Is it ever "okay" to profile?
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
United States
March 28, 2007 5:33pm CST
My daughter's psych class in college has debates regularly on various issues. This past one was a question posed as to whether it's ever acceptable to profile based on nothing more then a persons looks.
Can you think of instances where it is acceptable?
I personally said yes, I think that when it comes to law enforcement or military need.... meaning to keep the rest of us safe. If it's a known area for drug trafficing then you're going to approach those who are most commonly caught doing so, males of a certain age group etc. If we're at war and people coming into our country are from that country we are at war with then they should expect to be looked at a little closer. It's a known fact that their country and therefore many of "them", meaning their countrymen, are out to hurt or kill "us" so of course it's normal and even acceptable to take a closer look.
Does it mean it's always right? No. Does it get abused? Definitely. But I do think there are cases where it's acceptable if done properly and for the right reasons.
What's your take on this one?
4 responses
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Right! I understand people who freak out. I totally relate to people in the african american community who freak over being pulled over. But we must try to understand the law enforcement are doing their job. I was a couple of years ago, driving a green escort and I was pulled over a number of times. Of course this wasnt because i was a white female, it's because of the car. Rather than getting defensive and angry, folks need to ask questions. I did, this is how I found this information.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
31 Mar 07
I think that's what aggrevates me the most. It's not like profiling is done without SOME reasoning to begin it in the first place. If you're at war with a country, of course those type of people are going to be looked at closer. I don't think people should lose their rights but I also don't think those of us that deserve a safe atmosphere should lose ours either!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
29 Mar 07
I think keeping profiles for criminals is ok. This is what the police has been doing anyway. But not for civilians. I wouldn't want to be captured in a profile when I have done no wrong. :P
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
29 Mar 07
I understand the desire to not be "pulled over" based on just your race or age, etc. but in the same sense I can understand the police and military doing just that because of the past experiences. I like Cyn's line that instead of getting mad at those profiling, get angry with those who are like you that created a reason to profile!
Again though, I can honestly say I would probably change my tune if it were me in the position of being profiled for no just cause so I really can feel for both sides.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
29 Mar 07
I agree that it should be used for safety and protection. Athough it should only be done by someone who was highly trained in that work and not just some kind of a guessing game.
1 person likes this
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
28 Mar 07
Oh man, this is such a touchy subject. When you are dealing with minorities who are already distrustful of law enforcement, it must be a difficult thing to feel as though you are being targeted. But if a "light skinned black male held up a li*uor store and disapeared in a late model red sedan" it should be expected that every late model red sedan driven by a light skinned black male would be pulled over. I live in the Washington DC area. a couple of years ago, when the sniper attacks were going on, at one point they thought that the suspects were two white men in a box truck. My brother, who is a contractor and drives a box truck was pulled over 4 times. He didn't get insulted. He knew that a white guy in a box truck was to be suspect. Likewise with Arabs on planes. I think that rather than get pi$$ed at the people doing the profiling, they need to get pi$$ed at the people who made such a thing "necessary." I put necessary in quotes because I couldn't think of a better word.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
29 Mar 07
You said it EXACTLY! The "debate" in the course wasn't is it ever incorrect to profile but is it ever correct or acceptable to profile!
I can honestly say my opinion might change if I were in a group of people that are often profiled and I do feel for them but I have to say that if most every time you eat an apple you get a worm, you're going to start checking that apple first. That doesn't mean you distrust the contents of all apples, just that in the past there have been a lot of apples with worms.
It is definitely a touchy subject indeed. I have to say that you hit it right when you said, instead of getting mad at those who are profiling, get angry at the ones who are making the profiles necessary.
