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In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

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Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People should stop talking for others when they are unelected or not nominated. Just because she feels that way, doesn't mean every black person does. Maybe many do, but I don't think it is productive to speak for other people's experience. Of course when speaking for oneself, then it is fine to say anything.

That seems like a great way to ignore basically any complaint, by dismissing it as a lone outlier. All other things being equal, it should be pretty clear that a given black person is more qualified to speak about the black experience than a given white person is to refute them. If you have reason to believe that this particular writer is unreliable or not representative, then by all means share them.

I didn't say the writer is unreliable or wrong, and didn't meant to seem dismissive.

> it should be pretty clear that a given black person is more qualified to speak about the black experience than a given white person is to refute them

I think people are only qualified to speak about their own feelings and experience, just not for other people unless those people requested that.

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#102
post #73
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How and why do you have to back it up? It’s just a type of argument that is actually quite common with its basic idea being that just because something is effective, doesn’t mean it’s right or just to do. Transferred to racial profiling the argument is this: Even if racial profiling is effective, employing it is still ethically indefensible and plain wrong. Put another way: Even if we agree on a goal (e.g. catching m…

> How and why do you have to back it up? With arguments, and to support your point of view. Maybe I wasn't clear. I wanted some real evidence that racial profiling is effective (as well as how effective it is), I wasn't looking to get into an argument about the morality of the issue.

Here's an article explaining the counterproductiveness of "watch lists", but that doesn't map directly to the shoplifting scenario. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/racial-profiling-...

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#103
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, that's what they said. You can read it right there in the comment. Are you trying to imply something? I hope you're not trying to imply hypocrisy, because saying what someone should do is not speaking for them.

Yeah that's fair. It was a weak argument.

I didn't mean to say the argument is wrong or anything. I just think its dangerous to get into things like:

"As a hacker news poster, we all feel that ..."

Not even targeting this article in particular, it isn't bad at all from that perspective, just a trend I have been seeing and thinking about.

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#104
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, that's what they said. You can read it right there in the comment. Are you trying to imply something? I hope you're not trying to imply hypocrisy, because saying what someone should do is not speaking for them.

Yeah that's fair. It was a weak argument.

[deleted]

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#105
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah that's fair. It was a weak argument.

I didn't mean to say the argument is wrong or anything. I just think its dangerous to get into things like: "As a hacker news poster, we all feel that ..." Not even targeting this article in particular, it isn't bad at all from that perspective, just a trend I have been seeing and thinking about.

Yeah I get what you mean. I was just making a bad argument delivered in an unnecessarily snarky way. All good.

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#106
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please don't do this.

I'm legitimately confused. What should I not do?

> It sounds like you're trying to downplay the experience of black people being profiled in stores.

The very first two words of my comment run completely counter to that.

The rest of your comment goes even further into strawman territory. I don't believe any exaggeration is occuring at all. Profiling is real and sucks.

edit: To clarify, I agree with the basic sentiment that the trade might be worth it for some! It is for the author...

That point would have been just as valid have without putting words in my mouth.

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what you are saying is that profiling against a group with a history of appalling treatment at the hands of the majority is one thing, but doing the same with a different profiling is wrong, because clothing is clearly a choice but skin color is clearly not; despite being white boys raised among hundreds of people with the same clothing preference we should expect such young men to go against their surroundings an…

Yes, it's legitimate to discriminate on behavior, including dress code. As long as it's clearly stated and not applied selectively.

And why all the downvotes?

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#108
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm legitimately confused. What should I not do?

> It sounds like you're trying to downplay the experience of black people being profiled in stores. The very first two words of my comment run completely counter to that. The rest of your comment goes even further into strawman territory. I don't believe any exaggeration is occuring at all. Profiling is real and sucks. edit: To clarify, I agree with the basic sentiment that the trade might be worth it for some! It is…

Thanks for explaining.

My point about exaggeration was about describing racial profiling and corporate data collection as comparable injustices.

I think if you'd tell a victim of lifelong racial profiling that they're really just trading one injustice for another because now Amazon has a database of what you buy, they'd laugh. I'd say the two injustices are not even in the same league.

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#109
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is simply sticking something in your pocket enough reason for them to kick off? In the UK at least I've been shoving stuff in hoodie pockets if I can't carry it all in my hands. You might occasionally get funny looks but no one has said anything to me, or the other people I know that do it.

Absolutely, in America we tend to assume everybody is out to rob / harm everybody else and are always on guard. Especially if you're young, just having your hands in your pockets will get a store clerk following you around. My parents even taught me as a child to never put your hands in your pockets when in a store.

This is terribly sad.

Re: In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely, in America we tend to assume everybody is out to rob / harm everybody else and are always on guard. Especially if you're young, just having your hands in your pockets will get a store clerk following you around. My parents even taught me as a child to never put your hands in your pockets when in a store.

This is terribly sad.

I'll note that like many of the comments on HN and elsewhere that comment on what something is like in the US that the true answer depends on where you are within the US. With the issue it is going to vary tremendously based on which store you are in. I believe in my state at least you also have to leave the store before any law is broken, although such laws are set at the state level and so there may be exceptions.
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