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Home Alone

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408

A few days ago in the local news (Orlando) they were telling about a girl, who came from school, saw a man nearby, went home, turned on the alarm (smart girl), and then the guy tried to make his way in. The alarm went off when he opened the back door, and he ran away into the wooded area.

The girl did not really see the guy very well, and the hostess read the description:

A man,

Medium built,

About 40 y.o.

The host thought for a moment, and then absolutely seriously said “well, I think this is a good description” and then turned to camera with a usual “If you see someone fitting the description….”

What description? What was “good” about this description? If this is where our PC is taking us, then we really don’t have great chances to ever catch the perpetrator. What was the problem to specify the race? It is not about racism (and I do not have a clue about the color of the guy), it is about narrowing the search.

What if we would become even more sensitive and tomorrow would feel like a good description does not need age (criminals, who are older, may take offense), so what a ”good“ description would sound like? And shouldn’t we really be more sensitive about sex?

“Folks, if you see a human, who can be exhibiting anti-social traits, please call 911”

* I did not take a note and wrote the exact description, so do not hold me to it. I simply was struck by obvious PC of the situation, and a phenomenal lack of any helpful information for people to look for.

Deborah Byron Leffler BzyBee Real Estate Lady!
Keller Williams Realty Boise - Nampa, ID

Very scary indded...I agree not a good description!!!  

I am glad that gal was smart and turned on the alarm...it could have saved her life!!!

Feb 27, 2011 02:24 PM
Bill Pohl
Tetra Homes, Inc. - Loveland, OH

Unintended consequences of many rules will do us in. Being PC has its place, but really!

Feb 27, 2011 03:46 PM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

I always have wondered why the race is not given...it is just like saying what color hair they have, how much they weigh, etc.  The objective is to catch the perpetrator.  (And don't get me started about using the word "alleged" when twenty people saw the person shoot the victim!)

Feb 28, 2011 12:01 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Jon - not much a description at all, but yes, political correctness has been taken too far, especially in cases like this, where not having all the information could endanger someone.

Feb 28, 2011 12:39 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

I thought I was the only one in America who thought this PC stuff had gotten way out of control.

Another personal pet peeve - the use of the term "color blind."  I may love you to pieces but, am I seriously supposed to pretend I didn't notice your color? That just defies logic.

Feb 28, 2011 02:04 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Unless of course you're actually vision-impaired. Then it all makes perfect sense.

Feb 28, 2011 12:33 PM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

A description is a description and this is not the time to be politically correct! Every detail counts if we are going to apprehend these criminals! Please folks-we need to get real!

Mar 01, 2011 12:38 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Deborah - I am glad for the girl, and that it was all so well managed. But the guy is out there, and he is not looking for stuff, he is looking for girls, and the description is just too good to catch anyone.

And this is unfortunate, and plain stupid

Mar 01, 2011 05:54 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Bill - yep, exactly

Mar 01, 2011 05:55 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Kathryn - isn't it funny that you see the crime and you see the person, but it would be the judge who would decide whether you would be able to call the person a criminal

I do not need to prove anything. If I saw with my own eyes, the person is a criminal, whether the court was able to indict, or set the person free

Mar 01, 2011 05:57 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
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Mike - but isn't it absurd that we would rather have someone hurt, than offended?

Mar 01, 2011 05:58 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Jill - no, you are not the only one. I absolutely agree. Prioroties should be set straight. It is not about race, of gay rights, or whatever, it is about catching a perpetrator, and doing it before they hit again

Mar 01, 2011 06:00 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Jill - and by the same token we hear that we have to  be sensitive to cultural diversity and differences, which may be not manifested and obvious, but somehow not notice the differences in color. Racism is when one is set above the other. If not, there is no racism. It is how we are noticing sexes. We say "this girl" and not tis person.

What is so terrible about it.

Funny, I am not sure, though, that this is not going to change - LOL

Mar 01, 2011 06:04 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Kristine - and this is absolutely corrrect. Catching the guy has nothing to do about race. He has to be stopped, no matter what colorr he is.

Everything else is irresponsible and plain stupid

Mar 01, 2011 06:05 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

John - not abusrd, but a rather egregious policy that puts people at risk in order not to offend someone with a fact.

Mar 02, 2011 03:11 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

This one should have been featured Jon....this is quite serious and you have a valid point!

Mar 06, 2011 01:50 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Mike, no matter how we call it, the priorities are wrong

Mar 06, 2011 02:59 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Al & Peggy - we do not now "discriminate" at the airports and search everybody, and as a result, we do not stand a chance to stop real trained terrorists.

this is along the same line. No profiling, no discrimination...

Good she had alarm. Another girl may be not that lucky

Mar 06, 2011 03:03 AM