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Apple's Response To Diversity Criticism: 'We Had a Canadian' Onstage at iPhone 7 Event (mic.com)
Mic published a report last week in which it criticized the gender divide at Apple's last two iPhone events. The reporter noted that at iPhone 7 event, women spoke for roughly eight minutes at stage compared to men, who spoke for 99. Furthermore, most of the women and people of color who appeared onstage weren't Apple representatives. An Apple spokesperson, who shared the information "off-the-record", had a weird response. The email read, "We may have different interpretations of diversity." The email continues, via Mic report, "he pointed to 'two African-Americans' who spoke at the keynote, neither of whom are actually employed by Apple. He also mentioned 'a Canadian, and a British woman.'"
The reporter has defended the use of "off-the-record" information, noting that Apple PR didn't warn her beforehand -- and as an important ethic in journalism -- they didn't reach an agreement before the Apple PR decided to share things.
Glenn Greenwald writes:They're 100% right. Nobody can unilaterally decree "off the record". Requires a mutual agreement or it doesn't exist.
The reporter has defended the use of "off-the-record" information, noting that Apple PR didn't warn her beforehand -- and as an important ethic in journalism -- they didn't reach an agreement before the Apple PR decided to share things.
Glenn Greenwald writes:They're 100% right. Nobody can unilaterally decree "off the record". Requires a mutual agreement or it doesn't exist.
So, speaking time should be determined by genitals?
The real tragedy is that most of the talking time was taken up by brown eyed people. As someone with green eyes, I am offended.
I can see the reporter's view if (and only if) the presenters were a sample of the market demographic giving their opinions about the product. Of course you would want your demographic to include different colors/genders.
But, if the speakers were knowledgeable individuals either working at Apple, or paid by Apple, then that goes all out the window. You don't stop racism by hiring someone just because of their skin color. You don't stop sexism by hiring someone based on their gender. I don't automatically get a job just because I'm a white male. I have to actually have the skills to do the job. Why should any other race/gender expect the same treatment?
And by inference, automatically be ashamed of his white maleness. He is guilty of something just by being born a certain way. We know his history, his personal circumstances all because he's white and male. Much easier to put individuals into nice buckets that fit your prejudices, but nobody else can do the same.
He should know that only white males can inflict *-isms... everyone else gets a free pass.
He should stop working hard doing his best long enough to realize that other are offended by his very breathing and he should do more to make them happy. Which is more to the point, he needs to dedicate his life to servitude of others' ideals and beliefs.
Let's let him know it's not his best that's needed, just his compliance to what you think.
Yep. Personally I don't give a fuck anymore. If somebody thinks I'm being sexist or racist, they can sue me. Really, they can. We have laws they can sue me under. We have government agencies they can contact to help them out. The fact that nobody is suing Apple indicates to me that Apple is not a sexist or racist employer.
Until then "you're racist!" and "you're sexist!" are just so much "waaawaaawaaawaaawawawa." Just train yourself to hear only the teacher's voice from Peanuts waawaawawaaawaaawaaa any time somebody wants to say you're sexist. Don't tell me about microaggressions. I don't care. Don't expect me to roll over and go homeless so you can replace me with a diversity hire without paying me unemployment. Waawaaawawaaawaaawa.
Does that sound mean? Does that sound cruel? Too fucking bad. Maybe people who don't understand computers themselves shouldn't have been lobbing "you're sexist!" and "this closed source 3rd party program wouldn't have bugs if a woman was promoted instead!" bullshit at me.
You want to think I'm a sexist? You imagine I'm "sexually frustrated" because I don't date women? Go right ahead. If that's what makes you happy. Knock yourself out. Yep, I'm being a big sexist by personally filtering your internet connection in your home so you can't learn programming yourself just because of the body part between your legs. Waawaaaawawawawaaaa. You want to be serious? Sue me. Present your evidence in court.
Oh, what's that? You don't have any evidence? You're just a washed-up never-was asshole who wants to hold me accountable because you never accomplished anything in your life? Waawaawawaaawaaawaa.