Is This Fair

[lankeela]

"BBC Two's Mastermind presented by new host Clive Myrie is particularly interested in receiving applications from under-represented groups for the next series!"

Should they not take applications equally from everyone that applies?

[pixie374]

Not necessarily... we already know many people have been underrepresented in many areas. And that hasn't changed in many years. Sadly, and I didn't realise until AB, we obviously need to make an actual effort now, to get somewhere near equality.

[Mamyalynne]

Hopefully they will look at all applicants fairly whilst also encouraging previously under represented groups to apply.

Tonight's final was a good one.

[Buenchico]

It's no different to employers saying "Women and ethnic minority groups are currently under-represented in our workforce and we particularly encourage members of such groups to apply for this vacancy. However we will appoint the best candidate for the position, irrespective of gender, race or any such other considerations which are not relevant to applications".

Such statements are extremely common these days and perfectly reasonable.

[andy-hughes]

There is nothing to indicate that they don't take applications equally - they are asking for applications from under-represented groups.

That does not mean that such applications will receive preferential treatment.

[pixie374]

Ttt //way of the world at the mo love,//
Yes. Such a shame that straight white men aren't the automatic go-to always. Whatever next??

[andy-hughes]

I have cross-posted with everyone else, but we seem to have a consensus.

[New Judge]

//...we obviously need to make an actual effort now, to get somewhere near equality.//

Why? Entry to Mastermind has always been open to everybody. If any particular group is "under represented" that's their fault for not applying or not being good enough to be accepted (and I expect that's more likely to be the former than the latter).

[douglas9401]

We need more steeplejacks and taxi drivers in the chair.

[Mamyalynne]

This may well be a way of making some feel more comfortable about applying in the first place - look at the online meltdown when a contestant on UC wore a hair slide.

You'd have though someone had dropped a nuclear bomb such was the fuss.

[pixie374]

If only, nj. You aren't daft. You can clearly see that iver thousands of years of white males being in charge and making the decisions- they haven't actually bothered yet. Apparently, they need to be persuaded.
When I joined AB, i was totally against "positive discrimination"- until attitudes on AB taught me otherwise. Now, I can see exactly why it's needed. Because it hasn't and won't happen naturally.

[Zacs-Master]

Well said, Pix.

You’ll never convince the AB male demographic tho I’m afraid. Time and institutionalisation is firmly agin you.

[Spicerack]

^I knew it had been on a long time, but blimey!
Never mind, the questions will be easier. They wouldn't want a repeat of the Lammy episode. ;-)

[pixie374]

Thanks zacs x it does start to explain why we pretend the UK is "first world" while clearly being stuck in the 1700s. A black person can't even get a job without at least one person on AB using the word "tick-boxing". A long way to go...

[barry1010]

We don't know, and we never will know, how many people from those under represented groups have applied in the past and not been successful. Maybe there hasn't been many applicants from those groups but it is a Catch 22 situation. If I watched a popular TV show where very few people similar to me appeared on it even fleetingly and never had a major role, I might be reluctant to apply.

[Spicerack]

Box ticking?
I expect you're thinking of Kick boxing.

[ToraToraTora]

it's a quiz show people into that sort of thing apply, end of.

[Spicerack]

That doesn't sound very fair on stupid people, ttt. ;-)

[pixie374]

No spice, just look out on further threads.... someone will announce a black, disabled woman is now a news presenter - and I guarantee someone will mention quotas in some way. You see, nobody can actually do any job as well as an able-bodied, straight, white male. Anyone else... has to be dubious.

[ToraToraTora]

pixie: "You see, nobody can actually do any job as well as an able-bodied, straight, white male. Anyone else... has to be dubious." - the problem is that all the handwringing means that any minority getting a job is now deemed to be quota filling. You've had the opposite effect to what you wanted. All this "positive" discrimination has devalued those that have achieved their position genuinely on merit.