[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Study finds racial bias in ads displayed on Google searches here

[ChatTn23]

In principle racial profiling is wrong, but it still occurs, and you can reach a point where it’s hard to tell when the line is crossed anymore. Sometimes it’s obvious, like when a very good friend of mine got pulled over for a headlamp being out and ended up getting his car searched from one end to the other. I’m sure that occurred because he was black. I’ve been pulled over several times, once for doing 83 MPH in a 55 MPH speed zone on a Pennsylvania interstate. They let me go with a warning. I’ve never had my vehicles searched. Not sure my friend would have been that lucky.
I know the phrase African-American is more socially acceptable right now but my friend informed me some time ago he was black, proud of it, and if I ever referred to him as an African-American he would kick my butt. “I am an American!” was his final statement on that subject.
Then here’s the other side of the story from the one above. A few weeks ago two men robbed a fast food store and ran into the woods behind the store. When the police gave out a description of the men, one was white wearing a black hoodie and black jeans and one was black wearing a green hoodie and tan pants. Some were upset because one of the individuals was identified as being black instead of just being a man with clothing description given. They did not appear to care that the other being identified as white was an issue. Of course, when the video footage of the crime inside the establishment was released it clearly showed the individual being as described. I don’t see this issue getting much backing, even from the majority of the Black community here. The description of a person that commits a crime, in my opinion has every right to include race since it eliminates a bunch of people from the search. If the persons name is Jeff, Mary, Darnell, Latisha, or whatever, it’s part of the description if it’s known. This has its holes for sure. The lady living across the street from me has a very popular Latino name and there is not an ounce of Latino in her at all.

[stalepie]

Isn't it based on who already has arrest records? For instance, if there are more people arrested by the name of "Treyvon" than "Dustin" in their database then it will show more ads for that name.

I have not read the PDF and may not understand the PC World article here.

[thewazak]

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In principle racial profiling is wrong,

Yes, of course it is.
And even though 99.999 percent of Jihadist attacks have been undertaken by young men in the 19 to 34 bracket with an Arabic appearance, all white grandma's should be equally delayed at airports with annoying shoe removals (etc).
Does that make sense too?

[Nike56]

Well considering Black people only make up 13% of the US population, but commit 54% of the crimes, it only makes sense that they are associated with being arrested. May not be politically correct, but it's realistically correct. Hiding behind Political correctness won't make problems go away.

[ChatTn23]

I see your point here, but when it comes to these types of, what I’ll refer to as “group searches” it’s not always that simple. Most group searches (not only at airports) are random in nature and have less to do with appearances and more to do with a computing device telling the search teams which persons to search, more on a quota system then anything else. They still have the right to search anyone appearing suspicious in nature, sometimes based on body language, what they might be carrying or observed bulges in their clothing, etc. Also, grandma and grandpa are not always that safe either, like a 65 year old who walks on a bus, shoots a bus driver and grabs a 5 year old boy. If it had not been for the bus driver it’s hard to tell what this guy had in mind since it was later found he had pipe bombs in his bunker. I could give other examples that include grandma’s here, but I think you understand what I’m writing about here. It’s stuff we would have never even considered 50 years ago, but to say times have changed is an understatement.

There’s enough nut cases to go around in America that has nothing to do with religion but more to do with anti-government or anti-whatever they don’t like. All the gun laws in the world will have minimal impact on someone with a mission to fulfill. We all have our opinions; some just deal with them differently than others.

[ChatTn23]

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In principle racial profiling is wrong, Yes, of course it is. And even though 99.999 percent of Jihadist attacks have been undertaken by young men in the 19 to 34 bracket with an Arabic appearance, all white grandma's should be equally delayed at airports with annoying shoe removals (etc). Does that make sense too?

Thewazak, My last post was for you. Sorry for any confusion it may have caused.

[thewazak]

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Thewazak, My last post was for you. Sorry for any confusion it may have caused.

No problem. I appreciate all responses - positive or negative - or just a different take!
WaZaK