Comments on: The Case Against Racial Profiling http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:38:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Earnest http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1664 Earnest Mon, 26 Jan 2004 15:28:28 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1664 I know my argument sounds silly on its face, but we've all seen the experiment where people are asked to describe someone they've just seen (who usually runs into and out of a location), and everyone gives a different response. In the heat of the moment how can you expect a victim to distinguish between a male and a masculine female? The thing is-- whether its fair and equal or not-- you can generally assume that the offender in one of those cases will be male so it's a good starting point. I know my argument sounds silly on its face, but we’ve all seen the experiment where people are asked to describe someone they’ve just seen (who usually runs into and out of a location), and everyone gives a different response. In the heat of the moment how can you expect a victim to distinguish between a male and a masculine female? The thing is– whether its fair and equal or not– you can generally assume that the offender in one of those cases will be male so it’s a good starting point.

]]> By: greg http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1663 greg Sat, 24 Jan 2004 21:44:21 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1663 <blockquote>For instance, a masked offender has been raping women at a girls-only school. Do you keep on the look out for men, or is everyone a suspect?</blockquote> Well, I'd imagine the victims would probably be able to help narrow down the <i>gender</i> of the suspect, so I'm not so sure that's a useful analogy. Besides, there's a big difference between trying to track down a single person and being "at war" with an undetermined number of nameless, faceless enemies. But as far as the gender issue is concerned, I think it would be just as stupid to engage in gender profiling as racial profiling. While most "suiciders" (as the President likes to call them) have been male, I seem to remember hearing about a Palestinian teenage girl who did it as well.

For instance, a masked offender has been raping women at a girls-only school. Do you keep on the look out for men, or is everyone a suspect?

Well, I’d imagine the victims would probably be able to help narrow down the gender of the suspect, so I’m not so sure that’s a useful analogy. Besides, there’s a big difference between trying to track down a single person and being “at war” with an undetermined number of nameless, faceless enemies.

But as far as the gender issue is concerned, I think it would be just as stupid to engage in gender profiling as racial profiling. While most “suiciders” (as the President likes to call them) have been male, I seem to remember hearing about a Palestinian teenage girl who did it as well.

]]> By: Earnest http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1662 Earnest Sat, 24 Jan 2004 19:19:07 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1662 The question I would ask is whether there is any kind of profiling you'd tolerate? Or are you only <i>not </i>in favor of racial profiling? For instance, a masked offender has been raping women at a girls-only school. Do you keep on the look out for men, or is everyone a suspect? The question I would ask is whether there is any kind of profiling you’d tolerate? Or are you only not in favor of racial profiling? For instance, a masked offender has been raping women at a girls-only school. Do you keep on the look out for men, or is everyone a suspect?

]]> By: Shannon http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1661 Shannon Sat, 24 Jan 2004 14:24:16 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1661 I think racial profiling is dangerous. It gives everyone a false sense of security, while letting certain people go through the net. Al Quaida could simply just get someone who doesn't fit the profile, and kabooom!, but we're not as wacthful because we think "Oh, he's not Arab, so he can't possibly be a terrorist" instead of using common sense and noticing that he has bomb parts falling out of his suitecase.. I think racial profiling is dangerous. It gives everyone a false sense of security, while letting certain people go through the net. Al Quaida could simply just get someone who doesn’t fit the profile, and kabooom!, but we’re not as wacthful because we think “Oh, he’s not Arab, so he can’t possibly be a terrorist” instead of using common sense and noticing that he has bomb parts falling out of his suitecase..

]]> By: andrew http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1660 andrew Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:43:41 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1660 I'm not sure I trust the airport employees to do any profiling what so ever. In the US the searches are prett much done at random. If someone is really suspicious they'll get pulled out of line, but I'm pretty sure if I was planning a large scale attack I'd be as unsuspicious as possible. What we need are well trained people in the job, and we aren't going to get them for $10/hour. I’m not sure I trust the airport employees to do any profiling what so ever. In the US the searches are prett much done at random. If someone is really suspicious they’ll get pulled out of line, but I’m pretty sure if I was planning a large scale attack I’d be as unsuspicious as possible.

What we need are well trained people in the job, and we aren’t going to get them for $10/hour.

]]> By: greg http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1659 greg Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:31:18 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1659 Good point, Kyle. I meant this more as a rebuttal to all the ignorant conservatives out there who think the only reason to oppose racial profiling is so we don't hurt anyone's feelings or that they should be above any suspicion because they're white. Good point, Kyle. I meant this more as a rebuttal to all the ignorant conservatives out there who think the only reason to oppose racial profiling is so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings or that they should be above any suspicion because they’re white.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1658 Kyle Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:17:03 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1658 I think they're giving you dirty looks because your shoes are so rad. They already do "suspicious" profiling, don't they? I usually get through airports alright but I remember recently when I had to run to the gate and was totally disheveled and out of breath. The airport screeners took me aside and practically stripped off all my clothes while they went through my bags. I believe all current airport personnel has been trained in this sort of profiling. I even worked on a Flash ani at my last job that an airline was using to detail what they looked for (pregnant women are suspicious too!). I think they’re giving you dirty looks because your shoes are so rad.

They already do “suspicious” profiling, don’t they? I usually get through airports alright but I remember recently when I had to run to the gate and was totally disheveled and out of breath. The airport screeners took me aside and practically stripped off all my clothes while they went through my bags.

I believe all current airport personnel has been trained in this sort of profiling. I even worked on a Flash ani at my last job that an airline was using to detail what they looked for (pregnant women are suspicious too!).

]]> By: tom http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1657 tom Fri, 23 Jan 2004 19:20:59 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1657 speaking of profiling based on color- i thought that i was always getting weird looks from my fellow suburbanites for having blue hair (you'd think that in Glendale- about 5 minutes from hollywood- they'd be used to something like that), but then my girlfriend gave me a pair of pink converse shoes- now i get even weirder, dirtier looks from every mildly homophobic glendalian in town. speaking of profiling based on color-

i thought that i was always getting weird looks from my fellow suburbanites for having blue hair (you’d think that in Glendale- about 5 minutes from hollywood- they’d be used to something like that), but then my girlfriend gave me a pair of pink converse shoes- now i get even weirder, dirtier looks from every mildly homophobic glendalian in town.

]]> By: greg http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1656 greg Fri, 23 Jan 2004 18:56:22 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1656 <blockquote>How about instead of racial or gender profiling we start: "That guy looks suspicious " profiling?</blockquote> Exactly. People seem to forget that the reason they arrested the "20th hijacker" wasn't because he was a creepy Arab guy, but because he wanted to learn how to fly an airliner, but didn't want to learn how to land! If we ever wanna win this "war", we need less racial profiling and more "questionable behavior" profiling.

How about instead of racial or gender profiling we start: “That guy looks suspicious ” profiling?

Exactly. People seem to forget that the reason they arrested the “20th hijacker” wasn’t because he was a creepy Arab guy, but because he wanted to learn how to fly an airliner, but didn’t want to learn how to land! If we ever wanna win this “war”, we need less racial profiling and more “questionable behavior” profiling.

]]> By: andrew http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1655 andrew Fri, 23 Jan 2004 18:50:50 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2004/01/23/the-case-against-racial-profiling/#comment-1655 How about instead of racial or gender profiling we start: "That guy looks suspicious " profiling? Of course that would entail having security personel who were trained to spot suspicious behavior, which would cost money. What I'm not in favor of is the color coded passenger system. That makes it EASIER for a terrorist to blow up a plane. All they need to do is go on a couple of flights beforehand to test what they're threat level is. If they get searched frequently, they know they have a high threat level. How about instead of racial or gender profiling we start: “That guy looks suspicious ” profiling? Of course that would entail having security personel who were trained to spot suspicious behavior, which would cost money.

What I’m not in favor of is the color coded passenger system. That makes it EASIER for a terrorist to blow up a plane. All they need to do is go on a couple of flights beforehand to test what they’re threat level is. If they get searched frequently, they know they have a high threat level.

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