Narrow Understanding of Words

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Reading an article this morning I came across a sentence that used the term, "profiling,' and I must say with my understanding the word seems to have taken on a very narrow meaning most often used in news and other news articles like the one I read today.

It makes it seem like profiling is a bad word, it isn't because it is not the process of profiling that is bad but the methodologies used under the name of profiling. When it involves race, sexual orientation, culture and other such things it is not appropriate. If you are using things like human nature, body language, proxemics and biometrics (see Left of Bang book). 

I refer to my version of left of bang as threat profiling. It's were I observe and perceive things that tell me a possible threat is in the vicinity. If someone is acting aggressive or the move in certain ways that seem to involve me or I see a group of two or three who don't fit into the environment, etc., I start to scrutinize their actions and body language and other things that give me pause as to their possible intentions. I often turn around and leave that area to avoid such things and so on. 

I don't care of they are of any particular race, religious or cultural origins but I do care if their actions, etc., indicate a possible threat. Caveat: I am using minimal information for brevity and to make the point that there is more that must be researched. 

Profiling is a good thing if used responsibly and if not used responsibly then - "Shame on You!" Example:

Definition of profiling: "the recording and analysis of a person's psychological and behavioral characteristics, so as to assess or predict their capabilities in a certain sphere or to assist in identifying a particular subgroup of people."

In this definition there is not indication of the term being a bad one and the only part of this that gives me pause is the identification of a particular subgroup of people. I would like to see that changed to "identifying a particular subgroup of a person or person's whose intent is toward unacceptable behavior." Unacceptable behavior such as criminals and/or criminal activities, etc.

In self-protection we want to analyze our environment and its content such as people, etc., i.e., as to who fits in and who does not; what activities are normal and those that are not; in short, "listening to our intuitive instincts we call our gut feelings so that we may act accordingly. 

Profiling and its use are a good thing, it is not the bad thing that tends to dominate the news because of its misuse. It is like self-defense, there is this line that if you cross it when applying it out there in society that turns it into a bad, legal term, where you do to jail and do not collect two hundred dollars. Profiling if used properly is a life saving skill used in the military, by our police and by other professionals who deal with conflict and violence as a part of their jobs. 

I use threat profiling when out and about and that spidey sense goes a tingling to observe, orient then trigger threat profiling to determine if I need to act or to just go about my business. 

For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)