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Chat thread 1331: Just talkin’ chickens. This is better.

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I'm not a top %1 poster but I dream about becoming one
 
wakephan09 said:
Re Meritocracy trap:

Yes, all of that makes sense and tracks with the complexity of issues I've been struggling with for a long time: it's not actually equality we want but rather equal opportunity to succeed despite environmental, economic, racial, social factors, etc.
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I'd like to know what you mean by "equality" in this sentence. Equality of what? Because I think we (or I) want some equality of quality of life regardless of natural abilities, to be utopian about it
 
Top 0.5% of holding in a huge dump for hours while on a roadtrip and not wanting to stop because I'm making great time.
 
BiffTannen said:
Top 0.5% of holding in a huge dump for hours while on a roadtrip and not wanting to stop because I'm making great time.
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I went total opposite of this on my last 9+ hour trip because I was dehydrating myself and that made me tired in addition to dry-mouthed, etc. so I just hit pretty much every rest stop and pounded water the whole trip

added like 30 minutes total to the trip -- totally worth it
 
Yeah, but you probably weren't making good time like I do anyway.
 
JuiceCrewAllStar said:
I went total opposite of this on my last 9+ hour trip because I was dehydrating myself and that made me tired in addition to dry-mouthed, etc. so I just hit pretty much every rest stop and pounded water the whole trip

added like 30 minutes total to the trip -- totally worth it
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That's basically what I used to do on long solo trips. Gives you built in breaks to avoid getting tired. Keeps you from zoning out.
 
JuiceCrewAllStar said:
I'd like to know what you mean by "equality" in this sentence. Equality of what? Because I think we (or I) want some equality of quality of life regardless of natural abilities, to be utopian about it
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I don't see how equality of outcome can be a reasonable goal of society. Equality of opportunity should absolutely be the goal of every society.
 
JuiceCrewAllStar said:
I'd like to know what you mean by "equality" in this sentence. Equality of what? Because I think we (or I) want some equality of quality of life regardless of natural abilities, to be utopian about it
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I'll want to think more deeply about what was really just a lunchtime ramble, but I personally agree that something like "quality of life" is what *I'd* want the measure to be. something that should have nothing at all to do with merit. I think that's different, scooter, then "quality of outcome" bc it's a starting point rather than an evaluation of outcomes.

But I also know that utopias (and dystopias, for that matter) are largely the stuff of fantasy and a literary tool for advocating social change. I think we'd agree that there are some simple policies we could enact to guarantee for everyone some basic standards for living.

This thinking is a funny slippery slope: I have friends that don't believe in awards or competition (but still accept prizes and watch sports).

Although the Vonnegut story is widely known, I think lots of people have had trouble reading beneath the surface (including Antonin Scalia). I've seen recently conservatives on Facebook draw on the same logic he's satirizing: we can't hold exceptional people back just to give poor and dumb people "equality"! It's unAmerican!
 
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Chat thread 1331: Creamy hopes his doc has tiny hands

scooter84 said:
I don't see how equality of outcome can be a reasonable goal of society. Equality of opportunity should absolutely be the goal of every society.
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Can you give some examples of outcomes and opportunities? I think most people agree with your statement but strongly disagree about what is an outcome and what is an opportunity and the extent to which they are related and build on each other. For that reason, often people say “equality of opportunity over equality of outcome” to stifle or shutdown any discussion of addressing inequality.
 
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What do you mean RJ, like if someone handed you a screwdriver you’d stab them in the thigh or something?
 
06deacon said:
What do you mean RJ, like if someone handed you a screwdriver you’d stab them in the thigh or something?
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I'd stab him, me, anyone who walked by. Hell, I'd toss it in the air in frustration, and the wind would pick it up landing in someone's tire three blocks away.
 
PhDeac said:
Can you give some examples of outcomes and opportunities? I think most people agree with your statement but strongly disagree about what is an outcome and what is an opportunity and the extent to which they are related and build on each other. For that reason, often people say “equality of opportunity over equality of outcome” to stifle or shutdown any discussion of addressing inequality.
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Opportunities are what you are given. Outcomes are what you make of it.

Equitable funding for schools would be an opportunity. Grades and test scores would be the outcome.
 
meh, I think giving the poors free netflix and xbox live to keep them entertained is really the goal.
 
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