I was skimming the debate thread that Dak put up the other day and it seemed this question is one worth getting multiple views on.

I personally believe racial profiling isn't a bad thing. Like most people I realize that not all Muslims are terrorists. I also realize that almost all terrorists are Muslims. Keeping this in mind how can we best keep our ports safe from terror attacks without profiling of some sort? I also like the idea of the "Nude" scanners but the public has nixed that idea. When I fly, I don't want to sit next to a rag or even see one on the plane. Maybe we should put all of them on the same flights...that way when they blow one up no one will care.

Thoughts...

I'm for racial profiling. yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard the Israelis don't use it but does that mean it can't work here? And I don't just mean profiling terrorists, I also mean profiling illegals.

In one way or another we're all profiled, so what the f*ck, right?

I'll ignore the baiting/trolling portion of your post, and ask that everyone else does too.

Racial profiling isn't a bad thing.

Growing up I had little to no racism or racial stereotyping coming into my head. Even through college I was surrounded by the best of whatever race. Good people all around.

Upon entering the work force I have been thrown down with the least common denominator. The stereotypical black man that doesn't tip, orders strawberry lemonade with his fried chicken, assumes a lack of respect is because of his skin color and not his idiocy/stature. The stereotypical black woman who spends 30 min. ordering at Subway "not that tomato, the other one, mmmmm hmmmm. Just a lil may-naise, nope, TOO MUCH, scrape off all that lettuce now and start over." The lazy crew of Mexicans that naps while at work, takes all the short cuts, slicks back their hair and tricks out their 10 y/o japanese sedan. And I'm the honky gringo cracker that pops the whip over their heads and makes them work too hard.

Stereotypes are there because they're often true. They're just easier. "Racial Profiling" has been outed as "Stereotyping".

Basically, what this whole rant is saying is that we need a rebranding effort. Some new name for "Racial Profiling" that isn't linked to "Stereotype" in any way.

It's not just minorities that are stereotyped; who do we usually associate with living in trailer parks, being inbred hillbillies, etc? I really don't care, it doesn't bother me at all.

Bigots rarely have an issue with profiling.

(11-29-2011 04:35 PM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  Like most people I realize that not all Muslims are terrorists. I also realize that almost all terrorists are Muslims. Keeping this in mind how can we best keep our ports safe from terror attacks without profiling of some sort?

Ports? Better add OWS to the profiling list.

(11-29-2011 09:45 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Bigots rarely have an issue with profiling.

Blacks don't profile? Isn't Obama profiling his voter base as we type?

(11-29-2011 09:06 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  I'll ignore the baiting/trolling portion of your post, and ask that everyone else does too.

Racial profiling isn't a bad thing.

Growing up I had little to no racism or racial stereotyping coming into my head. Even through college I was surrounded by the best of whatever race. Good people all around.

Upon entering the work force I have been thrown down with the least common denominator. The stereotypical black man that doesn't tip, orders strawberry lemonade with his fried chicken, assumes a lack of respect is because of his skin color and not his idiocy/stature. The stereotypical black woman who spends 30 min. ordering at Subway "not that tomato, the other one, mmmmm hmmmm. Just a lil may-naise, nope, TOO MUCH, scrape off all that lettuce now and start over." The lazy crew of Mexicans that naps while at work, takes all the short cuts, slicks back their hair and tricks out their 10 y/o japanese sedan. And I'm the honky gringo cracker that pops the whip over their heads and makes them work too hard.

Stereotypes are there because they're often true. They're just easier. "Racial Profiling" has been outed as "Stereotyping".

Basically, what this whole rant is saying is that we need a rebranding effort. Some new name for "Racial Profiling" that isn't linked to "Stereotype" in any way.

I wasn't baiting anyone...this time. There was some sarcasm in there though.

(11-29-2011 09:45 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Bigots rarely have an issue with profiling.

Just because I don't like anyone who doesn't look and act like me doesn't make me a bigot. You're an idiot. You should fly to Iran and tell everyone you're an American citizen while wearing the American flag then see what happens....hint...you'd lose your head. They could do the same thing here and nothing would happen. There is a difference. Its not bigotry...its reality. Grow up.

Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

(11-30-2011 08:56 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

Good question. No, I mean racial profiling. Most Muslims that want to do us harm are from a specific part of the world. But I'm ok with any kind of profiling really. I have nothing to hide so profile me any way you want. I have no problem with airport security. Even searching women and children...history has shown us that the radical part of Islam will sacrifice whoever they can to achieve terror. Profiling will keep us safe while targeting those who mean to do us harm. IMO.

(11-30-2011 09:02 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(11-30-2011 08:56 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

Good question. No, I mean racial profiling. Most Muslims that want to do us harm are from a specific part of the world. But I'm ok with any kind of profiling really. I have nothing to hide so profile me any way you want. I have no problem with airport security. Even searching women and children...history has shown us that the radical part of Islam will sacrifice whoever they can to achieve terror. Profiling will keep us safe while targeting those who mean to do us harm. IMO.

It's ethnic profiling that you're after then.

(11-30-2011 09:07 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(11-30-2011 09:02 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(11-30-2011 08:56 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

Good question. No, I mean racial profiling. Most Muslims that want to do us harm are from a specific part of the world. But I'm ok with any kind of profiling really. I have nothing to hide so profile me any way you want. I have no problem with airport security. Even searching women and children...history has shown us that the radical part of Islam will sacrifice whoever they can to achieve terror. Profiling will keep us safe while targeting those who mean to do us harm. IMO.

It's ethnic profiling that you're after then.

In this context I consider them to be the same. Good point though.

A quick Google search yielded this...

The term “racial profiling” refers to the practice whereby law-enforcement, intelligence, or homeland-security personnel factor the racial (or ethnic) characteristics of any given suspect into their respective decision-making processes.

(11-30-2011 09:16 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  A quick Google search yielded this...

The term “racial profiling” refers to the practice whereby law-enforcement, intelligence, or homeland-security personnel factor the racial (or ethnic) characteristics of any given suspect into their respective decision-making processes.

Sure, but you're more concerned with where someone is from and what their beliefs are, rather than the amount of melanin in their skin, hair color, or other physical features.

(11-30-2011 09:18 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(11-30-2011 09:16 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  A quick Google search yielded this...

The term “racial profiling” refers to the practice whereby law-enforcement, intelligence, or homeland-security personnel factor the racial (or ethnic) characteristics of any given suspect into their respective decision-making processes.

Sure, but you're more concerned with where someone is from and what their beliefs are, rather than the amount of melanin in their skin, hair color, or other physical features.

In this context Racial Profiling is more applicable when the definition of race is clearly defined. People from specific parts of the world generally have close to the same skin tone, hair color and physical features.

From Wikipedia...

Race is classification of humans into large and distinct populations or groups by factors such as heritable phenotypic characteristics or geographic ancestry, but also often influenced by and correlated with traits such as appearance, culture, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

(11-29-2011 09:45 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Bigots rarely have an issue with profiling.

People judge people. When you look at someone you judge them: educated? rich? etc. You judge them by appearance/data (passport, resume, etc.). And our snap judgements come from profiles we have developed from past experiences with similar profiles. We run a checklist to establish a predetermined expectation of how this person will interact with us. Might be wrong, might be right. But if we see it more times than not, thats our default response. Profiling has nothing to do with being a bigot. Anyone who believes that they don't profile a person (consciously or subconsciously) is just lying to themselves. Or an idiot.

(11-30-2011 08:56 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

He just means non-white people.

(11-29-2011 09:45 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Bigots rarely have an issue with profiling.

(12-01-2011 12:58 AM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  

(11-30-2011 08:56 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

He just means non-white people.

You have a profile on each of us.

(12-01-2011 07:33 AM)Paul M Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:45 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Bigots rarely have an issue with profiling.

(12-01-2011 12:58 AM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  

(11-30-2011 08:56 AM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Serious question: Do you mean religious profiling? Muslim isn't a race.

He just means non-white people.

You have a profile on each of us.

Touche

TMonay is exactly right as well - everyone profiles all the time. It's largely based on past experieces.