• @[email protected]OP
    1•2 months ago

    You said a lot of words but only convinced me that you think very highly of your own judgment.

    • @[email protected]English
      12•2 months ago

      I’m not convinced you actually read my comment before responding.

      I don’t even think you wanted a discussion. I think you just want to say your belief and have it treated as fact.

      • @[email protected]OP
        2•2 months ago

        I did. It was a whole lot of assumptions backed up with anecdotes all designed to come to one single conclusion.

        • @[email protected]English
          11•2 months ago

          Okay, you definitely didn’t read my comment if that’s what you think it was. Let me sum it up for you:

          • A person’s merit is subjective.
          • Judging merit based on subjective values will bring in biases and corruption.
          • Judging merit based on objective values is impossible, and will need to be a simplification.
          • In either case, people will game the system to raise their value, regardless of whether they actually contribute anything of merit.
          • Any system will become outdated VERY quickly, as society is always changing.
          • Capitalism only judges the acquisition of capital, which is not a merit.
          • A person can cheat literally any system if they try hard enough.

          I explained all of that without a single anecdote.

          • @[email protected]
            2•2 months ago

            From which semi-tautological contortions we can conclude that, uh, capitalism probably isn’t the problem, after all.

            • @[email protected]English
              2•2 months ago

              First, my conclusion is that meritocracy is impossible. Your conclusion was something you came up with on your own.

              Second, capitalism isn’t the ONLY problem. It’s still a problem. Greed will corrupt any system, but capitalism is a system that openly rewards this corruption.

            • @[email protected]English
              2•2 months ago

              I don’t think I said “nothing can be done”. I just said meritocracy is impossible. And since it’s impossible, we need a different system we can actually achieve. It won’t be without flaws, but we can still aim to have LESS flaws than currently.

              You don’t improve by pretending nothing’s wrong.

              • @[email protected]OP
                1•2 months ago

                I don’t think I said “nothing can be done”. I just said meritocracy is impossible.

                Why would I want to discuss anything with someone who will contradict themselves in the first two sentences they mutter.

                • @[email protected]English
                  3•2 months ago

                  There are options other than “meritocracy” and “nothing”, you know. It’s worrying that didn’t occur to you.

                  • @[email protected]OP
                    1•2 months ago

                    This is the common definition of meritocracy:

                    A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.

                    Yes, I dismiss you off hand for the very bold claim that meritocracy is impossible.