Racist or common sense?

[Memorilla]

I was brought up to not judge people just because of their race or whatever else. But while I was watching a show and read people's comments about it I started to wonder.

The show was about black people being targeted (by being followed by employees, searched for stolen goods and being kicked out) at clothing stores because employees make the assumption that just because they're black, they're going to steal.

I read a comment made by someone who worked in a clothing store before. They stated that from their personal experience, black people are more likely to steal than white people. They also said that it isn't racist, but more of an adapting to one's surrounding.

I've seen similar points to these, such as people staying away from black people just because of a few statistics of crime rates they've read (stating that black people commit more crimes than white etc.).

Is it really common sense/adaptation to one's surrounding? Just like one would keep a close eye on a random stranger talking to an unsupervised child in a playground (random example, sorry)?

I for one would never judge an entire race just cause of a few statistics I've read, but it's quite hard to argue with the facts in front of us.

Do you think this is racism or just common sense?

Moved by Lee (Forum Super Moderator): From 'Discuss Anything'.

[David]

stereotype

[Richie]

I don't see a problem with staff keeping an extra eye someone of a different race if people of that ethic are a known problem in the past, if that's the case of course staff will be weary. It sounds racist but really isn't, in my opinion anyway. If someone is constantly being hounded and kicked out of shops just for being black, that's when racism kicks in but as far as keeping an extra eye on someone it isn't exactly racism. It's like watching fat people on a tour in a chocolate factory, just in case they decide to have a taste, it's perfectly fine or keeping an eye on a midget in the deep end of a swimming pool, in case their tiny midget hands magically get sucked into a tiny midget vent and trap them, drowning their midgetness.

[Munex]

For me, I don't judge people on the colour of their skin, but I do judge them on the way they present themselves. If I saw a man in a suit walk past me in the street, I wouldn't worry at all, whether he was Black, White, Asian or otherwise. If I saw a man dressed in a hoody, with the hood up tight and a pair of large baggy jeans in which his hands were concealed, I would be a bit more cautious, whether Black, White, Asian or otherwise. The same is applicable for women - let us not forget sexism in such a politically correct world

[Sharon]

It is racist. If I were black (using this as it's the example you've used) I'd be so offended/genuinely upset to notice that I'm being specially watched in a clothing shop just because of my skin colour. It's such a common stereotype yet I don't believe in it for one second.

They did something on it in Eastenders a few episodes ago (YEP I'VE REFERENCED EASTENDERS) where Ray (he's basically just this guy who happens to be black) was randomly stop and searched in the street by police entirely based on his skin colour because there'd been some stolen stuff in the local area. He was mad and obviously felt so hurt that they'd do that based on such a characteristic.

[Richie]

Everyone is stereotypical, don't try to deny that you don't **** yourself when a Pakistani man is sat next to you on a plane.

[lawrawrrr]

it's not racist unless you're saying all black people steal.

It is STATISTICALLY correct that the majority (meaning 51%+) of convicted thieves are black, therefore saying that more black people steal is correct. Unless you want to argue that more white people get away with it?

It's like saying most Christians are white. Which isn't racist, it's stating a fact.

[Inseriousity.]

it's not racist unless you're saying all black people steal.

It is STATISTICALLY correct that the majority (meaning 51%+) of convicted thieves are black, therefore saying that more black people steal is correct. Unless you want to argue that more white people get away with it?

It's like saying most Christians are white. Which isn't racist, it's stating a fact.

If you suspect more black people then you're going to catch the black people who are actually doing it.
I agree with Shaz, if you assume someone is a potential criminal based on the colour of their skin then it's racist. However, I don't really think it's something you can get around. It's human nature to label people even if that is to the detriment of innocent people.

[lawrawrrr]

If you suspect more black people then you're going to catch the black people who are actually doing it.
I agree with Shaz, if you assume someone is a potential criminal based on the colour of their skin then it's racist. However, I don't really think it's something you can get around. It's human nature to label people even if that is to the detriment of innocent people.

But people don't tend to suspect black people - in the shops I've worked in I keep an eye on EVERYONE, because a thief is a thief at the end of the day... Yeah steoreotypes suck (try being blonde) but it's something you have to deal with and prove wrong.

[dbgtz]

it's not racist unless you're saying all black people steal.

It is STATISTICALLY correct that the majority (meaning 51%+) of convicted thieves are black, therefore saying that more black people steal is correct. Unless you want to argue that more white people get away with it?

It's like saying most Christians are white. Which isn't racist, it's stating a fact.

Whether that is true or not, while statistics like that exist, this "divide" between races will not cease to exist.

It's not common sense because you shouldn't judge someone on ethnicity, but on how they act combined with how they dress (but never how they dress alone).