Comments on: Microsoft’s so-called “avoid ghetto” GPS app draws controversy

By: DylanDrein

DylanDrein — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:51:00 +0000

I wondered how long the writer would take to throw in the race card. If it is considered racist, then you are assuming that certain races have some sort of connotation with crime, which is in itself ‘racist’.

By: Simone_evans

Simone_evans — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +0000

Im from San Francisco, and that can happen ANY WHERE in SF, even and especially in the touristy part of downtown San Francisco.

By: fauxshizzl

fauxshizzl — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:44:00 +0000

The app isn’t marking anyone as a potential criminal, it is marking certain geographical areas that have proven to have an above average level of crime. If it based off of that, which is fact, and not bias, I fail to see the controversy. If you were traveling in a big city you were unfamiliar with, would that not sound like a service you may want to use? Especially if travelling with your family/kids. If I came to find out my neighborhood was on the “avoid” list, I would start thinking of looking for a new place to live, not complain about how the shitty neighborhood I live in shouldn’t be avoided. There are shady people all over, more in some areas than others, I see nothing wrong with getting a heads up when approaching a less than reputable one.

By: Stonedmonkeyboy

Stonedmonkeyboy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:29:00 +0000

you americans crack me up how is this in any way anything to get wound up over? Its not lol move along nothing to see here (except a sad little columist trying to justify there exsistance) lmfao

By: Average Joe

Average Joe — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:37:00 +0000

This app is classist – but that’s because it speaks more of Windows Phone users than of the people living in the “ghettos” it’s trying to keep them out of.

If I bought a Windows Phone and discovered that it marked myself as a potential criminal because of where I live, I would feel so offended that I wouldn’t touch anything from Microsoft again.

By: mithmax

mithmax — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:16:00 +0000

Much needed functionaity.. Like it or not ther are parts of many major cities i would like to avoid.. here in Baltimore some of the neighborhoods can get pretty bad. Some of which will even throw rocks at your car in hopes youll stop to check it out.. i would LOVE this feature to be added in as i do value mine and my familys safety. Worlds not perfect, and i wouldnt mind having help to avoid its deadlier imprefections.

By: Yakuzagang5

Yakuzagang5 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:14:00 +0000

Well duh it’s racist if it flags because of a race being there lol

No, this would (hopefully) just base it off of crime rates and safety levels. But I guess we may find out some time lol

By: Yakuzagang5

Yakuzagang5 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:12:00 +0000

If you think this is racist, then you are being a huge racist by effectively saying only minorities live in unsafe neighborhoods. I don’t give two shuts if you’re white black Asian Latino pink or purple, if you have a history of violence I would like to avoid walking past you.

This app wouldn’t make it mandatory, it would simply be an option to turn on, like avoid highways. Which if this app is racist, so is the ‘avoid highways’ button, because we all know only homeless people live under highways.

People scrutinizing this are the reason there are problems in the world. Not everything is racist, or sexist, or biased. It’s a freaking app. Get over it. Move on.

By: AdyMarty

AdyMarty — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:58:00 +0000

if there’s one lol

By: SilentWolf_AUS

SilentWolf_AUS — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:47:00 +0000

Using it in Somalia, no matter where you are, will always direct you to the airport. lol

By: CoolCustomer

CoolCustomer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:45:00 +0000

If it was only basing it on crime statistics then I would say there is nothing wrong with it (I still think its a great idea) but I would like to know what demographics would they take into consideration and how would that figure into things. Essentially people calling it racist now are dumb, but if it turns out that an area that has a moderate-low to low crime rate (cause only gated communities tend to have low to extremely low rates) and is flagged simply because of the percent of a particular race that inhabits the area then we have a problem. The only demographic that should be considered is average income level of that area and a low income area should only become flagged if it’s crime rate exceeds a certain threshold (which can be lower than what is used for higher income areas).

By: AdyMarty

AdyMarty — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:29:00 +0000

My brother could use that app a few years back. he was touring in SF when he got a little strayed and got jumped by 4 men luckily he didn’t get stabbed but got a disconnected joint. If some people thinks its racist well its your community clean it up!

By: Andrew Pollack

Andrew Pollack — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:22:00 +0000

I think its a legitimate offering. Driving to a trade show in Baltimore from the north, my GPS took me through one of the most dangerous neighborhoods I’ve ever seen. Now, I’m a 210 pound firefighter and was driving a full sized truck with tinted windows — not a good target, generally, and I wasn’t all that bothered by the route. But I do recall my wife accidentally driving through some rough areas of a city we used to live and calling me up in tears. She wasn’t ever in any danger (not in my opinion, anyway) but she was terrified. We can play games all day talking about the validity of the fear and whether that makes her a bad person in some way but that’s not the point. If someone could sell her a GPS with this option, she’d pay a few extra dollars to have it. That makes it a valid idea.

By: SC

SC — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Racist labeling implies that the people criticizing are already racist and are making generalizations of their own.

Simply put, if an area is unsafe and could/should be avoided, there’s no reason not to include it as an option in GPS mapping.

By: Big_Grams

Big_Grams — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:39:00 +0000

Racist? No. Who wouldn’t want an app that can tell you what hoods to avoid and help you find weed on those out of town trips.