[aaron-lebo]

Yeah, optics matter, but a reasonable person might take your comment as saying "optics matter more than merit".

Your last sentence doesn't follow. Maybe you could replace a sexist old man with a man who isn't sexist?

[pheldagryph]

I would rejoinder with: the optics are the merit. These are only board members, after all.

[dogecoinbase]

Maybe you could replace a sexist old man with a man who isn't sexist?

This is not testable. Move what you can measure.

[aaron-lebo]

Ok, so how do you test that a female hire isn't racist?

[nemothekid]

By not moving the goalposts.