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Comment by jheriko | Hacker News Reader

I was going to make a similar comment, you hit the nail of my opinion smack on the head. The only thing I'll disagree with is this:

> I'm not justifying racial profiling.

As an arab who has come across the 'wrong' side of this at airports and train stations more than once, I completely support racial profiling. Ignoring good data because its politically inconvenient is ridiculous imo.

However what is described in the article is not racial profiling - its violent racism, and there is a very big difference. By all means search me, question me, hassle me for my race - but don't go beating me up for it.

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I had a similar conversation before about profiling and I have to agree. I'm a male, 18-35 yrs old. If I go to the airport and they stop me, but let a 70 yr old Grandmother by because I look like the bigger threat, then I think they are doing their job.

This is how a scout leader ran drugs through an airport.

Surely terrorists/drug dealers would dress up like grandmothers if we think like this.

I don't disagree, Chechen bombings in Russia have used women for that exact reason.

It's a tired cliche, and I know it's not something you can do in the US, but Israeli's have a pretty good profiling system in place. You don't base it purely on race or gender, but they are factors with the biggest discriminator being your story under questioning.

It takes a lot of skill to pass as an old person (e.g. walking the right way); our intuitions are good at spotting there's something "off". And anyone caught disguising themselves as a grandmother would immediately be under massive suspicion.

This is a terrible way to think and only furthers racism in the world. You need to have more self-respect for yourself, and expect it more from others than what you're implying in this comment. I, as a black man, do not welcome being hassled for my race. That "good data" you're talking about is corrupt because they focus on black people while non-blacks get away. We already know there are things made illegal for the purpose of oppressing brown people(see why weed is illegal), we already know the police are watching black people more than other races. We know the justice-system is not exactly balanced in terms of race, so I see your "good data" as heavily bias data designed to make one reach the conclusion the data-gathers want you to conclude. Furthering racism, furthering unfair jailing, furthering lining the pockets of those who benefit from jails being full, war-on-drugs, and starting wars.

You should probably watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQnxnYEVp4U

> That "good data" you're talking about is corrupt because they focus on black people while non-blacks get away.

I never really thought about the sampling bias that way...

I'm sure there is racism as well - it is a big problem - but race is a real thing, I don't think we can pretend everyone is equal either. Certainly nobody should be underprivileged, but I still think discrimination is healthy.

"good data"

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