Why is race indicated on criminal related posts?

[BigBlueDodge]

I've been a member for a short time, but have read a TON of threads, and I noticed a disturbing trend. I have read many postings that discuss a news event, or situation that occurred to the post, and the race is always pointed out of the attackers. For instance I've read postings similar to

"three BLACK males robbed the store"
"a HISPANIC male broke in to the house"
"a MEXICAN male pulled a gun"
"two AFRICAN AMERICANS stole some items"

When the event involves a white criminal, you generally don't see the poster indicate that attacker was white. So I ask, why do we feel that race should be indicated on the posts when referring to an criminal event?

For example, here are 3 post on the first page of this forum that I looked in

and then the two thieves, mexicans for the record, turned onto the paved

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =7&t=18237

Three armed black males, walked into

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =7&t=18374

The attacker was white, but was never pointed out
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =7&t=18236

[Pinkycatcher]

Not all three of those were by the same author, it's a logical fallacy to say at this point if there is bias against a certain race unless you have more examples than these three.

[bdickens]

"Why is race always indicated on criminal related posts?"

I'll bite. Is it?

[BigBlueDodge]

I dont' get what you are trying to say. I'm not trying to indict any particular author, or anyone for that matter. I'm bringing up something I've noticed while reading posts on this forum from MANY different authors. I'm just trying to understand why we feel the need to state the race when it does nothing to contribute to the story.

Those examples are just from what I scanned off the first page, I'm sure it is quite easy to find more if I looked beyond that page, or even in other forums.

[BigBlueDodge]

"Why is race always indicated on criminal related posts?"

I'll bite. Is it?

Good point. Changed title slighty. I was taught to always never say "always" and "never" in sentances.

[rm9792]

Read the newspaper, it is rarely ever mentioned. When you dig deeper you do find a trend in certain areas of town, not being racist, simple facts. Reporters go out of their way to not mention race and especially ignore it if they are illegals.

[particle]

LOL! I noticed that very thing when I first read that post. Definitely something to keep in mind - not just on this board, but just as a general policy. I typed up a similar story of my own, but decided to erase it since it was not in keeping with the purpose of this thread...

For example, here are 3 post on the first page of this forum that I looked in

and then the two thieves, mexicans for the record, turned onto the paved

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =7&t=18237

[KaiserB]

I don't get what you are trying to say. I'm not trying to indict any particular author, or anyone for that matter. I'm bringing up something I've noticed while reading posts on this forum from MANY different authors. I'm just trying to understand why we feel the need to state the race when it does nothing to contribute to the story.

Sociologically speaking:

Because those who are overly racially sensitive (politically correct) that want to have equal rights for everyone insists on designating everyone into a minority grouping. The individuals associate themselves with a particular group so as not be be left out. Hence they are described as part of that group by association.


Further other sights have the same content:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz= ... om&spell=1

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n ... road%2eorg

[FlynJay]

In the words of Avenue Q - "Everybone's A Little bit Racist". Google it, you know you want to.

[aardwolf]

You know what's also disturbing? They mention sex as much as they mention race.

"three black males robbed the store"
"a Hispanic male broke in to the house"
"a Mexican male pulled a gun"

The attacker was white, but was never pointed out
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =7&t=18236

They made sure to point out the sex of the suspect.
"Hudson man charged with capital murder"
"Keith Edward Labrozzi II, 24, of Lufkin, died at a local hospital after being shot multiple times by a man"

[SCone]

We all find ourselves seeing differences in each other & it is that difference that is first in our minds. How we allow that difference to direct our actions is what's really at issue.

Do we add another "check mark" to our, "Another one of THEM" columns?

As people, we are naturally attracted to those that are "like us." Not just the color of skin, but to the way we dress, cars we drive, activities we participate in, and the list goes on and on.

It's so difficult to ignore the "column" when there are so many check marks.

[BigBlueDodge]

You know what's also disturbing? They mention sex as much as they mention race.

I'm not sure if you are being serious, or being sarcastic. In any event, I would actually say that sex DOES contribute to the story when the attacker and the victim are of the opposite sex. For example, if I read a story that says an attacker attacked a victim by punching the victim the face. If the attacker is a 220lb man and the victime is also a 220lb man, the sex does nothing to contribute to the story. If the attacker is a 220lb man and the victim is a 120lb woman, then the sex does contribute to the story because sex may dictate a different outcome in this report.

Additional features of an individual should be pointed out when those features potentially change the outcome or create an advantage/disadvantage for one of the subjects in a story. Disparity of sex, size, or number of attackers are factors that should be noted because they do contribute to a different outcome. However, race does not contribute to a different outcome in a criminal situation. If someone robbed a store, would the outcome have been different if the robber was white, black, hispanic, or asian?

[XDpackinBob]

When police dispatch a call if they have that information it is given from the comments section of the call sheet.

Race, gender, mode of travel, direction of travel of suspects has always been a part of crime notification as far as I know, maybe it's the ADAM-12 culture showing its head..

Why it is used here is anybody’s guess.. But I refer again to what I call the ADAM-12 / dispatcher mentality and the need to give complete details so we as a forum community can be on the lookout for the perps.

[Rockrz]

I noticed a disturbing trend. I have read many postings that discuss a news event, or situation that occurred to the post, and the race is always pointed out of the attackers.

What other adjectives would you have one use to describe a criminal???

"A human person robbed the bank at 5th & Main Street today"

Like, duh! What did the person look like???
Was he white, black, brown, yellow...that's part of a person's description.

Sorry, but you can't get around that.

Read the newspaper, it is rarely ever mentioned. When you dig deeper you do find a trend in certain areas of town, not being racist, simple facts. Reporters go out of their way to not mention race and especially ignore it if they are illegals.

And, that's part of the problem...ignoring the facts just cause it might hurt someone's feelings.

[aardwolf]

If the attacker is a 220lb man and the victim is a 120lb woman, then the sex does contribute to the story because sex may dictate a different outcome in this report.

What if it's an arthritic 120lb man and an athletic 220lb woman? How important is sex now?
What if they're both 220lb but the man is a fat couch potato and the woman is a muscular ex con? How important is sex now?