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Awesome: 'the new pokethread for everyone' by Squall
Squall
hap cloudRegistered User regular
hap cloudRegistered User regular
i'm actually really upset about this you guys, i felt i needed to take action
here is the post I just wrote up for the Pokemon League comment board:
I think it is a fair summary of my opinions on the matter.
here is the post I just wrote up for the Pokemon League comment board:
This is ridiculous. As much as I respect the League's mission for diversity, the message their statistics present is clear.
14% of those admitted are first-generation bred.
27% are underrepresented types.
47% are lax-natured.
And it wasn't said on the statistics, but it's safe to assume a significant percentage of those admitted were steel-types.
It's obvious even at first glance that those admissions statistics are extremely disproportionate to the percentages of "disenfranchised" types and the like who applied to the League, which means one of two things: either, through some miraculous coincidence, the "diverse" pokemon who applied to the League are, on average, a great deal more EV-trained, or possessed of a great deal more favorable IVs, than everyone else; or the admissions department has decided that breed/nature/typing status is more important than EV training and IVs.
Now, I do understand that some of that bias is meant to correct for institutional and systemic forms of breedism/typism, and I accept that. Also, I am of course not suggesting that all of the underrepresented types and first-generation bred pokemon got in through pokefirmative action programs; such an assertion would be not only typist, but would also be damaging and diminishing the contributions of those pokemon. However, the most cursory analysis of the statistics with which we are presented makes it eminently clear that a majority, or at least a substantial percentage, of first-generation bred pokemon and underrepresented types received special consideration.
That special consideration is unfair to non-minority types and minority types alike. Those who seem to benefit from the policy are in fact hurt, as the League's manner in this instance is patronizing and paternalistic. Ensuring that all pokemon are considered in the context of their circumstances is one thing, but giving additional consideration past that for no compelling reason seems to imply that the League believes that these underrepresented types ought to be held to "lax" standards and deserve the League's pity and help.
This sort of "water-type's burden" approach is fundamentally incapable of alleviating any of the systemic problems of typism that it seeks to address. Giving less qualified pokemon admission to the League just because of their breeding lineage won't help them at all, and it won't help the pokecommunity at all. What can work is pokecommunity outreach programs that work from the bottom to ensure that underrepresented types are not left behind in their training; by contrast, the League's haphazard program of two-tiered treatment will sow nothing but unfairness in future tourneys.
I think it is a fair summary of my opinions on the matter.
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