Someone explain to me why "diversity" is good.

[Zevico]

Diversity==> diversification of the gene pool=>>evolution, yada yada yada, the Great Circle of Life, insert more rubbish here about how we'd all be better as a people (I totally agree here, I just can't be bothered giving Vesayen a good talking to--but no offense there Vesayen--how do you reckon they got Black or Indian Jews Vesayen, sheer luck or super secret wizardry or maybe some hassid thought to himself that maybe he'd like to tap some of that?)

[Whoha]

Originally posted by faded glory
melting pots are good. Mixed Salads are not. Divesity is only good if assimilation occurs.

oh hello apolyton.

that isn't diversity.

[LordShiva]

RIP faded glory

[Impaler[WrG]]

Its a well know fact that breeding 'pure breed' animals makes them dumb and weak, while mixing geneticaly diverse specimines makes them stronger and smarter. The effect is called Hybrid Vigor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosis

Case in Point: Barrack Obama

[Alinestra Covelia]

The relationship between institutions of higher education and heterogenous student bodies is represented thus:

Institution of higher education = university.

Heterogenous student bodies = diversity.

Greek "di" = two. Greek "uni" = one.

Hence diversity makes a university twice as good!

[LordShiva]

But what if "versity" means "bad"

Like, short for "adversity"

[BeBMan]

Its a well know fact that breeding 'pure breed' animals makes them dumb and weak, while mixing geneticaly diverse specimines makes them stronger and smarter. The effect is called Hybrid Vigor

I'm wondering if that would play much of a role in human societies. The stuff you link to tells it has to do with "selective breeding" (to combine the "best" to get "better results"). I don't think that even in more diverse societies most humans actively search for the "best" partner to combine genetic advantages.

Generally I think asking the question if diversity is "good" is rather useless. Modern societies are diverse, and will probably get more diverse in several aspects (ethnic diversity being only one). That leaves us with the task to organise everything in a way that reduces potential for conflict and gives people equal opportunities.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
The relationship between institutions of higher education and heterogenous student bodies is represented thus:

Institution of higher education = university.

Heterogenous student bodies = diversity.

Greek "di" = two. Greek "uni" = one.

Hence diversity makes a university twice as good!

Great, but triversity beats them both.

Polyversity

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by BeBro


Great, but triversity beats them both.

Polyversity

Originally posted by LordShiva
But what if "versity" means "bad"

Like, short for "adversity"

[BeBMan]

Oh. Nobody told me that!

[Whoha]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
Its a well know fact that breeding 'pure breed' animals makes them dumb and weak, while mixing geneticaly diverse specimines makes them stronger and smarter. The effect is called Hybrid Vigor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosis

Case in Point: Barrack Obama

he cratered pretty hard last debate.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


But then you have the problems of propaganda and corruption. If powerful country X wishes to smash poor country Y for its own nefarious purposes, it might have the power to create a media firestorm which depicts Y in a bad light. It might also have the power to influence the hypothetical transnational body.

Who guards the guards?

The system of sovereignty was devised precisely to stop powerful imperialist countries abusing small, weak ones. Historically, imperialists have always dressed their campaigns in morally righteous clothes, and they have the diplomatic and media power to generate support.

That's all true, but which is worse...to allow a nation to continue to be abused by a dictator, or to provide a possible excuse for a powerful nation to attack a smaller one? Keep in mind that I'm not necessarily referring to the Iraq situation.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Yep. One need only to remember how imperialism was cloaked in the garb civilizing the barbarians.

Oh, as for aneeshm's statement smacking of moral relativism, I hope so, for that means he's rejected bull**** of moral absolutism .

Ah, so then you can easily outline a situation in which sovereignty should allow continued rape, torture, and abuse of a nation of people.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
Its a well know fact that breeding 'pure breed' animals makes them dumb and weak, while mixing geneticaly diverse specimines makes them stronger and smarter. The effect is called Hybrid Vigor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosis

Case in Point: Barrack Obama

Hybrid vigor is greatly augmented by selection from the best of each group.

[Elok]

There are options between absolute sovereignty and total moral policing of the world. I don't think we should have invaded Iraq but it's high time someone sends troops to whoop some Janjaweed ass in Darfur. Where to draw the line is, as always, open to debate.