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Comment by wolverine876 | Hacker News Reader

That's the standard argument, but it's actually a carefully constructed talking point that (like many such things) twists the premise.

The issue is that it's effectively awarded based on a sort of 'diversity requirement' now - white / asian males being the requirement. The evidence is overwhelming - there's no way that's coincidence, or coincidental with all the racial exclusion in the past. Racism, sexism, other forms of prejudice clearly still exist (look at social media if you need a refresher).

The question is, what do we do about it?

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The vast majority of computer scientists up until maybe 10 years ago were white/asian and male. Genius is simply a numbers game, along with a time game to develop it and then be recognized for it.

> The question is, what do we do about it?

Whatever the answer is, you need to start at the beginning of the pipeline, not the end of it.

I think it's a fantasy that there is not significant prejudice at the end of the pipeline, where we are. Everyone seems to have that fantasy about themeselves, their organization, their community, etc.

The answer starts, as with every problem, by looking carefully in the mirror, with fresh eyes, as if there was a stranger staring back. Then look at your own organization, your own community, etc.

Avi Wigderson is 67 years old on got his PhD in 1983. Seriously, how hard is this to understand? Just do the math.

If we are talking about basic reasoning, you know that doesn't mean there is not a major problem of discrimination at this end of the pipeline.

I know there is discrimination at the end of the pipeline, there has been for a few years now, but it isn't in the direction that you think its in, and it isn't relevant to who is winning a once a year award that is based on work someone started 40+ years ago.

> it isn't in the direction that you think its in

It is exactly in that direction; just look at the outcomes. You take the long-term standard, where white (and Asian) males get advantages, and normalize it - norms are unremarkable, the null hypothesis. Changing the norm then looks like discrimination.

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