Tuesday, November 22, 2005
I'm A Racist!
So, has anyone taken this test (click on Race IAT)?
My results: "Your data suggest a strong automatic preference for White compared to Black."
My commentary: This test is complete and utter bullshit.
As I spent more time taking the test, I got more familiar with it, and went faster. If they showed the white faces under bad first, and blacks under good last, I would have been faster to put the black faces under good. All they have proven is that I perform a test faster the more familiar I get with it-which is true, but hardly earth shattering news, nor adequate grounds for determining someone’s racial views.
The test called me a racist. I consider that a severe insult. Nobody who knows me and knows my views could consider me racist. For example, I am for the repeal of drug prohibition, which is the biggest cause of minority imprisonment I should also note at this time that none of their options for "Politics" accurately reflect my political views-I am libertarian; conservative on economic issues, liberal on social issues. My favorite editorialist is Walter Williams-a black. Still think I’m a racist?
Take a look at this gem from their FAQ:
Q: If my IAT shows automatic White preference, does that mean that I'm prejudiced?
Answer: This is a very important question. Social psychologists use the word 'prejudiced' to describe people who endorse or approve of negative attitudes and discriminatory behavior toward various out-groups. Many people who show automatic White preference on the Black-White IAT are not prejudiced by this definition. These people are apparently able to function in non-prejudiced fashion partly by making active efforts to prevent their automatic White preference from producing discriminatory behavior. However, when they relax these active efforts, these non-prejudiced people may be likely to show discrimination in thought or behavior. The question of relation between implicit and explicit attitudes is of strong interest to social psychologists, several of whom are doing research on that question for race-related attitudes.
I was going to write them to complain, but now I won’t bother. They’d just tell me that, oh no, our almighty test isn’t wrong, you’re making an “active effort” not to parade around in your bed sheets!
Somebody, please tell me these idiots aren’t getting any public money. There is surely better use for taxpayer funds than to insult people (if the goal is really to help minorities, I’d recommend some sort of federal voucher program).
