[StavrosK]

> What underlying qualities does skin color clue us in to

What underlying qualities does height clue us in to? Are you sure that, even though traits regularly correlate with other traits, skin color is the one trait that has no correlation with absolutely anything else? I don't find that very likely, personally.

[pixl97]

>What underlying qualities does height clue us in to?

Possibly more than you think.

http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1820836,0...

[StavrosK]

That's my point.

[plonh]

The question is what relevant correlations there are. You won't do well to hire a taller programmer just because taller people are healthier.

See also adverse section paradox.

[StavrosK]

Sure, but there's a widespread way to reliably detect correlations. Besides, my point is more that we shouldn't plug our ears and go "racism lalala" whenever the reasonable, scientific fact that, like everything else, race may be correlated with some traits pops up.

[slipjack]

Er... my point was that most superficial qualities don't have a 1-to-1 mapping on internal qualities. Height is another great example.

[StavrosK]

The GP isn't talking about 1-to-1 mapping, they're talking about correlation, though.