One of them is probably Phil Lynott.
Although black men are statistically more likely to commit a violent crime, their victims are also statistically more likely to be black. I can honestly say that my reaction would be the same if they were black or white.
If anything, I’d probably be more calm if they were Asian.
I would have no preference either way.
And well they should, because race is a categorical variable, and correlation can only exist between two numerical variables. You’ll have to learn to be more careful about these things when there are statistics teachers on the board.
Unless a binary value is assigned to the categorical variable. Tsk, tsk. Trying to stifle the layman with technical jibba-jabba: poor form, old bean.
being female? Neither! :rolleyes:
What is the OP’s definition of “black people” and what is the OP’s definition of “white people”?
If this were near the Vietnamese community down around Houston, you might feel differently. (Though perhaps mainly only if you were another Vietnamese.)
I’ve actually given this a lot of thought before. The race basically makes no difference to me. If they are thuggy whites I’ll be just as scared as with thuggy blacks. If they are blacks in business suits or skinny nerdy blacks I won’t really be worried.
The only time race is a factor is in the dark - it can be harder to make out facial expressions with dark skin and determine if there is a friendly or threatening attitude. But that’s purely a practical matter.
I’m sure this might garner me some flames, but . . . if we’re talking about choosing between equal sets of yutes who are definitely intent on robbing me and/or doing me harm, the ones I’d be most fearful of would be the Mexicans. (Note I did not use the more general “Hispanics.”) White thugs or black thugs who decided to beat me up, I’d anticipate they’d stop at some point once they’ve made their point, gotten my money or both. But among the more thuggish Mexican guys I’ve encountered in Texas, those dudes would beat you into the ground and give you lifelong disabilities just because they can.
Sorry, flame away if you must! but that’s what I’ve observed personally and anectdotally.
The question should be:
Who would you rather encounter on the playground? A group of mean black seventh-grade girls or a group of mean white seventh-grade girls?
I’d rather encounter the white girls. Chances are they don’t know have to snap their necks, roll their eyes, or talk about your mama like a mess of black girls can. They’ll just scream, “I HATE YOU!” and run up the stairs to their bedrooms.
And you just know the five white guys are the Utah Jazz, who are just going to bore you to death.
Would you rather run into five Karl Malones, or five Dick Vitales?
Which are the five black guys there?
If I had visited USA when I was around 15 years old, I would probably be a lot more afraid of the whites. Because Hollywood had shaped my view on American society and the villains were almost always depicted as white.
Maybe they get worse by seventh grade, but I’ve never encountered mean-girl-drama like the mean-girl drama among a coterie of second-grade white girls I’ve taught. I mean, holy crap, the vicious lies some of them would tell!
This, for certain. My opinion is coloured (no pun intended) by the area of London I live in (I know the OP was talking US, but if he’d like to invite opinions from the foreigners…). I live in an area which used to be VERY rough and is now pretty mixed. But the young guys I DO see hanging out on street corners in groups are known to be gang members, and look and act like it (and are reported frequently in the London press in connection with stabbings and shootings – their gang name is akin to The SanVito’s Borough gang). Last time I walked to the nearest shop in the dark down a quiet street there was about 8 of them, hanging out on bikes and wearing hoods and masks. Yes, they were black. So am AM fearful of a gang of black youths in MY neighbourhood. In another part of the country, I may have the same feelings about a gang of white boys.
Frankly, I think what this points out is other assumptions people make about race. Sure, blacks may be statistically more likely to commit crime as a whole, but that’s ignoring an enormous number of other variables. For instance, given a choice between running into a middle-aged, well-groomed, well-dressed black man or a skin-head wearing ratty clothes with tatoos, all but the most racist person would likely prefer the former. Reverse the races of those individuals, and all but the most hard-headed individual would prefer the white guy.
So, given the scenario in the OP, what else are we assuming? If both sets of men are middle-aged, well-dressed men, I have zero reason to fear either group will attack me. Similarly, if both groups are slathered with chains and tatoos, bandanas, baggy jeans, and all that, I wouldn’t want to run into either of them.
In short, all things being equal, except for race, I really don’t see any way to distinguish why I should or shouldn’t fear one over the other based entirely on race.
I call into question these so-called statistics.
I have a friend (who is white) who goes bananas when people use higher arrest and incarceration rates for black males as evidence that black men are more likely to commit a crime. Her point is that no, you can’t really know which group is more likely to commit a crime, all you can say is that a black man is more likely to be arrested for a crime. She grew up in a mixed neighborhood and the white kids were absolutely doing things as bad or worse than the black kids. The difference was white guys got away with it. The cops didn’t care. But if a black kid stepped a teeny bit out of line then WHAM!
This is also her argument against racial profiling.
well you have an opinion. .interested in a cite that more innocent “blacks” are arrested than other races.that would be an argument.
well this is wearing me out. you fail to see how much i was streesing…there is ONE varible.. i dont really care about your emotions…very easy question..answer or stay away. you can start your own thread and put tattoos into the mix…good luck it will probably be an interesting conversation…I don’t know how to even respond to this..either you answer or you don’t. clearly this was not your favourite question. who give a flying…something…with all due respect…well have a nice day