Stabbing in Belconnen

Not said :

Journalism of the internationally joked. For shame AFP.

As a famous ginger nut once said: “Please explain.”

Jivrashia said :

Jethro said :

The problem comes when people start referring to race in such a way that it implies (or openly) suggests that the person’s race was the reason for their behaviour.

Okay, I think I need to clarify my concerns.
The Black Africans, which is what the article was referring to by mentioning “Africans”, are a minority in this small town of Canberra. I do not pretend to be an expert in the state of the immigration of people from African nations, but I assume that Sudanese come to mind among the general population.

Even if the culprit may turn out to be a spoilt brat of a diplomat of an African nation (I’m not saying they are, just giving a very far fetched what-if theory), this incident is going to give a bad name for all people of black skins, simply because they are a minority within our community and easy to identify.

I just hope that we can agree on that there-is-always-a-bad-apple-in-the-barrel rather than to use this incidents to claim that all black refuges are a bad influence on our society.

Personally, I can’t but smile at a group of young three girls, Asian, White, Black, walking and chatting happily with each other, most likely without the BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE.

Please tell me this is a wind up.

Jivrashia said :

Okay, I think I need to clarify my concerns.
The Black Africans, which is what the article was referring to by mentioning “Africans”, are a minority in this small town of Canberra. I do not pretend to be an expert in the state of the immigration of people from African nations, but I assume that Sudanese come to mind among the general population.

Even if the culprit may turn out to be a spoilt brat of a diplomat of an African nation (I’m not saying they are, just giving a very far fetched what-if theory), this incident is going to give a bad name for all people of black skins, simply because they are a minority within our community and easy to identify.

So what you are saying is that if the suspect has any distinguishing feature it should not be given in the description unless that feature applies to around 50% of the population?

For example, saying a suspect is male is OK. But under your rules, saying as suspect has a distinctive dragon tattoo on his left shoulder would be wrong, because that implies that people who have a similar tattoo also commit similar crimes.

Yep…that makes sense.

Jethro said :

The problem comes when people start referring to race in such a way that it implies (or openly) suggests that the person’s race was the reason for their behaviour.

Okay, I think I need to clarify my concerns.
The Black Africans, which is what the article was referring to by mentioning “Africans”, are a minority in this small town of Canberra. I do not pretend to be an expert in the state of the immigration of people from African nations, but I assume that Sudanese come to mind among the general population.

Even if the culprit may turn out to be a spoilt brat of a diplomat of an African nation (I’m not saying they are, just giving a very far fetched what-if theory), this incident is going to give a bad name for all people of black skins, simply because they are a minority within our community and easy to identify.

I just hope that we can agree on that there-is-always-a-bad-apple-in-the-barrel rather than to use this incidents to claim that all black refuges are a bad influence on our society.

Personally, I can’t but smile at a group of young three girls, Asian, White, Black, walking and chatting happily with each other, most likely without the BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE.

Mysteryman said :

Jivrashia said :

The offender is described as being African in appearance

This could turn unpleasant…

Only if idiots make someone out of it. Describing him as “African in appearance” dramatically narrows down possible suspects.

Reporting someone as African or Mediterranean or Asian or Indian isn’t racism. It’s a fact.

The problem comes when people start referring to race in such a way that it implies (or openly) suggests that the person’s race was the reason for their behaviour.

So, a police or media report saying “The suspect is African in appearance” is fine. Someone saying, “And, of course, the guy who did it was African’ is a racist comment.

Journalism of the internationally joked. For shame AFP.

dtc said :

Mysteryman said :

Only if idiots make someone out of it. Describing him as “African in appearance” dramatically narrows down possible suspects.

So, we are looking for someone who looks Egyptian. Or pehaps Kenyan. Or maybe South African.

I appreciate the Police have defined profiles (eg Egyption would probably be ‘middle eastern’) but African describes a geographic orgin, not a racial orgin.

Egyptian would be “Middle Eastern” appearance. South African would be either “caucasian” or “African” depending on their actual appearance. It doesn’t need to be difficult.

dtc said :

So, we are looking for someone who looks Egyptian. Or pehaps Kenyan. Or maybe South African.

I appreciate the Police have defined profiles (eg Egyption would probably be ‘middle eastern’) but African describes a geographic orgin, not a racial orgin.

And is quite adequate when describing a person whose ethnic origin is uncertain, but was identified as such by the people he attacked. To deny the attacker was black, looked African, or to give any other description out of some “PC” motivation, is utterly wrong.

Mysteryman said :

Only if idiots make someone out of it. Describing him as “African in appearance” dramatically narrows down possible suspects.

So, we are looking for someone who looks Egyptian. Or pehaps Kenyan. Or maybe South African.

I appreciate the Police have defined profiles (eg Egyption would probably be ‘middle eastern’) but African describes a geographic orgin, not a racial orgin.

“the offender was described as being of one of the many descriptions we are not allowed to use in case they become offended, so all we can tell you is, there was an offender”.