Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Throwaway585250 3630 days ago
As someone who is extremely tall, it's not very nice to see people crossing the street to avoid you at night. How is making statistical inferences using my height any more justified than making statistical inferences using my race?

The notion of justifiable discrimination will take you to a very scary place if you apply it consistently.
2 comments
vacri 3630 days ago
I'm a 6'6" mesomorph, and never been in a fight in my life, not even in the schoolyard. I'm used to people being a bit apprehensive of me on a lonely street, and sometimes if I'm behind a woman and we're walking about the same pace, I'll cross the road to avoid potentially stressing them out. When people meet me and make some reference to me being someone 'not to mess with' because I'm big, I tell them that most big guys are teddybears, and to think of other big guys they know (I stress most, but not all). Almost invariably, their face shows that the light-bulb clicks, as they can't think of any aggressive big guys amongst their friends.

So I'm used to one of the things listed in this article. I'm fine with this preconception people have, as it's not that much of a problem on it's own, and it's easy to take it in my stride. However, it's the gestalt of all those things that the author is talking about that is the problem. They all work together, and if I experienced all of those working against me, I'd feel unfairly treated as well. "People fear me unfairly on the street? No worries, I'll be at work soon, and I don't have to deal with that shit there..."

link
Throwaway585250 3630 days ago
I may not have been clear. I don't feel particularly discriminated and don't really care in any case. It's incredibly minor.

However, I strongly object to the idea that it's okay to discriminate based on unalterable characteristics as long as you're not discriminating against a member of a legally protected group.

link
giardini 3630 days ago
It likely is a genetic mechanism rather than "discrimination." Fact is that in an adverse encounter, the big (tall) fellow is more dangerous. So its wise for smaller persons, and especially women and children to minimize encounters with taller/bigger persons, and strangers also.

So they're doing the right thing.

link