Dear friends,

Is diversity good?

I think it is. But not everyone out there agrees. When diversity hits the news, we learn things. There is real bigotry out there. And there are folks who might support diversity but it’s hard to tell because they’re shouting so hard at how it’s often discussed.

Welcome, everyone to the…

Ten Stages of Brokeness in the Diversity Dialogue.

Stage 1: We like to see diversity in the workplace!

So far so good. However, promoting diversity for diversity’s sake gets into confusing territory fast.

Stage 2: We don’t like not seeing diversity.

Calling out lack of diversity gets into trouble fast…

The BBC’s Eilidh Barbour stoked controversy last week by saying about the England women’s football team, “All starting 11 players and five substitutes who came onto the pitch were white, and that does point towards a lack of diversity in the women’s game in England.”

Stage 3: Meaningless, confusing fact-checking

Why do culture wars on diversity seem to always include fact-checking that seems to give something to both sides, but not enough to silence the debate?

Stage 4: Bigotry comes as no surprise

The woke get a “W.” We had a feeling the other side was bigoted. See! Now they’re showing it!

Here come the objections, that show some rationality, but in the context of ignorance:

Stage 5: The nuanced explanation will save the day!

Finally! Someone makes the point in the way the original commenter should have made it to begin with.

More nuanced views remind us that diversity in skin color may not in itself be a selection criteria for a sports team, but rather, a tell for lack of equity in opportunity.

Mic drop. That should put the debate to rest!

Stage 6: Diversity training arrives to save us all!

The woke media-consultant complex arrives to teach and train us all.

Diversity in skin color is not only just and right, but it’ll make you money:

Why do I suspect that this content gives more data and insight on diversity to people who already want it, but doesn’t change any minds?

It reeks of “Diversity may not make sense in and of itself, so let’s show you some other reasons why it’s good. Then you’ll be convinced.”

Stage 7: Hypocrisy alert!

Is it the the financial interest in wokeness that inspires the haters to sniff for hypocrisy? And when they find it, or think they do, it’s as if the nuance never happened.

Someone finds a counterexample from the same commentator or news channel. Why do woke comments about lack of diversity seem to come up when there’s a sea of white people on a team, and not the other way around?

Stage 8: Bigotry comes out swinging in the comments

Informed and nuanced debate is broken.

It’s down in the comments where you see how this mess gives cover for casual bigotry and racism:

Stage 9: Meme it!

People “on both sides” are starting to feel brow-beaten. Jokesters want to relieve the tension, or make memes. Silly season arrives:

The best parodies or jokes land because they’re infectious. The humor lands but also makes the haters feel good.

Stage 10: Repeat

Except for the people shamed by that controversy, we’re quickly onto the next, zero lessons learned.

It’s a hot second from this:

To this:

Thank you for reading “The 10 stages of brokeness in the wokeness conversation.”

Next time, a simple suggestion for why diversity is not only good, it’s inevitable. And that can help us relax and listen better.

Tristan
Quill Nook Farm