Diversity (Pittsburgh, Pitcairn, Trafford: middle-class, low crime, buying a home)

[lostinpgh]

Originally Posted by beth ann

So, I think it has more to do w/ education and income than just being a minority.

Very true. The question you are really asking when you ask about diversity, I think, is "where do the professionals live?" You know, the people who work in law, in public health, in engineering, in academia.

From what I can tell (as a newbie to Pittsburgh) the answer to that question is Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, and Regent's Square. Are there any more neighborhoods to add to that list?

[suzeeq521]

As a long time waitress (though I finally left that career behind) please don't assume that all those mistakes were necessarily bigotry.

I have been accused of racism and anti-semitism because I (or the kitchen) messed up an order. And it was nothing of the kind - it was simply that an order got messed up.

I found that if I messed up one thing on a meal, pretty much the whole meal would end up wrong. It was kind of like the domino effect and kind of hard to explain. The same abbreviations would mean different things on different meals. So, if I got one wrong, it would essentially render them all wrong.

Which resulted in being called names and accusation of bigotry. People screaming in my face.

Sometimes a mistake is just a mistake.

[Nick538]

Why, oh why, do ignorant people constantly decry the lack of "diversity" in the Pittsburgh area? In fact, why don't decent Americans take a step back, take a deep breath, and think deeply about "diversity"? Why is "diversity" so important? In a nutshell, it is not. Would you prefer neighbors who are 95% white or 95% black and treat you with respect or would you prefer a neighborhood that is 20% white, 20% black, 20% Hispanic, 20% Chinese, 10%Indian and 10% European immigrant where people mug you, rob you, rape you and kill you? For that matter, should a company hire the 100 best applicants for a job or should it hire the 100 applicants who meet a "diversity" quota?

You see, the liberal media have fooled Americans into thinking that "diversity" is of major importance. Believe me, it is not. I would rather live among people who share my values, who work, who keep up their properties, who discipline their children, respect law & order, lead moral lives and set a good example for the youth of the community. If these good people just happen to be 99% black, so be it. 95% white? Good. 93% Chinese? Great. Decent people want to live around other decent people. We want to have a neighborhood, a community, something in common, shared values, etc.

I am of the firm belief that so-called "black leaders" like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and the liberal Democrat establishment, have convinced Americans that any common standard of measurement that reflects poorly on minorities (SAT scores, out of wedlock birth rates, race on race crime, etc.) must be ignored. We are told that "diversity" is important because everyone's opinion matters. This dumbing down of our language, culture and values has resulted in an educational system that teaches nothing and a young generation that is, for the most part, lost. This does not bode well for the future of the nation.

"Diversity" to me, means that while we all have different parents, socio-economic backgrounds, geographic locations, obstacles and problems, we all share a common bond of language, culture, values, patriotism and humanity. To attack the Pittsburgh area for its lack of "diversity" is just so petty. There are a great many minorities in Pittsburgh. People of vision. White, black, foreign, Hispanic-it does not matter. What matters is talent-your contribution to society. UPMC, Pittsburgh's universities and several technology & financial companies employ a "diverse" range of people. The only standard we Picksburgers demand is decency.

Are you so concerned with the lack of "diversity" in Detroit, Compton, Atlanta and other cities? Or does this lack of "diversity" only apply to cities where the residents are majority white?

If Pittsburgh lacks "diversity" in anything, it is politics. Pittsburghers are notorious for pulling the Democrat lever. I said on another forum that if the Pope was running as a Republican and Ted Bundy was running as a Democrat, Ted Bundy would win the election in Pittsburgh. This is true. And it is this lack of "diversity" that killed Pittsburgh financially.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by suzeeq521

As a long time waitress (though I finally left that career behind) please don't assume that all those mistakes were necessarily bigotry.

I have been accused of racism and anti-semitism because I (or the kitchen) messed up an order. And it was nothing of the kind - it was simply that an order got messed up.

I found that if I messed up one thing on a meal, pretty much the whole meal would end up wrong. It was kind of like the domino effect and kind of hard to explain. The same abbreviations would mean different things on different meals. So, if I got one wrong, it would essentially render them all wrong.

Which resulted in being called names and accusation of bigotry. People screaming in my face.

Sometimes a mistake is just a mistake.

But the proper thing to do in that case is to confess there's been a foul up -- and apologize. Or discount or comp a meal, or give free drinks, if it looks like the whole thing's going to tank. By not letting the party know something happened, you're only setting yourself up for hostility. Because just about every single person out there has something they are sensitive to, and can over react about.

I've been there -- I had a waitress tell us the kitchen screwed up the order because a friend was very allergic to lettuce -- so allergic they just can't "take it off" and serve it -- the juices from lettuce caused her severe gastric distress in very short order. And it happened a lot, because lettuce is so common...

And practically each time the wait staff fessed up.... and we were fine with it. No discounts required.

[nicolepsy]

Originally Posted by Nick538

Why, oh why, do ignorant people constantly decry the lack of "diversity" in the Pittsburgh area? In fact, why don't decent Americans take a step back, take a deep breath, and think deeply about "diversity"? Why is "diversity" so important? In a nutshell, it is not. Would you prefer neighbors who are 95% white or 95% black and treat you with respect or would you prefer a neighborhood that is 20% white, 20% black, 20% Hispanic, 20% Chinese, 10%Indian and 10% European immigrant where people mug you, rob you, rape you and kill you? For that matter, should a company hire the 100 best applicants for a job or should it hire the 100 applicants who meet a "diversity" quota?

You see, the liberal media have fooled Americans into thinking that "diversity" is of major importance. Believe me, it is not. I would rather live among people who share my values, who work, who keep up their properties, who discipline their children, respect law & order, lead moral lives and set a good example for the youth of the community. If these good people just happen to be 99% black, so be it. 95% white? Good. 93% Chinese? Great. Decent people want to live around other decent people. We want to have a neighborhood, a community, something in common, shared values, etc.

I am of the firm belief that so-called "black leaders" like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and the liberal Democrat establishment, have convinced Americans that any common standard of measurement that reflects poorly on minorities (SAT scores, out of wedlock birth rates, race on race crime, etc.) must be ignored. We are told that "diversity" is important because everyone's opinion matters. This dumbing down of our language, culture and values has resulted in an educational system that teaches nothing and a young generation that is, for the most part, lost. This does not bode well for the future of the nation.

"Diversity" to me, means that while we all have different parents, socio-economic backgrounds, geographic locations, obstacles and problems, we all share a common bond of language, culture, values, patriotism and humanity. To attack the Pittsburgh area for its lack of "diversity" is just so petty. There are a great many minorities in Pittsburgh. People of vision. White, black, foreign, Hispanic-it does not matter. What matters is talent-your contribution to society. UPMC, Pittsburgh's universities and several technology & financial companies employ a "diverse" range of people. The only standard we Picksburgers demand is decency.

Are you so concerned with the lack of "diversity" in Detroit, Compton, Atlanta and other cities? Or does this lack of "diversity" only apply to cities where the residents are majority white?

If Pittsburgh lacks "diversity" in anything, it is politics. Pittsburghers are notorious for pulling the Democrat lever. I said on another forum that if the Pope was running as a Republican and Ted Bundy was running as a Democrat, Ted Bundy would win the election in Pittsburgh. This is true. And it is this lack of "diversity" that killed Pittsburgh financially.

i would prefer the second option of 20% white, 20% black, 20% asian, etc and have them treat me with respect also. isnt this option possible?

[Katiana]

Are you so concerned with the lack of "diversity" in Detroit, Compton, Atlanta and other cities? Or does this lack of "diversity" only apply to cities where the residents are majority white?

I think the OP is concerned about Pittsburgh b/c she is planning to move there.

As far as hiring, presumably the company screens out the unqualified applicants. The rest is a crap shoot. I have been on hiring committees. The "best person for the job" leaves after 6 months, etc.

[Gypsii]

It seems that many communities in the midwest thrive on racial separation. Thus it's not uncommon for kids to go to high school in a cloned environment, with very little experiential knowledge of other groups, etc.. This is common in both white and non-white communities.

America is much more racially divided primarily because quality of life is considered hampered by diverse groups and individuals. Unfortunately, the belief that one is better off by adopting isolationist ideology and practices actually stifles one's education because those who have fewer or no experiences have a much lower comfort level in diverse groups. And, as we all know, one can pretend that he or she will never have to engage gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities, Jews, internationals, physically challenged, etc... The reality is that everyone needs cross cultural communication skills and abilities and no amount of avoidance will change that.

We've all seen and heard of cases where racially ferrel communities tend to operate as inbreeds. Their members are actually more depressed, less motivated, and much more racially irational, hostile, and violent than normal.

Diversity is necessary for intelligent interaction. Too many folks are literally afraid of other individuals and groups---a condition which ironically keeps whites in particular feeling that they have to walk on egg shells, don't know how to use proper language, are always afraid to offend, and hostile because they feel muzzled and silenced on so many of their natural curiosities about race and diversity.

[Agbor]

The concept of "diversity" in a concept from the '60s..it means do we have enough
mix of different ethnics in a place..in specific people who are classified in terms of
color,gender,orientation..the concept arose because these groups have traditionally been
left out of the workforce on purpose: women,people of color,etc..it is to insure that no
qualified person is discriminated from employment...It has been distorted and abused
perhaps down thru the years..and needs to be revamped.but still held in place to a minor degree..especially when some people feel they have to put nooses on other peoples desks etc..

In short, it was put in place to remedy an obvious wrong...it is a good intention but has
become outmoded and taken too far perhaps..to the point where people are afraid and feel they have to walk on eggshells to keep from offending someone...the assumption is
the offended person is sensitive..but then people have been known to abuse it and pull a "race-card"..that is bad, it is like crying wolf..if the case arises where someone is truly
discriminated againist,it makes it harder to believe..

Now, as far as the waitress issue..I agree people make mistakes..but when the same mistake keeps happening to someone who is different and no one else then something
else is going on..but you also have people who like to pull a "race" card to control someone..so people can be wrong on both sides..the discriminator and the person being
discriminated aganist..or the person being assumed to be discriminating and the person
accusing someone of discrimination..when it is not the case..

Now, as far as Pittsburgh is concerned...it is behind on national trends compared to
other cities...in terms of lack of diversity..no mass immigration here..it is not a question
of diversity..people go where jobs are..so if the jobs come then mass immigration will come..it is only diverse around the Universities...not in general like other cities..

[Agbor]

..."diversity" follows massive job creation..."diverse" and various people go where
something is drawing them..jobs, gold rush..etc..$$$..LOL

[Gypsii]

Originally Posted by Agbor

..."diversity" follows massive job creation..."diverse" and various people go where
something is drawing them..jobs, gold rush..etc..$$$..LOL

Diversity also drives some away from their great jobs and beautiful homes. That is, some folks flee at the first sight of anything that's different from themselves. If we're honest, the reality is that Whites tend to prefer to live around other Whites, Blacks around other Blacks, etc... As well, middle class folks prefer to live around other middles, uppers around other uppers, etc... Nothing wrong with it.

Even when folks work around other races, they tend to live in communities comprised of folks who look similar to them. Again, nothing at all wrong with it. I simply wish that White people would abandan the belief that groups are dying to live around us. Most of us would be surprised at how uncomfortable and strange other groups find whites.