Comment by briandear | Hacker News Reader

Comment by briandear | Hacker News Reader

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Citation needed.

Are you going to argue that there is more racism in a Texas company than a California company? You are really going to have to prove that.

Have you ever actually lived in a city such as Houston? One of the most diverse cities in the country.

Look how segregated Silicon Valley is. Cupertino and Saratoga Schools are —- about 80% Asian and 2% black. How is that possible given that racism is a “completely unacceptable” idea in California? Those schools are reflecting the employment of the region. Since those are expensive areas, only people with wel paying tech jobs can live there and yet the diversity is pretty much the opposite of the US as a whole.

Perhaps Silicon Valley needs to be called out — far more than those “racists in the south.”

You misinterpret what I'm saying.

I'm arguing that people who are biased is a constant - but in the south its more culturally acceptable to be open about it. The way to end bias like this is by direct, constant exposure, as in interpersonal relationships with people who are different from you in; race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.

When you create a culture where people who are biased do not expose themselves, their perspectives will never ever be changed.

Your final sentence raises exactly the point I was trying to make - you need a 'marketplace of ideas' to change anyones mind about anything - monocultures do not change minds - they just drive those who disagree underground, and if anything give those who disagree a persecution complex, and subtly reinforce their views.

not touching the actual issue of racists in the south, but do most people consider Texas the south? I never have. I never think of Florida either (although north Florida is a lot closer to what i think of when I think of the south).

As a person outside the USA my perception is:

Texas is part of the South. Rich white south instead of rednecks, but definitely South.

I'd argue that east texas is part of the south - but west and north texas are their own animals - because of this, Texas as a whole is its own animal.

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