Tim Cook Reminds Employees 'Apple Is Open' After Australian Retail Store Employee Bars Black Teens

[JediZenMaster]

so the reaction then would be, if someone messes up, they should be fired for it asap ? I'd like to know what line of work you do

There is a difference between messing up and treating someone different because of their skin color or background. You can't fix someone who is a racist because stupid cannot be fixed.

 

[John Mcgregor]

I hope you aren't being serious. Until you realize that everyone who walks into an Apple store has the potential to steal something - including celebrities (Lindsay Lohan), you will finally understand.

Apple should have equally targeted everyone in the store "because they might steal something" equally. Yes even that adult person who is wearing expensive clothing. I'm looking at you Lindsay Lohan, and you too Joseph Randle. When we fail to realize that our preconception of what someone "looks like" that "might steal something" and focus on a group of kids - we miss the adult in the corner that just swiped an iPhone case.

The manager made it very clear - "we are worried you might steal something". They haven't done anything - but yet they were worried "you might steal something".

What does a thief even look like? Lindsay Lohan? Brittney Spears? Courtney Love? Beth Ditto? Megan Fox (she stole a $7 lipgloss from walmart)? Farrah Fawcett? Winona Ryder?
Seems to me that we need to look out for all white females - No?

The correct answer is no. That would be racial & gender profiling if I told a group of white females to leave because "we are worried you might steal something", while a group of black females are checking out the new iphones.

You mean like Boston marathon bombing? There were people that saw suspicious person, but no one cared about it and then bomb went off.

I'm not saying that this is the case and they look like thieves (at least to me they don't), but different people see differently and i wouldn't be surprised that the guy legitimately was worried about that. Also adding to that they weren't the first ones in the store with dark skin colour i wouldn't have any reason to suspect any racial discrimination. However people seem lose their reasonable mind when it comes to words black, racial, racist and discrimination and they don't see the picture for what it really is.

 

[John Mcgregor]

There is a difference between messing up and treating someone different because of their skin color or background. You can't fix someone who is a racist because stupid cannot be fixed.

Well thats why this is not going to be resolved. Ever. White guy vs black guy - white guy is always racist. Whore cares about background of the situation. Like science can prove whatever it wants religion will anyway say its by intelligent design. There is no wining here.


Oh and i don't like you.

 

[Four oF NINE]

Does this particular Apple retail outlet have a history of racial tension?

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

If they were wearing a hoodie and jeans below their waist, everyone would focus on that as a legit reason to be suspicious. But for those of us that are black, we know damn well it doesn't matter if we are in street or business attire. We experience bias in retail stores regardless. Not all the time, but often enough that it's a problem.

Also, Apple stores are designed for people to come and experience their products. I have never been to an Apple store that people were not lingering around aimlessly, especially teens.

 

[69650]

I'm sure the full story was laid out in front of Apple and Apple PR.
If Cook issues an apology, he must of felt Apple employees were in the wrong (which is why I jokingly suggested a token iPod Shuffle gift).

Of course he may have just decided to apologize to prevent further damage and giving this story more life.

Your latter point is more likely. The story was so vague with little or no facts supplied. Why were they asked to leave? Security and/or Retail Managers don't just ask people to leave for no reason and I very much doubt it was because they were black. They're not that stupid otherwise they wouldn't have got the job in the first place.

This could very well wreck someone's career at Apple, whether or not they're proved to be right or not because "racist" slurs tend to stick and I can see Apple using this guy as a sacrificial lamb to nullify the story.

I see kids messing about in my local Apple Store everytime I visit. They hog the MBs to check their Facebook page and mess about. On a few rare occasions I've seen the staff ask them to leave which I think is entirely justified as they're not genuine customers.

To label someone racist without knowing all the facts is wrong and should be an offence IMHO.

 

[linkgx1]

The amount of denial here is outstanding.

 

[69650]

I live in the S.F. area.
A friend's daughter, she has money and a credit card, goes into H&M.
From the time she hit the door she was followed throughout the store.

She walked around for a few minutes and then went to the cashier.
She indicated that she had money but would be leaving the store.
They would follow her, but none asked if she needed help with any clothes?
Go figure.

Unless you are black in America, you just wouldn't understand.
For those that want to quote crime statistics, ponder this.

White kid gets caught with drugs, cops take them tell him the dangers of drugs and give him a ride home.
Black kid gets caught with drugs, he's arrested and told to take a plea. That plea ends with a felony on his record and complete elimination from the ability to get any government backed scholarships for college.

The black kid did nothing that the white kid didn't do, but has opportunity stripped away.
White privilege saved the white kid.

The reason your friend is followed is probably because she falls into a high risk category of shopper based on who has committed thefts in the past. If the majority of thefts at that store were committed by white haired old grannies then security would follow white haired old grannies around all day.

 

[69650]

Are you saying that avoision is not a word? Google it.

No, he's saying it was the wrong word. Spot the difference:

Tax Avoision: the arrangement of one's financial affairs so as to avoid or minimize tax liability in such a way that it is not clear whether this constitutes lawful avoidance of tax or illegal tax evasion

Tax Avoidance: the arrangement of one's financial affairs to minimize tax liability within the law.

Apple has always maintained their actions have been within the law.

 

[linkgx1]

The reason your friend is followed is probably because she falls into a high risk category of shopper based on who has committed thefts in the past. If the majority of thefts at that store were committed by white haired old grannies then security would follow white haired old grannies around all day.

That's a lie. If you thought white haired old grannies stole, and actively only pursued those, then only white haired old grannies would be thieves.

As a black person, I've seen both whites and blacks steal when I was working in retail. However, in many cases the black person would get a harsher punishment. There is always 'doubt' when a white person does something. But when a black person does something, there is no doubt.

 

[Rocko9999]

Why no uproar about financial discrimination? Happens every time I go to Beverly Hills stores with my jeans and flip flops. Where is my photo op?

 

[mdlooker]

So to those that are saying, "You can't tell what transpired before the video clip", I ask this...

Why would Apple Sr. leadership respond the way they did? Wouldn't they have gathered all "causing" evidence prior to releasing a statement and internal memo?

 

[JediZenMaster]

Well thats why this is not going to be resolved. Ever. White guy vs black guy - white guy is always racist. Whore cares about background of the situation. Like science can prove whatever it wants religion will anyway say its by intelligent design. There is no wining here.


Oh and i don't like you.

Your right i don't care about the background. Because there is no reason on earth why someone should be racist and I'm glad you don't like me. Unlike a person that has a valet ticket that needs to be validated. I don't need yours or anyone else validation. Thanks and have a good day.

 

[John Mcgregor]

Your right i don't care about the background. Because there is no reason on earth why someone should be racist and I'm glad you don't like me. Unlike a person that has a valet ticket that needs to be validated. I don't need yours or anyone else validation. Thanks and have a good day.

Thanks for proving my point. Case closed.

 

[lkrupp]

Your right i don't care about the background. Because there is no reason on earth why someone should be racist and I'm glad you don't like me. Unlike a person that has a valet ticket that needs to be validated. I don't need yours or anyone else validation. Thanks and have a good day.

At the University of Missouri (after the resignation of the President and Chancellor this week) white students were asked to leave the black student’s “Safe Healing” area and go to another part of the building. They chose to segregate themselves from the whites. Apparently the black students were upset by the white student’s presence even though those white students were supporters.

Are the black students racists? Can the oppressed become the oppressor after all?

 

[megfilmworks]

It shows how one low paid, not too bright employee can cause severe damage to a company...
Nice save Tim!!

 

[sim667]

So after the mess that was the other thread it seems to be that they've issued a response to what they seem to be a racist incident. Good I'm glad.

 

[jesusplay]

How do you steal from an apple store? Did they have bolt cutters? So funny that these guys used there apple products while being denied entry into an apple store. I'd be more worried about emplooyees stealing stuff.

 

[munakib]

Apple "training" its employees to be more tolerant is just hilarious. It should be an issue at the hiring stage.

 

[JediZenMaster]

At the University of Missouri (after the resignation of the President and Chancellor this week) white students were asked to leave the black student’s “Safe Healing” area and go to another part of the building. They chose to segregate themselves from the whites. Apparently the black students were upset by the white student’s presence even though those white students were supporters.

Are the black students racists? Can the oppressed become the oppressor after all?

I dont think they are racist at all. Did they come out and openly say "We don't want whites in our space? No they didn't.

I love how people tend to use examples in this situation that don't actually apply. I myself have directly and passive aggressively been the target of race discrimination and homophobia. If you have never been thru that there is no way you can even understand it.

When someone walks up to you and calls you a fag or uses the n word, porch monkey things like that then you will get it or watches you in a store just because you are dressed a certain way or your skin color is not white.

I'm just trying to live my life and we all have a pocket full of time if someone wants to be closed minded and stupid that's fine just don't get in my way because I don't mind being black

 

[FieldingMellish]

I dont think they are racist at all. Did they come out and openly say "We don't want whites in our space? No they didn't.

You were there?

 

[JediZenMaster]

You were there?

Nope. But none of the students who were there mentioned that or the white students I should say since that is probably the side of things your more interested in.

 

[MacModMachine]

I dont think they are racist at all. Did they come out and openly say "We don't want whites in our space? No they didn't.

I love how people tend to use examples in this situation that don't actually apply. I myself have directly and passive aggressively been the target of race discrimination and homophobia. If you have never been thru that there is no way you can even understand it.

When someone walks up to you and calls you a fag or uses the n word, porch monkey things like that then you will get it or watches you in a store just because you are dressed a certain way or your skin color is not white.

I'm just trying to live my life and we all have a pocket full of time if someone wants to be closed minded and stupid that's fine just don't get in my way because I don't mind being black

whats your point ? everyone is made fun of at some point in their life....what makes you so special ?

im so tired of people complaining about racial this ....i was targeted that.....your not the only one... it happens to everyone, white , black , asian , doesn't matter.

you will have hard time in life if you do not learn to brush it off.

coming from someone who has had his share of bullying and being called racist names his whole life, it only makes me stronger now.

 

[JediZenMaster]

whats your point ? everyone is made fun of at some point in their life....what makes you so special ?

im so tired of people complaining about racial this ....i was targeted that.....your not the only one... it happens to everyone, white , black , asian , doesn't matter.

you will have hard time in life if you do not learn to brush it off.

coming from someone who has had his share of bullying and being called racist names his whole life, it only makes me stronger now.

So your equating racist behavior with being made fun of? Wow didn't think there were people this narrow mind on mac rumors. Anyways. Done with the thread. The racists and their enablers and apologists have at it.

 

[sim667]

The amount of denial here is outstanding.

Many people seemed to have grasped the basic concept of racism, I.e name calling.

A few seemed to have grasped the concept of racism, institutional racism, and white privilege.

The two sides do not meet in the middle and some posters jump to massive assumptions and arguing straw men to prove a point, and I hope we all know which side of the argument leans to that process.