Hacker News Reader

I'm arguing that a truly effective meritocratic system should be able to recognize merit that might be hidden by the kinds of social circumstances that affirmative action attempts to compensate for. Even if you don't think industry should address these issues, there's a chance that the game theoretically optimal option is to make special consideration for underrepresented groups.

View on HN

But affirmative action doesn't recognize merit, it rewards luck (at being the minority given the job) and is designed to even out ethnic/sex ratios without regard for productivity.

Also, a meritocratic system only requires the "winners" are chosen on the merit of their work. It will never be possible to eliminate all disadvantages which might prevent somebody from achieving some abstract concept of potential.

How do you define merit then? It may never be possible to eliminate all the disadvantages, but moving towards equality in outcome is still worthwhile.

Like a blind person can't be made to see, but screen reading software and braille text is still better then not having those things.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com