[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

7 hours ago, Abies said:

It says that when you have two equally qualified people.

Claiming people should be hired based on merits is good and all but it does nothing to deal with the inherent bias people have against minority groups and women.

Funny how when wanting to hire more women and people from minority groups people always insinuate that they aren't qualified.

Who exactly decides when 2 individuals are equally qualified ? Is it Harvard that has a system with different averages for different groups ? Which genius from the sociology department developed an algorithm to ensure a transparent process is in place ?

 In the few instances that Artificial Intelligence was used for hiring, Amazon had one, it was shut down quickly when the results were not politically correct. Here is an idea, sensitivity classes for the Artificial Intelligence.

Martin Luther said that humanity is like a man mounting a horse who always tends to fall off on the other side of the horse.

What is funny is your focus on using minorities and women to hint that because I stand for a strong individual focus system I am being discriminatory.

Qualified and hard working individuals from these groups don't need spokespersons to defend them. They get up and they earn it ! I had someone confide in me one time that they were afraid that people would think he got his job because of affirmative action. The conversation was short and to the point. I just reminded him of his high grade that he achieved and that rarely he picks up his phone because he is constantly working.

If you excuse my mediocrity, will search for those cites soon  when I will have some time, right now my white immigrant privilege woke me up after 3 hours of sleep to begin another 12-15 hours work day. 

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

44 minutes ago, Abies said:

What evidence is there that hiring women and minority groups has led to a decline in the quality of education in Canada?

The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.  - Ayn Rand.

Affirmative action requires discrimation against the individual just because he/she is part of a certain group (not by choice). It is also an insult to minorities and women that worked hard to succeed.

It is too much currency in circulation, in this case too many "universities". How can you call yourself a math student when majorities of schools allow you in with a 60% functions/calculus mark ? I am not trying to put people down but everyone is unique, some people are better in art or trades.

You know what happens when is too much of something ? Its value goes down. 

I don't have time to do the research,  I am open to read what it is being posted.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

See ?  Cites explain things...

Actually they don't some of them, as you can see in this case you made a conclusion based on your view. If you read carefully you will realize I said I don't struggle with this idea of racism. I do recognize tribal tendencies but for this individual they are irrelevant. The brief couple of seconds of automatic pre-judging other individuals go away quite quickly when the other person is doing the right thing and are a productive member of society. 

See ? Cites don't really explain things.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

2 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

 A long post wherein you assert that you are free of racism

Where did I say that I am free of racism ? I said that I don't struggle with this idea of "racism" meaning that I am fully aware we have ingrained in us tribalism. I don't go around and lecture everyone else about this, what I do, I challenge my energy to focus on my interactions at the individual basis based on someone's character and moral compass. Funny thing happens when I do that, whatever pre-judgment I had goes away. 

I have experienced what you call racism and discrimination as well because of my English when I first came into Canada, landed straight to Grade 7. Is so poetic because a lot of people that judged and made rude comments towards me ended up being quite respectful towards the end. You know why ? When you do the right thing in life no matter what the circumstances people will come around to value that. 

I don't care about cites, whoever has the best marketing gets their point published online so people like you can reference them like that makes you hold the absolute truth . I think I will stick with my arrogance and my selfishness to make my own decisions.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

On 7/7/2020 at 9:22 PM, Michael Hardner said:

conspiracy?

No conspiracy,  just my observations as I go through life, one by one, when it comes to work productivity and merit being replaced by other variables. Different standards for different groups. Stepping on individual rights is something that I am vehemently against. Mediocrity subscribers hate the idea of a strong individual, that's why words like privilege are thrown around to paint everyone with the same brush. I worked hard for every penny that I have made and I did not take it from anyone. So play that tune somewhere else. 

I understand some of you do struggle with racism and your making it up for it by lecturing of the danger of racism. Is called reverse psychology. For me I judge people individually and by the value of their character and as a result of that I am comfortable around everyone as long as is mutual respect.

When it comes to universities we have factories of diplomas for social workers, psychologists and activists yet when it comes to a major discovery in physics, it dates back in 1970's. Or maybe talk to the Asian students that were discriminated against when they tried to apply @ Harvard. Again my point exactly, Harvard an institution based on true racism applies reverse psychology for their own issues. Please don't send me a link of how some court decided that is not discrimination. When you have different entrance averages for different groups that is called discrimination. I don't care what some lawyer in a robe tells me. 

And lastly family, like I told my sister that lectures me weekly and cut contact with other members of the family because they are not as "evolved": a master degree did not teach you the what a university should teach you which is critical thinking. Is actually shocking, cult like mentality and this is someone with a master degree. Just imagine the frame of thinking of individuals that just finished high school.

These are all my points of view. You have yours and don't think you are more superior because you are less alarmist.

The explanation might be that you are not affected by this just yet but the way this is going you might change your mind when it comes close to your personal affairs. 

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

46 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

but I won't subscribe to extremism in the face of extremism

Yes, I am sure everyone wakes up one day and wants to be an extremist.

It is a process that starts when masses feel afraid and they gravitate to whichever criminal group promises them safety.

Study the case of Germany before WW2 and after WW1, you think the average German citizen woke up one day and said: I will become an extremist to fight the terrible economics that the country is in ? Of course not, but when that starts impacting your family and your basic needs EVERYONE (including you Michael) has it in them to become what you call an extremist. Unfortunately, as a result of this how many millions of people suffered when the masses decided to give their soul to old Adolph ?

And this is the danger to all this situation. You and many others only see Skinheads and Racists everywhere and you fail to see the systematic extremism of left wing ideologies that are creeping in every sector of our life. From business, universities and personal. This creates a chain reaction and groups are forming on the right. Now the question is, which criminal group will exploit this better ?  The catalysts are everywhere:  COVID, Unemployment and news propaganda on all sides. I sure hope we can all keep our balance if things get worse and will not be tempted to join a side. 

[This is now very little ability to disagree with the Left]

11 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

There's now a huge void of thoughtful conservatives that needs to be filled.

A huge void of a thoughtful alternative is what is needed for the average tax payer.

The hypocrisy of conservatives and the identity politics of the liberals is off the rails.

A strong libertarian movement is needed in this country to tell people like yourself that you only speak for yourself and you have no legitimacy to advise people what is right and wrong. 

Harper & Scheer, first one in my opinion damaged the idea of a neutral Canada in the world and the second one forgot he had a dual citenzship. This is who your party is and you are surprised why both the left and the right hold their nose when they see a blue Conservative sign.

What a deal Donald would have made if Scheer was PM, in a way is good Trudeau is there and maintains a certain neutrality in the international scene which for a Canadian like myself is something that I am proud of.

[Canada Day here at Maple Leaf Forums.]

15 hours ago, taxme said:

Too bad that there are not enough true conservative patriotic nationalists in Canada today.

The last conservative PM hid in a cupboard: 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/24/canadian-pm-stephen-harper-ottawa-shooting

The last conservative candidate had dual american citizen:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-has-american-citizenship-1.5307986

A patriot, in my opinion is someone that respects the place that he is in.

It does not matter if you are a conservative or not.

Lots of classical liberals or libertarians have more decency than the two above and their followers in my view. Less hypocrtical I might add.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

20 minutes ago, Moonlight Graham said:

That's a disease

Fascism, communism all fall into this definition. Group thinking that leads to hysteria and extremism from both sides.

Once the individual right of people are put second for "a greater good" the road in my opinion leads to hell.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

14 hours ago, WestCanMan said:

And he's a sciences guy. He won't really cross paths with any alt-left profs. 

Who knows, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz or Isaac Newton's material might be soon declared unfit to be taught.

Is their privilige that made then invent calculus and derivates amongst other things. Maybe we can start a debate about that and analyze it how we can make people comfortable ?

Is shocking what some of these communists have done in one generation.

The level of suspicion between the masses, turning family against family, going after traditions and customs, it is a game that has been played for hundreds and hundreds of years and one big sign of it is the attack on people with brains, the intellectual class by trying to create a one class system.

This is what the universities are becoming in my opinion, pushing an old game with a new name. I remember to this day my grandma crying when she was talking about not eating for a few days or when waiting in line for 3 hours and were no eggs left. This is where mediocrity leads.

My personal experiences is true, they make me irrational and BIAS most of the time but I learnt to live with it. We all have our flaws.

[Happy Independence Day]

CNN's way of saying Happy Independence Day: 

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

17 minutes ago, Moonbox said:

I don't have a profile picture.  

On my end it shows like the image can not display properly, most likely a corrupt source, it does now show a plain circle like the other users that have no picture.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

Mr. Moonbox sir, this is my first time joining a political forum of this type, I find it extremely useful to come here a few minutes every hour to distract my mind from the stress of work, so yes I agree it has no substance. But big things have small beginnings, you have people here being on this forum for years, is like showing up to the gym and everyone else has a head start.

I tried taking an elective class in university one time, some low grade politics/sociology class I don't even remember what it was. I quit after 2 classes, do you think I have time coming back from a calculus class to be lectured about privilege ? So that speaks to the experience that I have in an academic setting, everything else is just personal experiences and philosophies I came across, one being the work of Ayn Rand. 

P.S.: Your Display picture is not showing up. 

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

4 hours ago, Moonbox said:

you're hardly making a case for it with this sort of silly rhetoric. 

That's fine, every individual can make their own case. I am not into changing people to see the world the way I see it, that's arrogance.

Do you think is normal for someone in the first sentence to mention "alt right" ? What does the alt right have to do with my perception about this topic ? Every time someone disagrees with these enlightened individuals take a look at how fast the accusations fly. So don't accuse me to use silly rhetoric, some people deserve it and as a citizen/tax payer I can say whatever I want to say.

You can use all the big words you want, talk non-endless policy, nobody takes you serious anymore including minorities, lgbtq and all the groups that you constantly use for your political points.  Why do you think the sheep go out and vote for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders ? Because your mainstream politics are mostly hypocrisy.

How some consider themselves champions of conservative causes, I consider myself advocating for basic individual rights which in my opinion is the key to freedom for every single person of whatever background.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

Thesis

My thesis is that there are individuals that even when Rome was burning they were still emerged in non-ending hypocrisy and they could not understand how come the world was crumbling around them ? 

These individuals consider themselves morally superior, well educated, sometimes by privilege, you always tend to find them talking about policy & objective evidence that is as long as the financial stability in their bank account is safe.

Furthermore, due to these individuals naivety masses of not so intelligent people of all races are threatening law and order in North America. My prediction will be that these individuals will act like the mayor of one Washington state city that had a change of heart as soon as it got too close to her house.

These uneducated masses come mostly from the university system which allowed mediocrity to take over the campus by selling a dream in my opinion.

Now, policy ? Please enlightened us, I want to learn something new.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

37 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

For the record, I have cites that confirm your thesis but I'm trying to help you be a better poster.

I accept my limitations when it comes to debating and I do not have the academic language for it.

My brain has a different operating system but I would love to see how many experts in debating know what a parabola is ? I can maintain an ok discussion in your area of expertise, do you know the basics of mine ?

All i have in these points that I am making are personal experiences, I calibrate them by listening to what other individuals have to say.

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

32 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

No cites for most of this, and the single cite is misrepresented by you in your summary.  My thoughts are that alt right hysteria is a thriving cottage industry.

Yes, that's right Michael, is all based on my experience and interactions with other individuals in society. I could definitely browse the internet for hours and find you links but I am not an activist or in the alt right camp to really care about changing anyone's mind, especially yours. 

Here is some links so you can feel better:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/academic-extremism-comes-to-canada/article33185073/

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/a-confession-of-liberal-intolerance.html

The good news is that the movement of mediocrity did not make it yet to the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Information Technology or the Mathematics Department in which I received my degree, with honors, after hard work. 

Now, with the help of individuals like yourself that love to talk but not put their money where their mouth is, I have no doubt that with time those departments as well will be conquered. 

I am going to produce goods and services for customers now, you have a great day, I recommend chamomile tea for your phobia and paranoia regarding the alt right.

[Sexual Abuse Laws]

2 hours ago, cougar said:

 I lifted one of the lady's breasts to estimate the weight of it.  What happened, you might ask?   Nothing!  The lady was not too upset over.

Wait, this is satire right ? Part of the reason, i will admit I have a hard time seeing sexism is because i find people that are describing such events not real.

What made your computer in your head, the brain, process that this is ok to do ? 

[Universities, from merit to mediocrity]

Below are my personal views on this matter:

*Academic merit results from the successful performance of individuals regardless of background.

*Individuals success is no longer considered a reference point for evaluation in universities, only collective traits are now the priority: gender, race, religion, etc.

*The Government is pumping money through programs like OSAP for people to chase their dream and the average to enter a university it can be as low as 60%.

*Critical thinking is not a priority in universities anymore, professors in social science classes main priority is not to teach but to discredit our Western Civilization.

*There are calls for mathematics itself to be open for interpretation and a sign of a racist culture: https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/10/math-racist-university-illinois-professor/

*A record number of students favor socialism over capitalism.

Thoughts ? 

[Sexual Abuse Laws]

Donald is that you ? 

[This is now very little ability to disagree with the Left]

11 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

wanting to ban ideas that I don't agree with.

Michael I have a question for you, how can you be a fiscal conservative and in the same time such a liberal (borderline activist) when it comes to social issues ? Are you donating money to these causes ? How exactly are you supporting this other than debating in such a philosophical matter and blaming white men in a collective matter ? 

[This is now very little ability to disagree with the Left]

1 hour ago, Argus said:

should be banned. And no, you're not referring to the legal definition but to YOURS.

The mainstream establishment fraction on both sides is one of the main factors that leads to the average individual citizen becoming more and more divided and reaching out for the extremes.

The arrogance and the tone like they are morally superior to the rest of us is what causes people on both sides to choose characters like Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders. 

I hope the day will come when the LGBTQ community and the minority communities will turn to these individuals and tell them to be quiet, they can speak and defend their position for themselves.

[This is now very little ability to disagree with the Left]

When we loose our freedoms through some extremist form of government or foreign agent, please try to remember that excesses in every single department including social issues is what we got us there.

When we are not happy what we have and don't realize that by constantly pushing society to "change" at a rate of speed that the tracks are not designed for don't be surprised if the train derails. 

If I was an economic struggling white guy and i listened to some of these posts putting me down because I am not enlightened enough I think I would be tunning on far right radio daily.

[Did Trudeau Fail His Country On Covid-19]

5 minutes ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

Yes...yes he is.   The opposition party is doing his work for him.

Oh yah ? How come he is losing in every poll including the Fox News poll ? Might I add, he is loosing to someone that does not even know where he is. Did all of you hear that one when Joe was in New York and he said he is in Washington ?

Like Pierre Trudeau said back in the day, we are different than you Americans. I might add more calm and civil.  

Is July 1st show some respect to the Queen, the British elite is what created your way of life and now you have Donald and Joe running for president. 

[Did Trudeau Fail His Country On Covid-19]

1 minute ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

Justin Trudeau should be proud ?

How about Donald, is he proud ? Such a strong brave man, incapable to keep law and order in his own country on top of pretending to have medical expertise.