  Diversity is a blessing and a curse. It is the cause of war and the reason the world goes on.
  For example because we are diverse in mind, religion, and race, we are at war with the Taliban.
  But because of diversity in ideas and ability's we are able to perform different tasks making us better as individuals but also be able to work together to keep the world running.
• Virtue wrote on 2010-09-22 20:52

  Quote from Athde;163091:

  Diversity is a blessing and a curse. It is the cause of war and the reason the world goes on.
  For example because we are diverse in mind, religion, and race, we are at war with the Taliban.
  But because of diversity in ideas and ability's we are able to perform different tasks making us better as individuals but also be able to work together to keep the world running.

  That's a bad arguement; It's a false equivocation fallacy.
  
  Is having a diversity of different diseases good because a diversity of ideas is good? Then why is racial diversity good because a diversity of ideas is good?
  
  Not only that, but a diversity of ideas isn't necessarily good by itself, that's another unsubtantiated, naked assertion.
• Athde wrote on 2010-09-22 21:11
  I was just giving a simple example. the truth is that if diversity was non-exsistant than nothing would ever get done. But with such a great deal of diversity there are always those who want to be like everyone else. Like in real life most people want to be like everyone else then again some don't.
  My point is that you don't gotta like it but you have to live with it.
• Virtue wrote on 2010-09-22 21:20

  Quote from Athde;163111:

  I was just giving a simple example. the truth is that if diversity was non-exsistant than nothing would ever get done. But with such a great deal of diversity there are always those who want to be like everyone else. Like in real life most people want to be like everyone else then again some don't.
  My point is that you don't gotta like it but you have to live with it.

  "the truth is that if diversity was non-exsistant than nothing would ever get done."
  That's kind of odd. Japan seems to 'get things done'. So does South-Korea -- The world's two leading consumer electronics manufacturers. And Europe seemed to 'get things done' well prior to multiculturalism.
  
  "My point is that you don't gotta like it but you have to live with it."
  That's just an appeal to the status quo, it's not an argument.
• Rose wrote on 2010-09-22 21:27
  The coolest kids in the playground, are the ones that copy other kids (Y)
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-09-22 21:31
  It all applies to the situation.
  
  Having a diversity of opinions on a staff team allows you to come up with balanced decisions. Too many conservatives or too many liberals in a group of people will make it harder to come up with fair decisions, as people will be biased or have strong opinions about certain issues.
  
  Isn't diversity, variety? If so, isn't it always to be better equipped with many different sorts of knowledges and tools to tackle the world head-on? I know a lot about physics (or so I would hope), but if I got arrested right now, I can honestly tell you that I wouldn't know what to do, as I don't know the legal system.
  
  I just know that I get one call, right? :) They give you the quarter for that too, yeah? Better.
  
  I hate it when people say, oh, I'm so diverse and unique, just because their heritage is full of different backgrounds and races. But don't get me wrong. Multiculturalism is always fantastic.
  
  My school is not only full of white people (thank goodness). There's Muslim people and lots of Asians, as well as Hispanics and African-Americans. And I like that. Why? Because I can learn about them and their customs and extend the limits of my knowledge. Not only that, but some foods out there are delicious!
  
  I'd love to travel and explore different cultures. Be it a nation as Western as France or a society as primitive as those tribes in the Amazon. No knowledge is too much knowledge. In fact, knowledge is power. [SIZE="1"](Actually, too much knowledge and/or power can be quite threatening, but that's another topic for another day[/SIZE].)
  
  Diversity is knowledge. And knowledge is strength. Therefore, diversity is strength.
• Magenera wrote on 2010-09-22 21:31
  Human culture is nothing more than a multiple culture's and ideas, mix in to what we have. Advancement that has been made is a big part to us getting to know what beyond our own small world, and expand on ideas that can inspire, and innovate or re-innovate ideas that can better the world. Religion in it self has taken ideas from other religions to create what we have. Mingling with other humans have given us different music, art, and food. We have been made stronger cause we are diverse. That hasn't just stop there, plants can have new properties just by breeding in with different plants and take upon there traits to become stronger. The entire ecosystem has survived by being diverse, and has been the reason for evolution. At face value, most people accept that diversity makes you stronger with out knowing the reason behind it. But if one was to look at the world and the history of it, you understand why it is said, and why it is true.
• Virtue wrote on 2010-09-22 21:42

  Quote from Phunkie;163134:

  It all applies to the situation.
  
  Having a diversity of opinions on a staff teams allows you to come up with balanced decisions. Too many conservatives or too many liberals in a group of people will make it harder to come up with fair decisions, as people will be biased or have strong opinions about certain issues.
  
  Isn't diversity, variety? If so, isn't it always to be better equipped with many different sorts of knowledges and tools to tackle the world head-on? I know a lot about physics (or so I would hope), but if I got arrested right now, I can honestly tell you that I wouldn't know what to do, as I don't know the legal system.
  
  I just know that I get one call, right? :) They give you the quarter for that too, yeah? Better.
  
  I hate it when people say, oh, I'm so diverse and unique, just because their heritage is full of different backgrounds and races. But don't get me wrong. Multiculturalism is always fantastic.
  
  My school is not only full of white people (thank goodness). There's Muslim people and lots of Asians, as well as Hispanics and African-Americans. And I like that. Why? Because I can learn about them and their customs and extend the limits of my knowledge. Not only that, but some foods out there are delicious!
  
  I'd love to travel and explore different cultures. Be it a Nation as Western as France or a society as primitive as those tribes in the Amazon. No knowledge is too much knowledge. In fact, knowledge is power. [SIZE="1"](Actually, too much knowledge and/or power can be quite threatening, but that's another topic for another day[/SIZE].)
  
  Diversity is knowledge. And knowledge is strength. Therefore, diversity is strength.

  
  
  "Having a diversity of opinions on a staff teams allows you to come up with balanced decisions."
  No it doesn't. That's the reason we have capable managers. And not worker's cooperatives.
  
  "If so, isn't it always to be better equipped with many different sorts of knowledges and tools to tackle the world head-on?"
  Give firm examples of what sorts of 'knowledges' and 'tools' racial diversity enables. Real world examples that have real world positive impacts.
  
  " Multiculturalism is always fantastic."
  I'm sure the people of the Former Yugoslavia agree
  
  "My school is not only full of white people (thank goodness)."
  Why? What's wrong with whites agglomerating amongst themselves? Are whites not allowed to voluntarily associate with each other and express their own cultural/racial norms?
  
  "I'd love to travel and explore different cultures. Be it a Nation as Western as France or a society as primitive as those tribes in the Amazon. No knowledge is too much knowledge. In fact, knowledge is power."
  This doesn't really require mass immigration though. You can still trade with and learn about foreign cultures and races without importing millions of them to your own country.
  
  "Diversity is knowledge. And knowledge is strength. Therefore, diversity is strength."
  Non-sequitur fallacy.
  
  

  Quote from Magenera;163136:

  Human culture is nothing more than a multiple culture's and ideas, mix in to what we have. Advancement that has been made is a big part to us getting to know what beyond our own small world, and expand on ideas that can inspire, and innovate or re-innovate ideas that can better the world. Religion in it self has taken ideas from other religions to create what we have. Mingling with other humans have given us different music, art, and food. We have been made stronger cause we are diverse. That hasn't just stop there, plants can have new properties just by breeding in with different plants and take upon there traits to become stronger. The entire ecosystem has survived by being diverse, and has been the reason for evolution. At face value, most people accept that diversity makes you stronger with out knowing the reason behind it. But if one was to look at the world and the history of it, you understand why it is said, and why it is true.

  What are the historical examples that show us that diversity is good? There are none. Back up that point.
  
  "That hasn't just stop there, plants can have new properties just by breeding in with different plants and take upon there traits to become stronger. The entire ecosystem has survived by being diverse, and has been the reason for evolution."
  That's just the hybrid vigor canard again. It's wrong because a diversity of genes by itself isn't a good thing, homogeneity of good genes is better than a diversity of mediocre ones.