Author Topic: Diversity Training (Read 1457 times)

funkedup · « **on:** August 13, 2001, 06:08:00 PM »

Some guys asked about this:

We had diversity training at one of my previous jobs. It was a one-day seminar that everybody had to attend. Basically they were trying to teach you not to be a racist/sexist/whateverist. It was aimed at the lowest common denominator. The training material assumed that straight white males had no sensitivity to other races, cultures, "lifestyles", etc, and that they, the trainers, were enlightening us with ideas we had never considered before.

Meanwhile I grew up playing ball with asians and hispanics and blacks, have gay friends and relatives, have had many roomates/friends/coworkers friends from all over the planet, etc. So I'm fuming, sitting there muttering "no toejam sherlock" for every brilliant insight provided by the training. I'm sure my boss needed it - he was a bit of a salamander to our Kenyan secretary. But for me it was an insult.

Fortunately it was mostly passive - lectures and Powerpoint, so I just zoned out and did some drawing and sneaky newspaper reading. I have attended some pretty stupid training sessions in my day and this was right up there with "team-building" and other moronic wastes of time and money. It was definitely a Dilbert moment.

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

mietla · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2001, 06:40:00 PM »

what a frikin' waste of money.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2001, 07:21:00 PM »

We call it "Working with differences... Enhancing respect and trust".

We watched an excellent video about "Xs and Os"

I've never been to a bigger waste of time before in my life.<edit>and I went to the theater to see "Phantom Menace"</edit>

AKDejaVu

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: AKDejaVu ]

capt. apathy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2001, 07:30:00 PM »

The sad part is that is that because you are a white guy your supposed to sit there and let them talk down to you. However if you did that to a minority you would be labeled insensitive and sent back to diversity training. It’s very frustrating to have people who are supposed to be teaching people to not use stereo-types when making decisions, look at you and see white/male/racist/sexist.

Sensitivity training sux, their classes are a load of toejam and no I don't care if this hurts their feelings!

Apathy

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: capt. apathy ]

Eagler · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2001, 08:41:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by capt. apathy:
the sad part is that is that because you are a white guy your suposed to sit there and let them talk down to you. however if you did that to a minority you would be labled insensitive and sent back to diversity trainning. it's very frustrating to have people who are suposed to be teaching people to not use stereo-types when making decisions, look at you and see white/male/racist/sexist.
[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: capt. apathy ]

Yep, it's a one way street.
Can you name a white jesse jackson?
David Duke comes to mind ...

rosco- · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2001, 08:51:00 PM »

Ever notice how all racist sexist people are white males

I never sat through anything related to that. I did however sit through the Canadian firearms safety course. So i can relate to being forced to sit and listen to some moron talk down to me and remind me how stupid I "gun owners" are. And i had to pay for the privilege.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2001, 09:46:00 PM »

On a similar note:

Q: How many sensitive guys does it take to change a light bulb??
.
.
.
.
.
...

A: 13, one to change it and 12 to form a support group so he can talk about how that made him feel.

miko2d · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2001, 02:59:00 PM »

What do they actually tell you at the diversity training? Do they allow you to argue or clarify the points? Like "white people were buying black slaves from black slaveowners", "white people also used to be slaves", "white people (Brits and US) are the ones who put a stop to slavery for moral reasons and enforced it", etc.?

miko

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2001, 03:13:00 PM »

No Miko.. they tell you that regardless of age, skin color, nationality, religion, gender, physical handicap or anything else... people should be treated with the same level of respect. And... if you are a white hetrosexual male US citizen, you will be fired for treating anyone else in a manner that singles them out.

AKDejaVu

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2001, 03:13:00 PM »

I've sat through the class too. It's just a way for the corporation to cover their bellybutton so when some idiot screws up, the company can say; "It's not our fault, every employee goes through sensitivity training."

mietla · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2001, 06:05:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu:
And... if you are a white hetrosexual male US citizen, you will be fired for treating anyone else in a manner that singles them out.
AKDejaVu

But,... if you are not white, not heterosexual, not male, not Christian, or handicapped, you can insult whites, heterosexuals, males or Christians at will.

Those whom you insult will be called racist/sexist/homophobic etc, if they object.

mietla · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2001, 06:30:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mickey1992:
It's just a way for the corporation to cover their bellybutton so when some idiot screws up, the company can say; "It's not our fault, every employee goes through sensitivity training."

yeah, and it drives me up the wall to see how effective JJ and all other rasict/gay/feminist pimps are in shaking down corporations.

The amount of money spent on this gunk is tremendous, and we all are paying for this.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2001, 10:16:00 PM »

Here is a story involving my son to kind of illustrate the way political correctness singles out white/straight/non-handicapped/males.

A couple years ago my son was in 8th grade (14 yr. old) there was a gay kid in my sons class. One day this kid grabs my sons’ ass. Not surpassingly my son put him on the floor. (Which by the way is exactly the response I would expect if a straight boy had grabbed one of my daughters in a sexual way).
So the school decides that my son should be expelled for the rest of the year. Not for fighting but for 'hate crimes' and 'homophobic behavior' the only way I stopped it was telling the kids parents that I would press rape and sexual harassment charges against there son. (And suggesting the labels that could be put on their son, like homosexual pedophile, juvenile sex offender, etc.) so eventually they pressed the school into dropping the issue with my son.

His action had nothing to do with this kid being gay, anybody who grabs someone in an unwanted way should expect to deal with the consequences. But since he was a 'minority' he can do whatever he wants and if you take offence or speak out against the minority you are obviously the insensitive bigot.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2001, 10:41:00 PM »

Yeah.. like we believe that one cpt.

Next thing you'll be telling us that if your kid would have grabbed a girl's bellybutton and been laid out by a right cross from the girl the school would have threatened to expell HIM.

Er... wait.

AKDejaVu

capt. apathy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 15, 2001, 12:25:00 AM »

exaactly djv.

btw if you got kids you might find it interesting that it was portland public schools. (noticed your location in your info)