Reply to Help me Edit: Response to Brookings Report

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous]I think we’re talking past each other here.

Generally, I don’t think Brookings has to offer solutions to problems it identifies in order for its research to make accurate truth claims.

I also think they are right about what they identify here. Not universally, but more right than wrong.

I don’t expect “someone else” to solve this problem. When I recognize the dynamics they’re describing in my own life, I try to take steps to lessen them. With the climate here being what it is lately, I’m not down for describing those steps. That climate issue is worth some of your energy. It’s worse than it has been. That, more than Brookings, is going to cut into your traffic after the initial bump.

Regardless: Brookings doesn’t have to identify solutions to be identifying problems.[/quote]

Talking past each other or not, we are definitely having trouble communicating. Because neither Brookings nor you propose alternative actions for DCUM posters, all you have to offer is criticism. You say that your criticism is correct. But my argument is that while our users are making choices that might not be perfect, they are still the best choices available to them. If there are better choices, what are they? You won't say and Brookings didn't say. I assume that whatever secrets you are keeping are unknown to our users, so even though better choices may secretly exist, they are unknown to our posters who are still making the best choices among the alternatives known to them.

It really seems like common sense that if you are going to criticize someone's actions, you should be able to tell them what they should do differently.  Otherwise, it is not clear that you wouldn't do exactly the same thing they are doing if you were in their circumstances.

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Considering that the anti - racist (sorry if you don’t like that word) education movement is still searching to find those answers, maybe don’t get so pissy when people don’t have all the answers. I can tell you that this site has a racism problem without having all the solutions. You could start by being less reactive and more reflective[/quote]

I've been reflective for the 15 years I've run the site. [b]The biggest part of my job is removing racist posts. It is impossible to read every thread, let alone every post. But I do my best with the help of a lot of posters who care enough to report posts rather than just complain. [/b]

Oh yeah, I appreciate that you are honest enough to explain that the education movement is still searching for answers. I would just ask you what you expect from parents who are trying to find schools for their kids who also don't know those answers? Perhaps reflection is something that more than I should do? I don't think any of use have a monopoly on the truth or the answers.

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The problem is that the racism is very subtle--such as steering a poster new to the area to schools w/larger white populations--so they don't meet criteria for removal.  [/quote]

Right, but if you see that happening, can't you jump in with a post suggesting an option that you think is more appropriate? The hypothetical poster you describe may simply be referring the new comer to the only school with which the poster is familiar. [b]Not everything is a conspiracy.[/b]

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You keep sticking your head in the sand when numerous posters have told you about their experience of racism here.  As many have said, the racism is often unwitting, which you don’t seem to be willing to accept.  And you wonder why more BIPOC posters like me don’t post here.  [/quote]

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