tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post1674991768013049150..comments2024-03-24T21:06:57.039-07:00Comments on FOUSESQUAWK: An Example of Juan Cole's "Informed" ScholarshipGary Fousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014739065121483409noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-12519918062716058142015-07-05T16:52:04.751-07:002015-07-05T16:52:04.751-07:00Statistical models of diversity are questionable a...Statistical models of diversity are questionable at best -- I've been critiquing "disparate impact" as a reliable measure of racism for some time. On the other hand, I have a friend who is Coptic who found that he was ALWAYS pulled into the line for extra scrutiny because he looks kinda Arab, on international flights to AND from the USA.<br /><br />Actually elwood, about 40 percent of those charged in state court are acquitted, while federal prosecutors have a 95 percent conviction rate, and the reasons for that involve power leverage more than they involve much better judgment as to which persons to charge. State prosecutors aren't that bad, and federal prosecutors aren't that good. A 95 percent conviction rate has the same credibility as an incumbent president getting re-elected with 95 percent of the vote.<br /><br />If a whole lot of Arabic-looking people are subjected to extra scrutiny just because they look Arab, then we have a problem, just as if anyone black is pulled over because they look guilty, we have a problem. One reason it IS a problem, is it provides a veneer of sympathy for people who happen to be black who are pulled over for good reason, and then starting blaring "He just pulled me over because I'm black." Police have cried "Wolf" a few times too many, to hold the instant trust of the community, even the community that is victimized by the relevant crimes.Siarlys Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15083839117838391267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-76137370013030800732015-07-02T07:46:12.421-07:002015-07-02T07:46:12.421-07:00Siarlys--you missed the point, of course there are...Siarlys--you missed the point, of course there are "white" dope runners, Gary has it right, and I may just know a little more than you seem to think I do. A great deal of it is based on behaviors, while race/ethnicity may or may not play a part, or only a secondary/tertiary one. <br /><br />I was trying to point out the complete idiocy of, for another example, doing only a cursory exam of young Muslim males at an airport, who may in fact be acting a little strangely, while referring a blue-haired 80-year old grandma in a wheelchair for secondary, merely to meet some statistical model of diversity. Like it or not, this kind of stuff does happen. <br /><br />And I don't know about the percentage of arrestees who are guilty, but a very strong majority (probably 95% or even more) of those actually charged are guilty of something.elwood p sugginsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-6700509711768989922015-07-01T19:57:29.718-07:002015-07-01T19:57:29.718-07:00Drug traffickers cut across all ethnic lines.Drug traffickers cut across all ethnic lines.Gary Fousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17014739065121483409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-30668674580107687592015-07-01T19:43:00.739-07:002015-07-01T19:43:00.739-07:00If you think there are not "white" drug ...If you think there are not "white" drug dealers making those runs... you don't know much. If the majority of the people the police arrest are in fact guilty, and the rest are quickly sent on their way with a sincere apology, everything will quiet down.Siarlys Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15083839117838391267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-57472284926044357322015-07-01T08:56:40.164-07:002015-07-01T08:56:40.164-07:00Yeah Siarlys, but when PC runs amok, then you have...Yeah Siarlys, but when PC runs amok, then you have requirements that for every so many black CA drug suspects running to Iowa or from a bank robbery, you have to stop some number of white dudes to "even things up". That is absolutely INSANE!!!<br />Happy medium, I say. elwood p sugginsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-58815814588336204342015-06-30T15:19:26.792-07:002015-06-30T15:19:26.792-07:00That is exactly how it should be used, elwood. One...That is exactly how it should be used, elwood. One tool among many, and to be applied with a view to the entire context. E.g., it is possible that more of a given crime is at present being committed by people with Muslim connections, but that doesn't mean you strip search every Muslim who passes through the checkpoint. It is possible that two black men have been couriering drugs to local distribution networks in rural Iowa, but that is not sufficient basis to pull over and arrest every pair of black men with California plates driving through Iowa on the interstate. You might give them a bit more discreet surveillance until you say where they are heading.Siarlys Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15083839117838391267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-66422464691369480312015-06-30T07:57:09.818-07:002015-06-30T07:57:09.818-07:00It is, of course, quite possible to profile withou...It is, of course, quite possible to profile without having blinders on. Maybe profiling is best used as an adjunct??elwood p sugginsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59324506101124457.post-41722577411653651502015-06-29T09:02:48.980-07:002015-06-29T09:02:48.980-07:00Oh, Gary is a convert to the "global village....Oh, Gary is a convert to the "global village." Next thing, he'll be singing the praises of the United Nations, and buying Hillary's book.<br /><br />Now, seriously, although I have yet to see any reason to hold any respect for Cole, those statistics are rather useful as far as security in North America goes. Law enforcement needs to professionally track evidence of terror preparations, wherever it leads, and not put on the blinders of profiling. The problem with profiles is, if the terrorist is outside the profile, you tend to miss him.Siarlys Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15083839117838391267noreply@blogger.com