# Lets Talk Race **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432 "2014-11-23T20:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/21 "2014-11-23T22:50:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > My opinion is that the US is pretty diverse. I can agree with that. If you look hard enough, we have at least a few of every possible group. I know it is controversial to state that directly but it is a FACT and I am sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/22 "2014-11-23T22:50:29Z")
Merging two threads since you really only need one. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/23 "2014-11-23T23:00:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s the cultural equivalent of what the free market is to the economy. Different cultures exist alongside each other and society can choose the best aspects from each. The resulting multiculture is more alive with ideas than any singular culture could be. Just to play Devil’s advocate, Iceland does really well on their inbred Viking island country of 320,000 people. One of their major strengths is almost complete lack of diversity and extreme cultural homogeneity. They don’t have much else going for them other than that but it is a prosperous 1st World country that has always been at the forefront of many progressive social issues. Their island nation is certainly pretty in an almost supernatural kind of way but it is hardly one of the most hospitable areas of the world (they have active volcanos instead of trees for example). They could destroy the whole country quickly by allowing wide-spread immigration from any other group(s). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/24 "2014-11-23T23:03:11Z")
It’s a major street in Chicago’s North side and runs all the way out to the suburbs. Oh, wait. I thought you said **Diversey**. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/25 "2014-11-23T23:05:22Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Just to play Devil’s advocate, Iceland does really well on their inbred Viking island country of 320,000 people. One of their major strengths is almost complete lack of diversity and extreme cultural homogeneity. They don’t have much else going for them other than that but it is a prosperous 1st World country that has always been at the forefront of many progressive social issues. Their island nation is certainly pretty in an almost supernatural kind of way but it is hardly one of the most hospitable areas of the world (they have active volcanos instead of trees for example). They could destroy the whole country quickly by allowing wide-spread immigration from any other group(s). It wouldn’t be the diversity that would risk damaging Iceland – it would be the numbers. Iceland could be 25/25/25/25 black/white/mixed/other and, as long as it had the same population numbers and good government policy as it does today, it would be just as prosperous and successful, or even more so. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/26 "2014-11-23T23:08:00Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Seems to me that the crime rate is directly correlated to the diversity of a city. Depends on what exactly is meant by “diversity”. When I was looking at where to buy a house in Houston, and was looking at Sugar Land, everyone I talked to told me that Sugar Land is “very diverse”. To the point that it sounded like a mantra. I looked at what that meant, cuz that constant repetition made me curious. Turns out that Sugar Land is very heavily Asian. Yes, it is “diverse”. No, the crime rate is very low. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/27 "2014-11-23T23:15:47Z")
I thought it was against TOS to post here for homework help? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/28 "2014-11-23T23:18:04Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > This wouldn’t happen to be a homework assignment, would it? Absolutely not. But could you please format all responses in a 5 paragraph, expository form? !st paragraph, set up your thesis. Followed by 3 paragraphs to substantiate the thesis, and then a final paragraph to summarize. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/29 "2014-11-24T01:26:15Z")
Evidently homework essays are not diverse. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/30 "2014-11-24T01:59:08Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I disagree. It is a social construct, but not in itself a thing that exists. I disagree again! A social construct is definitely a “thing that exists.” **mustudent** , you are free to quote me in your essay. Make sure you use proper attribution! I wouldn’t want someone else to think that you came up with that nugget of wisdom _all by your self_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/31 "2014-11-24T02:06:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > My opinion is that the US is pretty diverse. I tink ve’re gettink better though. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/32 "2014-11-24T02:19:27Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > Evidently homework essays are not diverse. Well, there was that class where 10 students turned in the same one. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/33 "2014-11-24T02:29:09Z")
> [@mustudent](#): > > How do people feel about Diversity and how it plays a role in America/culture? I think diversity’s usually not a good thing. It lowers social trust and makes people more individualistic and less communitarian. Did you have a more detailed question? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/34 "2014-11-24T02:34:32Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Seems to me that the crime rate is directly correlated to the diversity of a city. Where? In the US? Withing other countries? Globally? I believe your premise clearly fails even if only the US is considered. New York is one of the most diverse large cities in the country, yet has one of the lowest crime rates. Detroit has the highest crime rate, and is far less diverse. In Latin America, Panama City is quite diverse, yet has a far lower crime rate than other large cities in Central America, which are less diverse. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/35 "2014-11-24T03:01:21Z")
I’m fer it. ---
**Author:** ![Mirka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@Mirka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirka)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/36 "2014-11-24T03:29:38Z")
Diversity is good. That said, I moved to the US from an almost all-white European country. Moved to Richmon, VA, a month ago. So far, have been harassed by two groups of people, and almost ran over by another. All those have been young and black. Makes me wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/37 "2014-11-24T03:47:23Z")
> [@Mirka](#): > > Diversity is good. That said, I moved to the US from an almost all-white European country. Moved to Richmon, VA, a month ago. So far, have been harassed by two groups of people, and almost ran over by another. All those have been young and black. Makes me wonder. Exactly. Anecdotes aren’t data. That’s why most of us realize those feelings come from the gut while our heads (and the actual data) are telling us something different. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/38 "2014-11-24T03:52:15Z")
melting pot diversity good. perpetual islands of disconnected cultures, a nation divided. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/39 "2014-11-24T03:55:09Z")
> [@Mirka](#): > > Diversity is good. That said, I moved to the US from an almost all-white European country. Moved to Richmon, VA, a month ago. So far, have been harassed by two groups of people, and almost ran over by another. All those have been young and black. Makes me wonder. Before anyone calls you ignorant and racist for saying that, there is truth to it. Diversity isn’t inherently good like some people like to claim. It can be additive culturally but it doesn’t have to be. More often, it causes social tension, crime and general social distrust. You have to be really specific about the cases you present for or against diversity or even multiculturalism (those are different ideas). I personally think that multiculturalism is a perfect recipe for disaster as demonstrated in Europe and even parts of the U.S. Diversity can work as long as the groups involved are actually adding something rather than just taking. Irish and Italian people used to be considered less than fully accepted in traditional American society but now they are just regular white people. Some hispanic groups are the same. However, you have to be really careful with introducing outside groups to one another without a true assimilation plan that spans generations. It has little to do with race. Europeans have been slaughtering each other on one scale or another since history began and still do to this day. The same is true with Africans. Anyone can be an ‘outsider’ enough to be killed for it in times of major or minor crisis. The American ‘melting pot’ model of the 19th and early 20th century is one of the better solutions ever invented for this problem but even it is not perfect. We got Jews, Italians, Irish, Polish and lots of other groups to be fully assimilated through that process and it was mutually beneficial to everyone. Some Asian groups also achieved it mostly on their own. However, there are still stragglers out there who have never quite fully achieved assimilation outside of their localized culture for whatever reason. That is the type of thing you have to avoid. You can’t just dump large numbers of unassimilated people into an existing society an expect anything but poor results. France and other European countries tried that with Muslims and all they ended up with was giant housing projects outside of the cities, rioting and car fires for days on end even though the inhabitants were on a very generous form of welfare. Before anyone says that diversity is either a net positive or negative, we need more specifics because it can be either. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432/40 "2014-11-24T04:14:49Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Exactly. > > Anecdotes aren’t data. That’s why most of us realize those feelings come from the gut while our heads (and the actual data) are telling us something different. Or, and I’m just throwing this out, the black people Mirka encountered see themselves as hyphenated Americans and not as Americans. A distinction that originally evolved out of slavery and rejection but now one of cultural fraternity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-race/705432.md?page=3)