[searine]

>Let me guess: you're a white male, aren't you?

This is an extremely shitty and racist argument to make, particularly on the internet where you shouldn't make assumptions about who people are.

Were the cops wrong in being overzealous? Obviously. Is the poster automatically a "white male" because they consider an alternative perspective? No, they just have a different opinion than you.

[1024core]

Let me give you an example. I'm not a white male. My girlfriend is white. I have learned, after several experiences, that if you are pulled over, you roll down your window, keep your hands on the steering wheel, look straight and answer "yes sir", "no sir". Deviation from this protocol can result in anything from a search, to a beatdown (in extreme cases).

She, on the contrary, has not. She has been pulled over a few times, of course.

2 months ago, coming back from visiting a friend in NorCal, I pulled on to the highway and as I was merging, sped up. A CHP car just happened to be there, and tagged me. We were pulled over. I immediately assumed the aforementioned stance. She, on the other hand, decided to cheerfully take off her seatbelt, turn around and start digging into her bag on the rear seat, looking for a book, her glasses, etc. And the officer could see this rummaging from his vehicle.

What ensued, was not pretty. Lets just say that my GF has a new perspective on how to behave when pulled over.

My point is: unless you belong to a set that is consistently treated differently, you will never understand their point of view.

[searine]

> if you are pulled over, you roll down your window, keep your hands on the steering wheel, look straight and answer "yes sir", "no sir".

This is just common courtesy? I've always acted this way, and never had bad experience with the police, because I treated them with respect.

Sounds like your GF showed a lack of couresty/respect for the officer's safety and got treated like a threat as a result.

That's not racism. That's an officer protecting himself from an unknown quantity.

>you will never understand their point of view.

Because every human being is completely devoid of empathy...

[jmcmichael]

If one has ever been cuffed or had a weapon pointed at them, they're far less likely to be so cavalier in dismissing another's similar experience.

Given that African Americans are far, far more likely to be unjustly detained in such a matter, it seems reasonable to assume that mcphage is a white male, given his callous response.

[searine]

>it seems reasonable to assume that mcphage is a white male

Being racist might seem reasonable, but it is not constructive because you use it to ignore the content of the poster's argument.

Even if the content of the poster's argument is flawed, attack the flaws, not the person.

[jmcmichael]

> Being racist

That word doesn't mean what you appear to believe that it means. I do not hold the belief that one race is superior to another, nor do I hold the belief that society should exploit or disadvantage individuals based on their race. Therefore I am not being racist, nor was my statement.

It's perfectly within the bounds of reasonable discourse to question the underlying assumptions of another's worldview to show that their assertions come from a biased perspective that requires examination.

[searine]

> to show that their assertions come from a biased perspective that requires examination.

But you didn't show it. You assumed it, based on their race.