4 ms·

I don't understand this sentiment. The author describes her lived experience shopping as a black woman throughout her life. She also points to recent publicized

I don't understand this sentiment. The author describes her lived experience shopping as a black woman throughout her life. She also points to recent publicized examples of black people being subject to poor treatment while engaging in normal activities. If you had lived your entire life being weary of store clerks, having inculcated that lesson in childhood, why wouldn't her observation be both genuine and important?

pcurve 8y ago
I empathized with her experience described in the first half of the article fully. But then she started making connection to Amazon Go by saying: "The idea of walking into a store, taking an item or several off the shelves and strolling right back out again boggled my mind. It ran counter to everything I had learned about being black and shopping." I think the idea would run counter to everybody regardless of race. "I was afraid someone would pop out from behind a display of Amazon-branded merch and scream, "Get your hands off that!" I also didn't find above statement particularly credible or representative of average person. The article just felt a tad forced, and I stand by this observation despite all the down votes.
- ncallaway 8y ago
  > I also didn't find above statement particularly credible or representative of average person What data do you have to back up your determination of credibility here? Is it based on surveys and discussions with minority populations who have similar shared experiences to the author or is it based largely on a comparison to your own personal lived experience?
Udik 8y ago
> She also points to recent publicized examples of black people being subject to poor treatment while engaging in normal activities. The one about Oprah in Zurich is absolute bullshit. When you take in account that the boutique in question is one of Zurich's most luxurious (not for nothing they have $38k purses on sale) you can imagine the type of treatment any customer gets from the salespeople, who are used to see incredibly rich customers from any part of the world pop in for their shopping. If anything, the episode highlights exactly the hyper-sensitivity of some people (given that Oprah didn't just lie to publicise her then upcoming movie on the theme of racism, "The Butler").

pcurve 8y ago

I empathized with her experience described in the first half of the article fully. But then she started making connection to Amazon Go by saying: "The idea of walking into a store, taking an item or several off the shelves and strolling right back out again boggled my mind. It ran counter to everything I had learned about being black and shopping." I think the idea would run counter to everybody regardless of race. "I was afraid someone would pop out from behind a display of Amazon-branded merch and scream, "Get your hands off that!" I also didn't find above statement particularly credible or representative of average person. The article just felt a tad forced, and I stand by this observation despite all the down votes.

ncallaway 8y ago
> I also didn't find above statement particularly credible or representative of average person What data do you have to back up your determination of credibility here? Is it based on surveys and discussions with minority populations who have similar shared experiences to the author or is it based largely on a comparison to your own personal lived experience?

Udik 8y ago

> She also points to recent publicized examples of black people being subject to poor treatment while engaging in normal activities. The one about Oprah in Zurich is absolute bullshit. When you take in account that the boutique in question is one of Zurich's most luxurious (not for nothing they have $38k purses on sale) you can imagine the type of treatment any customer gets from the salespeople, who are used to see incredibly rich customers from any part of the world pop in for their shopping. If anything, the episode highlights exactly the hyper-sensitivity of some people (given that Oprah didn't just lie to publicise her then upcoming movie on the theme of racism, "The Butler").