Some Asians' college strategy: Don't check 'Asian'

[Darkwing Duck]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-12-03/asian-students-coll ege-applications/51620236/1

To be honest, I always declare myself a random race or "other" every time I get asked this stupid question on forms.

I consider that question just about the most offensive and dumbest sign of racism the government still clings to.

[spalding]

Why do you assign it to the government?

The only time it is connected to the Federal government it is a crime for the company, college, et al to use it in any way to affect the outcome of the application (note I'm not saying this doesn't still happen, only that doing so is a crime).

However answering incorrectly (as opposed to abstaining in answering) can disqualify you for a position dependent on the legalese on the application.

[Darkwing Duck]

Abraham spalding wrote:

However answering incorrectly (as opposed to abstaining in answering) can disqualify you for a position dependent on the legalese on the application.

That's one of the reasons it is so stupid. There is no objective basis for race. What are they going to do? Claim that I answered incorrectly based on what I look like? That could get them into all sorts of trouble.

[spalding]

Well the government supposedly (please note that word) uses it to track the company's hiring compared to local population to keep a look out for possible discrimination.

They do get to do a background check on you (which could for some reason involve checking on your immediate family, especially for a security related or high exposure to confidential material job) or wait for you to say something around the office (et al) that would give them the grounds to say "you said one thing but wrote another." However there are usually easier ways to get rid of someone (or to not hire them -- typically you don't have to explain why someone wasn't hired).

[Darkwing Duck]

Abraham spalding wrote:

Well the government supposedly (please note that word) uses it to track the company's hiring compared to local population to keep a look out for possible discrimination.

They do get to do a background check on you (which could for some reason involve checking on your immediate family, especially for a security related or high exposure to confidential material job) or wait for you to say something around the office (et al) that would give them the grounds to say "you said one thing but wrote another." However there are usually easier ways to get rid of someone (or to not hire them -- typically you don't have to explain why someone wasn't hired).

If the background check comes back with my family being asked, "what race are you?" that's even more stupid. Plus, I've never had that happen.

As for waiting for me to say something around the water cooler, I don't talk about race at work. That would be nearly as offensive as a company or government asking me to fill in a little race checklist. I don't talk about being gay at work either. These sort of topics simply shouldn't be discussion topics at work.