• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 16:10
CEST 22:10
KST 05:10
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver3[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915
Community News
StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon75Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism10Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon?174Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)9Weekly Cups (August 24-30): Patches' balance mod takes over3
StarCraft 2
General
StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon How do you feel about the StarCraft shooter announcement at BlizzCon 2026? Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism
Tourneys
RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-22 Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament KSL Week #92 IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 542 The Ascended Mutation # 541 Binary Choice
Brood War
General
Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon? [ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver ASL22 General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Broodwar Prediction Market
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro16 Group C [ASL22] Ro16 Group B [ASL22] Ro16 Group A Escore Tournament - Season 3
Strategy
Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Game Theory for Starcraft
Other Games
General Games
Diablo IV Nintendo Switch Thread EVE Corporation [Maplestory Hardcore] Let's Play~!! General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish TSM pausing esports and CLG Dead
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread UK Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Trading/Investing Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
Virtual Romance, Real-Life C…
TrAiDoS
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Dreaming of BW patches (mod…
c3rberUs
LOCKPICKING NOOB
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 5413 users

US Politics Mega-thread - Page 8089

Forum Index > Closed
Post a Reply
Prev 1 8087 8088 8089 8090 8091 10093 Next
Read the rules in the OP before posting, please.

In order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a re-read to refresh your memory! The vast majority of you are contributing in a healthy way, keep it up!

NOTE: When providing a source, explain why you feel it is relevant and what purpose it adds to the discussion if it's not obvious.
Also take note that unsubstantiated tweets/posts meant only to rekindle old arguments can result in a mod action.
KwarK
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States44286 Posts
July 13 2017 22:34 GMT
#161761
On some level I always knew this thread would eventually turn into people demanding GH to explain rap to them.
ModeratorThe angels have the phone box
Doodsmack
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States7224 Posts
July 13 2017 22:35 GMT
#161762
Kickboxer
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Slovenia1308 Posts
July 13 2017 22:36 GMT
#161763
This is your second post that shows clear bias, sorry.

Nobody dreams of becoming Duke Nukem or a freaking Hydralisk.

Now go and ask your typical underprivileged 11-year-old where they see themselves a decade down the line.

The answer might surprise you ... more than likely it involves golden chains, "hoes" and a domestic armory. None of which (except the hoes maybe) make any sense even if you happen to be rich. I don't even understand.
Gorsameth
Profile Joined April 2010
Netherlands22567 Posts
July 13 2017 22:37 GMT
#161764
On July 14 2017 07:17 mozoku wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 06:45 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:39 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:29 GreenHorizons wrote:
I think the conversation on privilege has reinforced my belief that it's so hard for many white people to accept, acknowledge, and address white privilege in large part because of their being tethered to the American meritocracy myth.

I'd argue a lot of people (not everyone) who thinks American meritocracy is a myth simply made poor decisions and are blaming the system for their own problems.

Check statistics for social mobility and compare it to the rest of the first world.
There is your answer to meritocracy in the US.

The world isn't split into "meritocracies" and "non-meritocracies." Nor is only the world's purest meritocracy the only meritocracy.

If you are born in the US in, say, the 20th percentile or above, then you can reliably rise to 70th or 80th percentile income by your mid-30s. Most people don't, but most people don't spend as much time on their schoolwork and productive extracurricular activities as they could/should either. I define that as a rough meritocracy. Of course, it can always be improved.

I'm making these numbers up, but I'm confident enough that they're roughly true based on personal experience.

Some people are truly unfortunate and it's very difficult to climb the socioeconomic ladder for them due to the situation they were placed in. That's sad, and worth trying to fix as best as we can.

No where am I talking in absolutes, way to try and dismiss the argument.

Social mobility in the US is shit compared to many other first world nations as shown by numerous statistics and studies.
Does that mean is doesn't exist? No, it means its worse then in other developed nations.
It ignores such insignificant forces as time, entropy, and death
KwarK
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States44286 Posts
July 13 2017 22:38 GMT
#161765
Some kids dream of being progamers and end up maladjusted neckbeards shouting slurs at their supports and fighting over mid.
ModeratorThe angels have the phone box
mozoku
Profile Joined September 2012
United States708 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 22:47:14
July 13 2017 22:41 GMT
#161766
On July 14 2017 07:37 Gorsameth wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:17 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:45 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:39 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:29 GreenHorizons wrote:
I think the conversation on privilege has reinforced my belief that it's so hard for many white people to accept, acknowledge, and address white privilege in large part because of their being tethered to the American meritocracy myth.

I'd argue a lot of people (not everyone) who thinks American meritocracy is a myth simply made poor decisions and are blaming the system for their own problems.

Check statistics for social mobility and compare it to the rest of the first world.
There is your answer to meritocracy in the US.

The world isn't split into "meritocracies" and "non-meritocracies." Nor is only the world's purest meritocracy the only meritocracy.

If you are born in the US in, say, the 20th percentile or above, then you can reliably rise to 70th or 80th percentile income by your mid-30s. Most people don't, but most people don't spend as much time on their schoolwork and productive extracurricular activities as they could/should either. I define that as a rough meritocracy. Of course, it can always be improved.

I'm making these numbers up, but I'm confident enough that they're roughly true based on personal experience.

Some people are truly unfortunate and it's very difficult to climb the socioeconomic ladder for them due to the situation they were placed in. That's sad, and worth trying to fix as best as we can.

No where am I talking in absolutes, way to try and dismiss the argument.

Social mobility in the US is shit compared to many other first world nations as shown by numerous statistics and studies.
Does that mean is doesn't exist? No, it means its worse then in other developed nations.

I misunderstood your phrase "There is your answer to meritocracy in the US" and took it to mean absolutes. My bad.

Other than that, I don't think we disagree. I think the system I described is reasonably fair for most people. I should also note that, if one is intelligent and/or lucky, it's quite possible can rise far beyond the 70-80th percentile from 20th or so. My original statement was under the assumption of someone of average intelligence without well-connected parents, freakish athletic skills, etc.

Of course it can be improved. Kudos for Europe if they're doing better on the meritocracy part. That doesn't make America's system broken or horribly unfair (with unfortunate exceptions that I'm sure occur in Europe as well, perhaps in smaller numbers).
IyMoon
Profile Joined April 2016
United States1249 Posts
July 13 2017 22:42 GMT
#161767
On July 14 2017 07:38 KwarK wrote:
Some kids dream of being progamers and end up maladjusted neckbeards shouting slurs at their supports and fighting over mid.



Are you.... are you talking about me?
Something witty
GreenHorizons
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States24342 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 22:44:52
July 13 2017 22:43 GMT
#161768
On July 14 2017 07:36 Kickboxer wrote:
This is your second post that shows clear bias, sorry.

Nobody dreams of becoming Duke Nukem or a freaking Hydralisk.

Now go and ask your typical underprivileged 11-year-old where they see themselves a decade down the line.

The answer might surprise you ... more than likely it involves golden chains, "hoes" and a domestic armory. None of which (except the hoes maybe) make any sense even if you happen to be rich. I don't even understand.


You got part of that right. But remember, like the Lupe song pointed out, it's white people getting rich off of all of it. The guns, the drugs, the jewelry, the cars, the alcohol, all of it. Those are all white dominated businesses (in the US). That's why they are the ones promoting it all and driving it to their bottom line.

Like I said, you're blaming the black faces they put on their cruelty capitalism instead of the industry and system that intentionally promotes and profits from it.

On July 14 2017 07:41 mozoku wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:37 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:17 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:45 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:39 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:29 GreenHorizons wrote:
I think the conversation on privilege has reinforced my belief that it's so hard for many white people to accept, acknowledge, and address white privilege in large part because of their being tethered to the American meritocracy myth.

I'd argue a lot of people (not everyone) who thinks American meritocracy is a myth simply made poor decisions and are blaming the system for their own problems.

Check statistics for social mobility and compare it to the rest of the first world.
There is your answer to meritocracy in the US.

The world isn't split into "meritocracies" and "non-meritocracies." Nor is only the world's purest meritocracy the only meritocracy.

If you are born in the US in, say, the 20th percentile or above, then you can reliably rise to 70th or 80th percentile income by your mid-30s. Most people don't, but most people don't spend as much time on their schoolwork and productive extracurricular activities as they could/should either. I define that as a rough meritocracy. Of course, it can always be improved.

I'm making these numbers up, but I'm confident enough that they're roughly true based on personal experience.

Some people are truly unfortunate and it's very difficult to climb the socioeconomic ladder for them due to the situation they were placed in. That's sad, and worth trying to fix as best as we can.

No where am I talking in absolutes, way to try and dismiss the argument.

Social mobility in the US is shit compared to many other first world nations as shown by numerous statistics and studies.
Does that mean is doesn't exist? No, it means its worse then in other developed nations.

I misunderstood your phrase "There is your answer to meritocracy in the US" and took it to mean absolutes. My bad.

Other than that, I don't think we disagree. I think the system I described is reasonably fair for most people. Of course it can be improved. Kudos for Europe if they're doing better on the meritocracy part. That doesn't make America's system broken or horribly unfair (with unfortunate exceptions).



You got it backwards, it is horribly unfair with fortunate exceptions.
"People like to look at history and think 'If that was me back then, I would have...' We're living through history, and the truth is, whatever you are doing now is probably what you would have done then" "Scratch a Liberal..."
Kickboxer
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Slovenia1308 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 22:50:51
July 13 2017 22:44 GMT
#161769
I don't care who's getting rich off of it. In that case, it's even more stupid. The content was clearly invented and generated by black people. It's like pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses.

When corporations want to "put a face" on something it tends to look like Justin Bieber.
GreenHorizons
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States24342 Posts
July 13 2017 22:49 GMT
#161770
On July 14 2017 07:44 Kickboxer wrote:
I don't care who's getting rich off of it. In that case, it's even more stupid. The content was clearly invented and generated by black people. It's like pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses.


Well there's a bunch of different things being conflated. Yes rap/hip-hop is absolutely a black invention. Yes there is a wide variety of what that is. No it's not "pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses". It's more like the white guy pissing on you, but he's willing to sell you glasses if you agree to sell his piss to your people as desirable.

That gets into a much deeper analysis of how black people in America got to be Black people in America than you seem interested in though.
"People like to look at history and think 'If that was me back then, I would have...' We're living through history, and the truth is, whatever you are doing now is probably what you would have done then" "Scratch a Liberal..."
Slaughter
Profile Blog Joined November 2003
United States20255 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 22:59:36
July 13 2017 22:59 GMT
#161771
On July 14 2017 07:49 GreenHorizons wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:44 Kickboxer wrote:
I don't care who's getting rich off of it. In that case, it's even more stupid. The content was clearly invented and generated by black people. It's like pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses.


Well there's a bunch of different things being conflated. Yes rap/hip-hop is absolutely a black invention. Yes there is a wide variety of what that is. No it's not "pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses". It's more like the white guy pissing on you, but he's willing to sell you glasses if you agree to sell his piss to your people as desirable.

That gets into a much deeper analysis of how black people in America got to be Black people in America than you seem interested in though.


Are you basically calling successful black rappers and other entertainers sellouts who purposefully and knowingly fucked over black people?
Never Knows Best.
IgnE
Profile Joined November 2010
United States7681 Posts
July 13 2017 22:59 GMT
#161772
On July 14 2017 07:41 mozoku wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:37 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:17 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:45 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:39 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:29 GreenHorizons wrote:
I think the conversation on privilege has reinforced my belief that it's so hard for many white people to accept, acknowledge, and address white privilege in large part because of their being tethered to the American meritocracy myth.

I'd argue a lot of people (not everyone) who thinks American meritocracy is a myth simply made poor decisions and are blaming the system for their own problems.

Check statistics for social mobility and compare it to the rest of the first world.
There is your answer to meritocracy in the US.

The world isn't split into "meritocracies" and "non-meritocracies." Nor is only the world's purest meritocracy the only meritocracy.

If you are born in the US in, say, the 20th percentile or above, then you can reliably rise to 70th or 80th percentile income by your mid-30s. Most people don't, but most people don't spend as much time on their schoolwork and productive extracurricular activities as they could/should either. I define that as a rough meritocracy. Of course, it can always be improved.

I'm making these numbers up, but I'm confident enough that they're roughly true based on personal experience.

Some people are truly unfortunate and it's very difficult to climb the socioeconomic ladder for them due to the situation they were placed in. That's sad, and worth trying to fix as best as we can.

No where am I talking in absolutes, way to try and dismiss the argument.

Social mobility in the US is shit compared to many other first world nations as shown by numerous statistics and studies.
Does that mean is doesn't exist? No, it means its worse then in other developed nations.

I misunderstood your phrase "There is your answer to meritocracy in the US" and took it to mean absolutes. My bad.

Other than that, I don't think we disagree. I think the system I described is reasonably fair for most people. I should also note that, if one is intelligent and/or lucky, it's quite possible can rise far beyond the 70-80th percentile from 20th or so. My original statement was under the assumption of someone of average intelligence without well-connected parents, freakish athletic skills, etc.

Of course it can be improved. Kudos for Europe if they're doing better on the meritocracy part. That doesn't make America's system broken or horribly unfair (with unfortunate exceptions that I'm sure occur in Europe as well, perhaps in smaller numbers).


So how do you explain the article I posted on the last page?
The unrealistic sound of these propositions is indicative, not of their utopian character, but of the strength of the forces which prevent their realization.
Nyxisto
Profile Joined August 2010
Germany6287 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 23:10:26
July 13 2017 23:09 GMT
#161773
I wish we could just ditch the idea of 'social mobility'. It's not really a thing. A study on Denmark showed that, if not adjusted for social welfare, Denmark showed the same lack of mobility as the US does. In other words, the huge mobility of some European countries is simply a social welfare program that compresses the income ladder.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/the-american-dream-isnt-alive-in-denmark/494141/

You're better off adjusting for social inequality through the commons rather than trying to turn everybody into a nuclear physicist.
Nevuk
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States16280 Posts
July 13 2017 23:10 GMT
#161774
On July 14 2017 07:05 Kickboxer wrote:
It would certainly be helpful to the POC cause if over 80% of the rich and successful black men didn't publicly state their priorities as:

1) shake dat ass / we don't love dem hoes (...goes on to marry a white woman)
2) boom boom, glock, shoot niggaz
3) diamond rimz ... dolla dolla

For every DeGrasse or Freeman out there, a dozen frothing morons are promoting what seems like the most toxic and pointless lifestyle possible - the pursuit of which is sure to land you in jail or dead.

I don't see much public resistance to this movement. There's a distinctive difference between black celebrity and all other types of celebrity and if that's another racist observation I just don't know why even have this debate. Are those good role models?

When white people do trap, at least they talk about suicide via alcohol or something adorably degenerate. And when Asians do trap it's just fun. Why?


That style was promoted over the original more politics oriented rap once it became clear that Public Enemy/NWA were um, actually kind of threatening to the politics of white people.

mozoku
Profile Joined September 2012
United States708 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 23:21:24
July 13 2017 23:20 GMT
#161775
On July 14 2017 07:59 IgnE wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:41 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:37 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:17 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:45 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:39 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:29 GreenHorizons wrote:
I think the conversation on privilege has reinforced my belief that it's so hard for many white people to accept, acknowledge, and address white privilege in large part because of their being tethered to the American meritocracy myth.

I'd argue a lot of people (not everyone) who thinks American meritocracy is a myth simply made poor decisions and are blaming the system for their own problems.

Check statistics for social mobility and compare it to the rest of the first world.
There is your answer to meritocracy in the US.

The world isn't split into "meritocracies" and "non-meritocracies." Nor is only the world's purest meritocracy the only meritocracy.

If you are born in the US in, say, the 20th percentile or above, then you can reliably rise to 70th or 80th percentile income by your mid-30s. Most people don't, but most people don't spend as much time on their schoolwork and productive extracurricular activities as they could/should either. I define that as a rough meritocracy. Of course, it can always be improved.

I'm making these numbers up, but I'm confident enough that they're roughly true based on personal experience.

Some people are truly unfortunate and it's very difficult to climb the socioeconomic ladder for them due to the situation they were placed in. That's sad, and worth trying to fix as best as we can.

No where am I talking in absolutes, way to try and dismiss the argument.

Social mobility in the US is shit compared to many other first world nations as shown by numerous statistics and studies.
Does that mean is doesn't exist? No, it means its worse then in other developed nations.

I misunderstood your phrase "There is your answer to meritocracy in the US" and took it to mean absolutes. My bad.

Other than that, I don't think we disagree. I think the system I described is reasonably fair for most people. I should also note that, if one is intelligent and/or lucky, it's quite possible can rise far beyond the 70-80th percentile from 20th or so. My original statement was under the assumption of someone of average intelligence without well-connected parents, freakish athletic skills, etc.

Of course it can be improved. Kudos for Europe if they're doing better on the meritocracy part. That doesn't make America's system broken or horribly unfair (with unfortunate exceptions that I'm sure occur in Europe as well, perhaps in smaller numbers).


So how do you explain the article I posted on the last page?

I don't have access to it.

My guess is that it measures income ladder movement though, which isn't the same as potential for income ladder movement. The opportunity for class mobility is mostly available, but it takes extraordinary effort or extraordinary laziness on your part relative to your peers. There is inertia for various reasons, so most people won't achieve class mobility--which is what is probably captured in the article.

I made a ton of assumptions in the previous paragraph, but I figured it was better than a one-line post.
Trainrunnef
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States601 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 23:29:04
July 13 2017 23:27 GMT
#161776
On July 14 2017 08:10 Nevuk wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:05 Kickboxer wrote:
It would certainly be helpful to the POC cause if over 80% of the rich and successful black men didn't publicly state their priorities as:

1) shake dat ass / we don't love dem hoes (...goes on to marry a white woman)
2) boom boom, glock, shoot niggaz
3) diamond rimz ... dolla dolla

For every DeGrasse or Freeman out there, a dozen frothing morons are promoting what seems like the most toxic and pointless lifestyle possible - the pursuit of which is sure to land you in jail or dead.

I don't see much public resistance to this movement. There's a distinctive difference between black celebrity and all other types of celebrity and if that's another racist observation I just don't know why even have this debate. Are those good role models?

When white people do trap, at least they talk about suicide via alcohol or something adorably degenerate. And when Asians do trap it's just fun. Why?


That style was promoted over the original more politics oriented rap once it became clear that Public Enemy/NWA were um, actually kind of threatening to the politics of white people.



Not to mention the fact that 80% of successful black men have nothing to do with rap music. It's like hopping back in time to when rock music was the new kid on the block and assuming that rockers made up 80% of successful white men. @kick Get a grip dude, your prejudice is showing.
I am, therefore I pee
Leporello
Profile Joined January 2011
United States2845 Posts
July 13 2017 23:27 GMT
#161777


Our country is run by insecure sociopaths.
This is the best lawyer Trump could find.
This is a professional.

The fucking guy can't even structure a proper fucking sentence, in his threat-laden responses to random e-mails.
Big water
GreenHorizons
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States24342 Posts
July 13 2017 23:28 GMT
#161778
On July 14 2017 07:59 Slaughter wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:49 GreenHorizons wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:44 Kickboxer wrote:
I don't care who's getting rich off of it. In that case, it's even more stupid. The content was clearly invented and generated by black people. It's like pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses.


Well there's a bunch of different things being conflated. Yes rap/hip-hop is absolutely a black invention. Yes there is a wide variety of what that is. No it's not "pissing in your own lemonade then blaming the white guy for selling glasses". It's more like the white guy pissing on you, but he's willing to sell you glasses if you agree to sell his piss to your people as desirable.

That gets into a much deeper analysis of how black people in America got to be Black people in America than you seem interested in though.


Are you basically calling successful black rappers and other entertainers sellouts who purposefully and knowingly fucked over black people?


Some of them, yes. But I don't think they represent "80%" of successful black people. There's long been a struggle within black communities about how to be successful in a racist America.

Often a condition of black success (though not unique to black people) is the condition that in order to advance, you must help perpetuate holding others down. So it's not something I rest the entirety of on the individual.

Like old slave songs though, there's often a message hidden within the songs that largely eludes white people. There is a lot of different black entertainment out there, some of it constructive, some of it destructive. The myth is that the black community only wants to show itself and emulate the destructive stuff, neglecting both the parity in white communities and the role white America plays in it's perpetuation.
"People like to look at history and think 'If that was me back then, I would have...' We're living through history, and the truth is, whatever you are doing now is probably what you would have done then" "Scratch a Liberal..."
Leporello
Profile Joined January 2011
United States2845 Posts
July 13 2017 23:37 GMT
#161779
On July 14 2017 08:09 Nyxisto wrote:
I wish we could just ditch the idea of 'social mobility'. It's not really a thing. A study on Denmark showed that, if not adjusted for social welfare, Denmark showed the same lack of mobility as the US does. In other words, the huge mobility of some European countries is simply a social welfare program that compresses the income ladder.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/the-american-dream-isnt-alive-in-denmark/494141/

You're better off adjusting for social inequality through the commons rather than trying to turn everybody into a nuclear physicist.


I mean, of course. If there's mobility upwards -- then there's mobility downwards. Not everyone can have top-paying jobs.

So, I agree, the term "mobility" is kind of a misnomer. Although, I think the article misses some points. Primarily on education. Actually -- it doesn't even mention education. That's kind of a crazy-large blind-spot to have on the issue.

Because it is easier for a low-income Dane to receive top-quality education, compared to a low-income American. And that does mean more opportunity for all.


And, of course, we shouldn't ignore that social-welfare simply does improve people's lives, and that, at its surface, is a perfectly good thing.
Big water
mozoku
Profile Joined September 2012
United States708 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-07-13 23:45:32
July 13 2017 23:45 GMT
#161780
On July 14 2017 07:59 IgnE wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 14 2017 07:41 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:37 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 07:17 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:45 Gorsameth wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:39 mozoku wrote:
On July 14 2017 06:29 GreenHorizons wrote:
I think the conversation on privilege has reinforced my belief that it's so hard for many white people to accept, acknowledge, and address white privilege in large part because of their being tethered to the American meritocracy myth.

I'd argue a lot of people (not everyone) who thinks American meritocracy is a myth simply made poor decisions and are blaming the system for their own problems.

Check statistics for social mobility and compare it to the rest of the first world.
There is your answer to meritocracy in the US.

The world isn't split into "meritocracies" and "non-meritocracies." Nor is only the world's purest meritocracy the only meritocracy.

If you are born in the US in, say, the 20th percentile or above, then you can reliably rise to 70th or 80th percentile income by your mid-30s. Most people don't, but most people don't spend as much time on their schoolwork and productive extracurricular activities as they could/should either. I define that as a rough meritocracy. Of course, it can always be improved.

I'm making these numbers up, but I'm confident enough that they're roughly true based on personal experience.

Some people are truly unfortunate and it's very difficult to climb the socioeconomic ladder for them due to the situation they were placed in. That's sad, and worth trying to fix as best as we can.

No where am I talking in absolutes, way to try and dismiss the argument.

Social mobility in the US is shit compared to many other first world nations as shown by numerous statistics and studies.
Does that mean is doesn't exist? No, it means its worse then in other developed nations.

I misunderstood your phrase "There is your answer to meritocracy in the US" and took it to mean absolutes. My bad.

Other than that, I don't think we disagree. I think the system I described is reasonably fair for most people. I should also note that, if one is intelligent and/or lucky, it's quite possible can rise far beyond the 70-80th percentile from 20th or so. My original statement was under the assumption of someone of average intelligence without well-connected parents, freakish athletic skills, etc.

Of course it can be improved. Kudos for Europe if they're doing better on the meritocracy part. That doesn't make America's system broken or horribly unfair (with unfortunate exceptions that I'm sure occur in Europe as well, perhaps in smaller numbers).


So how do you explain the article I posted on the last page?

I found a copy. I only took a skim through (I'll try to read it in more detail later), but I don't see how a weakly predictive/significant grandfather effect in a huge sample in a model that explains 20% of the response variable (years of education) is evidence that anything I've said is false, or is strong evidence that social mobility isn't alive.

There's a big difference between practical significance and statistical significance. That said, I'll look over it in more detail later to make sure I fully understand their model and give better conclusions later.
Prev 1 8087 8088 8089 8090 8091 10093 Next
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BlizzCon
18:30
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
StarCraft2000
ComeBackTV 681
RotterdaM603
IndyStarCraft 199
CosmosSc2 60
EnkiAlexander 57
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
IndyStarCraft 199
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 18025
Calm 2599
Shuttle 1042
Artosis 635
Mini 183
firebathero 115
Dewaltoss 107
CosmosSc2 60
Sea.KH 39
Mong 22
[ Show more ]
sSak 16
Dota 2
Pyrionflax184
LuMiX0
League of Legends
Doublelift2128
goblin5
Counter-Strike
byalli1424
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0334
hungrybox254
Mew2King152
Chillindude24
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu583
MindelVK12
Other Games
summit1g7932
Grubby6100
Liquid`RaSZi2418
fl0m880
RotterdaM603
Tasteless550
B2W.Neo383
mouzStarbuck353
XaKoH 137
Livibee4
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2536
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm589
StarCraft: Brood War
Afreeca ASL 522
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH455
• Hupsaiya 64
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki44
• blackmanpl 28
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 3459
• masondota21472
Other Games
• Shiphtur217
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
13h 50m
Light vs JyJ
Soulkey vs hero
WardiTV Weekly
14h 50m
Monday Night Weeklies
19h 50m
Afreeca Starleague
1d 13h
Snow vs Shinee
Shine vs EffOrt
GSL
1d 14h
PiGosaur Cup
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
KCM Race Survival
3 days
[ Show More ]
IntoTheTV X SOOP
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
GSL
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
GSL
6 days
Shopify Rebellion Sundays
6 days
Spirit vs Mixu
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #5 - TRS
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Calamity Invitational
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSA
Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
SC4ALL II: Brood War
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.