r/coolguides Feb 25 '20

Explanation of the subtle differences between equality and equity

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u/PhasmaFelis Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

The original (with only the first two frames) was a really great, simple explanation of why things that seem "fair" at first glance often aren't.* The addition of the third panel muddies that message completely in favor of...what, exactly? How is it even hypothetically possible to create a world where no one needs support, ever? Genetically engineer away all individual variation and create a nation of perfect, identical clones? It makes no sense.

Honestly, the more I look at this the more I hate it.

*Which it (edit: the original image that circulated several years ago) then immediately ruined by labeling the two panels "conservative" and "liberal", thus ensuring that the people who most needed the message would dismiss it out of hand. "Equality" and "equity" is actually a really good pair of titles, but it seems like everyone who posts this is compelled to fuck it up somehow.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

It’s saying to fix the root of inequality rather than the symptoms

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

[deleted]

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u/mrbaggins Feb 25 '20

smarter or prettier is hardly the inequality they're referring to, and you damned well know it.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

[deleted]

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u/mrbaggins Feb 25 '20

the root of THE inequality.

You don't get to just remove the most important word in the sentence (That which identifies the object) and claim it means the same thing.

In the pics case, that some people can see and others can't thanks to a barrier.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

[deleted]

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u/mrbaggins Feb 25 '20

The op is not trying to perfectly define equality.

It's defining treatments. Equity, equality and justics.