There's a discussion going on the WSBA Diversity list serve, about something a member of the BOG had said and the reaction to it. People seemed pretty upset but I didn't know what this was about, except that BOG was going to have a listening session with the MBAs which seems harmless, I guess. Any time people talk, that's a good thing, right?
Not to Ed Hiskes, who argued that it was going to be a public shaming session of that Governor, complete with a demand for ritual apology and an official censure. He then found a case where someone sued a board for censuring them (as it happens, the suit merely established standing to sue, I don't know whether it actually resulted in judgment). He argued that he had a good understanding of racial issues because his wife is from Ghana where they don't have racial issues, and she didn't see a problem. I'd previously clashed with Ed over his lunatic proposal to fix diversity problems by letting members apply some of their WSBA dues to MBAs, so I thought I'd sit this one out but eventually I asked the list what it was about. The first response nettled me by advising that if I were sincere I could find out by reviewing the recording of the 2 day Board meeting. My first impulse was to respond sharply but fortunately my better angels resulted in a much more neutral/professional tone; and two people swiftly sent me to a 10minute clip that was persuasive within its first minutes. I then commented that I understood why people were unhappy and in reference to the defense of the misbehavior said "horsefeathers".
Ed came back saying that my response was like some movie clip where a callow white guy says racism is bad. He intended to be insulting but to everyone but me it must have seemed sad. It is difficult for me to resist his trolling but I succeeded - much against my first impulse - and I think I have a better understanding where he sits on that listserve.
I hope I keep the wisdom not to feed the trolls in other venues.
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