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Math is racist: How data is driving inequality
CNN ^ | Sep. 6, 2016 | Aimee Rawlins

Posted on 09/07/2016 12:20:44 PM PDT by PROCON

It's no surprise that inequality in the U.S. is on the rise. But what you might not know is that math is partly to blame.

In a new book, "Weapons of Math Destruction," Cathy O'Neil details all the ways that math is essentially being used for evil (my word, not hers).

From targeted advertising and insurance to education and policing, O'Neil looks at how algorithms and big data are targeting the poor, reinforcing racism and amplifying inequality.

These "WMDs," as she calls them, have three key features: They are opaque, scalable and unfair. Denied a job because of a personality test? Too bad -- the algorithm said you wouldn't be a good fit. Charged a higher rate for a loan? Well, people in your zip code tend to be riskier borrowers. Received a harsher prison sentence? Here's the thing: Your friends and family have criminal records too, so you're likely to be a repeat offender. (Spoiler: The people on the receiving end of these messages don't actually get an explanation.)

The models O'Neil writes about all use proxies for what they're actually trying to measure. The police analyze zip codes to deploy officers, employers use credit scores to gauge responsibility, payday lenders assess grammar to determine credit worthiness. But zip codes are also a stand-in for race, credit scores for wealth, and poor grammar for immigrants.

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: liberalism; liberalthought; math; racism
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From the article:

Or consider the fact that nearly half of U.S. employers ask potential hires for their credit report, equating a good credit score with responsibility or trustworthiness.

This "creates a dangerous poverty cycle," O'Neil writes. "If you can't get a job because of your credit record, that record will likely get worse, making it even harder to work."

Employers should use what ever method they want in order to screen potential employees.

Just another liberal hand-wringing sob story.

1 posted on 09/07/2016 12:20:44 PM PDT by PROCON
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To: PROCON

Yes it is!
Hence the why 2,500 year old technology in Europe continues to evade 90% of Africa in the form of water plumbing.


2 posted on 09/07/2016 12:22:25 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (*Convicted of thought crimes by the Left and the Right*)
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To: PROCON

It would appear anything to do with the human race is racist.


3 posted on 09/07/2016 12:23:17 PM PDT by Jolla
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To: PROCON

Misleading headline; guaranteed to make rabid racists salivate.


4 posted on 09/07/2016 12:23:30 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: PROCON

Then the Sun is racist for it burns light-skinned people.


5 posted on 09/07/2016 12:23:32 PM PDT by Scarpetta
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To: PROCON

CNN exists solely to advance the leftist agenda.

That is why they continually come out with these propaganda stories that attack men, white people, America, conservatives, and even common sense.

I hope when the Civil War comes, the heads of the major networks have helicopter problems and must make forced landings on my lawn.

I plan on wearing their skin as a coat, and I won’t make it easy on them.


6 posted on 09/07/2016 12:25:23 PM PDT by T-Bone Texan (Don't be a lone wolf. Form up small leaderlesss cells ASAP !)
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To: BenLurkin
Hey, the lady has a PHD in Math from Haaahvard.
7 posted on 09/07/2016 12:25:45 PM PDT by PROCON ("Lock Her Up! Lock Her Up!")
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To: T-Bone Texan

And so as their crowning achievement, the left successfully tempts Christians to stop being Christian. All that aggravating tedium was worth it to them, if they can do this.


8 posted on 09/07/2016 12:30:21 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: PROCON

Statesticles be’s racist!


9 posted on 09/07/2016 12:31:06 PM PDT by Dr. Ursus
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To: T-Bone Texan

LOL, I’ll help you gut them!


10 posted on 09/07/2016 12:31:12 PM PDT by PROCON ("Lock Her Up! Lock Her Up!")
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To: PROCON

Sure is easy enough if we can step outside the New Testament and just dam um to hel.


11 posted on 09/07/2016 12:32:21 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: PROCON

In other words, how dare anyone use any common sense when it comes to anything? Common sense is so passe’ that we must call it racism.


12 posted on 09/07/2016 12:33:25 PM PDT by Bullish (That establishment heads from both sides are exploding over Trump is the very best part.)
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To: PROCON
Math is racist

So is Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Jesus Christ, The White House, Paper Plates, Cows, and the Milkman, and Snow!

13 posted on 09/07/2016 12:34:45 PM PDT by gr8eman (Don't waste your energy trying to understand commies. Use it to defeat them!)
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To: Bullish

Yes, if EVERYONE isn’t treated the same, it’s because of racism, sexism,, this ism, that ism....ad nauseumism!


14 posted on 09/07/2016 12:36:12 PM PDT by PROCON ("Lock Her Up! Lock Her Up!")
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To: PROCON

Re: Credit Reports... If you can’t make good decisions with your own money, then how can the company expect you to make good decisions with theirs?


15 posted on 09/07/2016 12:36:23 PM PDT by wbill
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To: PROCON

If whites would just kill themselves the world would be rainbows and skittles...


16 posted on 09/07/2016 12:36:31 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
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To: Altura Ct.

If whites would just kill themselves
= = =

And they would have to bury themselves (no one else will).

Else the rotting stink would increase glowbull warming.


17 posted on 09/07/2016 12:41:29 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (As always, /s is implicitly assumed. Unless explicitly labled /not s. Saves keystrokes.)
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To: Scarpetta
Obama's tanning booth tax is racist.

I call it the "Cracker Tax."

18 posted on 09/07/2016 12:42:45 PM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (ALT-Right v. (D)ELETE-Left)
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To: PROCON

Big generalized/stereotyped markets are made up of many small niche markets. Niche markets are ideal for startups and small business.

But the small business cannot afford the lawyers and tax accountants to find the loopholes, nor the lobbyists to create special loopholes just for them.

Regulations favor big business. Corporatism and government picking winners favors big business.

Big business works best when it can operate on broad generalizations that are mostly true.

Best example is the FAIR ISAAC credit system. FAIR ISAAC scores are a broad brush that is generally true. But within a FAIR ISAAC group of the same score, there are 10% who belong in a worse group. And 10% belong in a better group.

I kept the same job, same family, same driving mileage and habits but move zip codes. My auto premium went from over $1100/mo to under $100 per month. Absolutely nothing changed in the odds of my having a claim.

Redlining of the inner city and Blacks does exist. The good, hard working honest people in the inner city have to pay for the generalizations made about their zip code, even though they are not typical of their zip code.

School Choice is an interesting example. 40% of the kids will do exactly the same with or without school choice. 50% of the kids will do better with school choice. But 10% of the kids have such bad parents and home life that they will actually do worse with school choice.

So without school choice 50% are penalized to benefit the 10%. With school choice 10% are penalized to benefit the 50%.

The same is true of healthcare. Expanding medicaid stretches the dollar (and providers) thin. Expanding medicaid benefits the working class healthy at the expense of those who are extremely needy.

The beauty of decentralization and lack of regulation is that it benefits the small people at the expense of those who can buy access to the Clinton Foundation.


19 posted on 09/07/2016 12:46:10 PM PDT by spintreebob
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To: PROCON

Real math, real science and good English make a total racist WMD education package.

These three evils of the demonic white men make most high
school diplomas and worthless college degrees into instant unemployment diplomas/degrees.

Trump and his evil white male supporters have been promoting these educational WMDs for decades.

Vote for Illiarily dead/or alive to correct this crimes education WMDs against our youth.


20 posted on 09/07/2016 12:46:19 PM PDT by Grampa Dave ((My passion , freedom is stronger than that of the Democrats whose obsession is to enslave me.))
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