# "Police shoot black man" - what's your first reaction/conclusion to the headline? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2018, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560 "2018-04-17T04:48:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/1 "2018-04-17T04:48:59Z")
Suppose you read a headline in tomorrow’s news - “Police Shoot Black Man” - what is your immediate split-second reaction or conclusion \*\*before \*\*any facts or details have emerged in the story? Also, would it change your view/conclusion if the headline read “Police Shoot Black Suspect” or some other potentially opinion-leading wording instead of “Man/Individual/Person?” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/2 "2018-04-17T05:02:11Z")
I’d assume that it was unjustified; otherwise, it wouldn’t make the headlines. (Not that I think that all unpublicized shootings are justified. It’s just that any shooting that reaches the news must be particularly egregious). ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/3 "2018-04-17T05:11:49Z")
I would have no immediate thoughts on whether it was justified or not, but I would think the source of the article was clearly showing their agenda. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/4 "2018-04-17T05:24:32Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Suppose you read a headline in tomorrow’s news - “Police Shoot Black Man” - what is your immediate split-second reaction or conclusion \*\*before \*\*any facts or details have emerged in the story? Honestly? An expectation that the events described will turn out to have occurred in the United States. > [@Velocity](#): > > Also, would it change your view/conclusion if the headline read “Police Shoot Black Suspect” or some other potentially opinion-leading wording instead of “Man/Individual/Person?” Nope; it would reinforce the initial expectation. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/5 "2018-04-17T05:27:11Z")
I don’t know what my “immediate split-second reaction or conclusion before any facts or details have emerged in the story” would be. I imagine I’d be curious why this particular shooting made the headlines, and want to know if there was something peculiar about it, but I am certainly aware that the vast majority of police shootings are ultimately determined to be justified. Without knowing anything else about a shooting, that’s the likeliest outcome. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/6 "2018-04-17T05:27:13Z")
I’d think it was a pretty lame newspaper. With all due respect, “Police Kill Black Man” is a weak headline, dull and uninformative. It’s akin to titling the loss of the Titanic, “Ship Sinks.” The [cbsnews.com](http://cbsnews.com) article on the Michael Brown shooting read, “Unarmed Black Mo. Teen Shot After Altercation, Police Say.” Not trying to nitpick. Specifics matter. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/7 "2018-04-17T06:19:11Z")
I’d think the newspaper was being sensational and trying to gin up faux-controversy. Do white men generally have their race acknowledged in police-shooting headlines? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/8 "2018-04-17T09:28:02Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’d think the newspaper was being sensational and trying to gin up faux-controversy. Do white men generally have their race acknowledged in police-shooting headlines? This. The media are not innocent bystanders in the current state of racial tension. Until that changes I don’t see any cause for optimism. mmm ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/9 "2018-04-17T11:41:34Z")
The presumption on any thought would be that this particular shooting must have had some suspicious circumstances or it would not be in the news (and that the writer and editors were incompetent) and given suspicious circumstances recent events have me biased to believe that there was not sufficient justification. But I’d still try to not presume. Split second would be “bad newspaper writing.” So no answer possible in the binary. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/10 "2018-04-17T11:49:35Z")
instant reaction: unjustified. Why else would it be news ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/11 "2018-04-17T11:51:44Z")
I’m with **nelliebly**. “Police Shoot Black Man” isn’t news, and I’d wonder what the heck the story was about. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/12 "2018-04-17T11:53:33Z")
My reaction: “Not _again_…” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/13 "2018-04-17T12:04:59Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’d think the newspaper was being sensational and trying to gin up faux-controversy. Do white men generally have their race acknowledged in police-shooting headlines? THere’s evidence (disputable, but evidence nonetheless) that in current US society, black men are disproportionately targeted for violence by police. It’s appropriate for a headline to mention race **when race is significant** , as it is given that evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/14 "2018-04-17T12:39:54Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > THere’s evidence (disputable, but evidence nonetheless) that in current US society, black men are disproportionately targeted for violence by police. It’s appropriate for a headline to mention race **when race is significant** , as it is given that evidence. So anytime police shoot any black man for any reason whatsoever, a headline such as “Police shoot black man” is an appropriate, informative headline? Because with that headline, no matter what the actual details are behind the shooting, only one single message is being communicated: “police shoot man for being black”. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/15 "2018-04-17T12:42:34Z")
My immediate reaction would be sloppy if not biased reporting, same as if the headline of [this story](http://www.wlwt.com/article/westerville-officer-murder-suspect-held-without-bond/18243537) had read “Black man shoots police officers.” ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/16 "2018-04-17T12:43:53Z")
Is that a common headline? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/17 "2018-04-17T13:29:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > THere’s evidence (disputable, but evidence nonetheless) that in current US society, black men are disproportionately targeted for violence by police. It’s appropriate for a headline to mention race **when race is significant** , as it is given that evidence. Correct, IMO. Also, since there is indisputable evidence that in current US society, black men are disproportionately responsible for violent crime, it is appropriate for a headline to mention race in other circumstances, as it is, given that evidence. “Black Man Robs Liquor Store” “Black Man Murders Girlfriend” “Black Man is Arrested for Dealing Cocaine” Etc. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/18 "2018-04-17T13:33:47Z")
If black men are disproportionately responsible for violent crime, then surely “White Man Robs Liquor Store”, “White Man Murders Girlfriend” and “White Man is Arrested for Dealing Cocaine” would be more newsworthy. Yet this never seems to be a factor in news stories. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/19 "2018-04-17T13:42:54Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I would have no immediate thoughts on whether it was justified or not, but I would think the source of the article was clearly showing their agenda. Their nefarious agenda of not having black men shot by the police? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560/20 "2018-04-17T14:10:28Z")
My immediate reaction would be to expect to have to listen to a lot of people tell me why he \*definitely \*deserved to be shot, and how black people are all innately subhumans and criminals. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shoot-black-man-whats-your-first-reaction-conclusion-to-the-headline/812560.md?page=2)