> The point is, "discrimination" is sometimes just > applying statistics. Just because some statistical > factors correlate with race doesn't mean one is b

> The point is, "discrimination" is sometimes just > applying statistics. Just because some statistical > factors correlate with race doesn't mean one is being > racist; they are just optimizing their selection process. It's still not very good thinking, ethically or pragmatically. Even if you could 100% accurately determine a candidate's background from looking at their resume, and even if you could be sure that people from their background were more likely to be "bad" people[1] then couldn't you also look at "Jamal's" resume and conclude: "Obviously, Jamal must be a talented guy to rise above his background and pursue a technical career?" In the end, it's all guesswork anyway. Companies would be much better served by sticking to the facts on "Jamal's" resume and checking themselves whenever they catch themselves inventing fictional histories for people based on a candidate's name and their own racist prejudices and stereotypes. _____ [1] To be clear: I don't agree that either of these things are true.