These topics always go down the same path, pointing out “white males”
Every time no matter how it’s spun it always boils down to that. No other gender or race will ever be publicly faulted without an online war. Which in itself is a racist mindset because it takes an entire race and an entire gender and stereotypes them as ALL having the same mindset. Then you have people that fall into that classification (white males) that say “you’re right” or “you’re wrong” so there ends up being white males that try to say that’s not true and other white males that say it is true which spins argumentative responses.

So root cause thought: if some cosmic event would happen that in the snap of a finger ALL WHITE MALES turned to dust, would all of the racist and equality issues be solved?

I’m not reducing anything. Just stating what I see. The conversation led to “white males” as the root cause. And I’m in the NO LIVES MATTER camp. We are all equally worthless. I’d like to see aliens come back to remind us that our whole existence is because we are a slave species created to mine whatever resources they needed and obtained before they decided to abandon the planet. Then all these conversations around race, gender, sexuality, and religion would immediately dissolve.

Not sure if I should be impressed by your looking up and reporting on the stats of my current city of residence or creeped out. But where I live at the moment doesn’t represent where I lived my whole life or how I value people or stances. Nothing emotional about my response. Again pointing out that it’s typical for these conversations to go down the avenue of white male targets. How does that translate to emotion? The 5 responses my question generated seem more emotional than my statement. A few people will answer the question but for the most part all that’s happening is people assume that I live in a bubble, assume I don’t know how to read, and assume I feel attacked.

I read this thread with the direction cait001 opened it with. Diversity in pinball... which is an awesome thing but after about 25 posts it becomes less about pinball then it’s starts to happen.... the classic buzzwords, privilege, white, male, now we are 75 posts in. I pop in on post 76 and point out that this always happens and ask if white males were gone if the problem would be fixed and now I’m public enemy number one.

Pinball is diverse. (That is measurable)
Pinside is NOT as diverse or a good reflection of the amount of women or people of color in the hobby (That is also measurable)
Discussions around diversity inevitably lead to someone blaming white males which is ironic because these discussions are supposed to be about equality yet a very specific demographic is openly accepted as being ok to blame. That’s counterproductive.

cait001 I’m glad you started this thread, diversity in pinball needs to be celebrated. What everyone needs to consider is if the numbers are lopsided, then it’s best to ask those outside of the majority specifically why they don’t enjoy pinball and addressing those specific responses instead of the conversation being built on assumptions that it’s probably because of white males somehow.

Thank you!
That’s basically what I was saying with this statement.

But?....
Well what if?....
Umm....

So now what???

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I agree

In all fairness I dont think you can call a flow chart depicting how boxed in our culture's way of thinking has become as a "Racist Meme"
Its more to show that pretty much race has become such an emphasis now that even when you try to do something from a good place there are definitions to show it comes from a place of racism. Its pretty sad.

The fact that "Pinside" allows this thread to stay open shows they are being inclusive and inviting by breaking their own rules. Whether you like it or not and this will sting, identity politics are still POLITICS. And we know the rules of Pinside about politics.

Thats the "Cultural Appropriation" block of the chart. Cant win man!

This was a point I raised in a conversation with my brother the other day and basically the thought nowadays is "because you purposely are ignoring those factors makes you racist"
WTF How?!!!!

I think the point trying to be made is, why does it have to be treated as a spectacle and acknowledged. I think its fair to say we all want to be treated equal, so why treat the difference like its a miracle accomplishment.

Anyone that purposely points it out as a negative thing is in the wrong and should be called out but not acknowledging it doesnt make you a bad person:

Person A: "Hey Im gay"

Person B: "Ok so? Whats that have to do with locking the 3rd ball for multi?"

Person A: "Well I think there needs to be more gay people in pinball"

Person B: "Dude can you stop thinking with your dick for 3 seconds and focus on hitting that scoop you're about to GC this machine! I dont care who you're banging"

Person A: "I knew this hobby was full of closed minded people! I dont feel welcome!"

Person B: "Just hit the scoop!"

Even more realistic scenario

Pinsiders: Debating diversity in Pinball
Meteor: Slams into earth
[none of this matters, cockroaches see another species rule the planet]

No one talked about you in anyway man. Get past your inflated self importance, you’re not the appointed gay representative of the fake simplistic over the top scenario I laid out

Actually I’m rethinking that. With how you interact on the forum I can imagine you being EXACTLY who that guy is in-person

Something that’s ignorant is that it’s seems everyone is ignorant of this piece here that sets the tone of the scenario

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explain why I get a down vote for promoting equality and calling out people that have a problem with differences.
Or do you only take things out of context?

The actual dialogue would never happen. That’s the point. It’s an all encompassing exaggeration of both sides of this debate about representation and forcing the agenda to show how ridiculous it is.

Person B = People that wanna play pinball and just would rather see people as people and not a TYPE of person

Person A = People that wanna play pinball but feel the need to make sure that every type of label you can give a person is represented and if they aren’t represented, will make sure that everyone else knows it and makes that representation more important than just playing pinball.

And then drive a point that if you aren’t onboard with this labeling, and making sure to make a point beefing up the numbers of (insert label of person), then you’re an intolerant bigoted racist fascist.

That’s not being inclusive to people with drug addictions! What about people that are on opioids?!! Don’t they get to be represented?!!!! Why is it always gotta be about meth???? Why do you assume it’s meth anyway? Is that your privilege showing?

I think it’s a shame we don’t have enough representation for all addicts in pinball! I think we should advocate for this.

But then I guess we would need to bring a balanced diverse group of drug addicts into the hobby. Not only all addictive drugs but every race, religion, sexuality, creed to be included for each of those drugs...
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!