I’m Just Going To Leave This Here, I Think
AI systems to detect ‘hate speech’ could have ‘disproportionate negative impact’ on African Americans.
If you’re laughing at the headline, you’re a terrible, terrible person.
A new Cornell University study reveals that some artificial intelligence systems created by universities to identify “prejudice” and “hate speech” online might be racially biased themselves and that their implementation could backfire, leading to the over-policing of minority voices online.
[Researcher, Thomas] Davidson said tweets written in “African American English,” or AAE, may be more likely to be considered offensive “due to […] internal biases.” For example, terms such as nigga and bitch are common hate speech “false positives.” “We need to consider whether the linguistic markers we use to identify potentially abusive language may be associated with language used by members of protected categories,” the study’s conclusion states.
“Human error” and “inadequate training” have been cited as explanations.
Update, via the comments:
Given the volume of research that’s subordinate to the conceit that anything reflecting poorly on a Designated Victim Group must therefore, by definition, be an unconscionable act of bias, it’s refreshing to see that the authors of the study do concede that the effect they denounce is most likely a result of statistical differences in actual behaviour:
Different communities have different speech norms, such that a model suitable for one community may discriminate against another… The ‘n-word’… can be extremely racist or quotidian, depending on the speaker… we should not penalise African-Americans for using [it].
However, the authors seem quaintly mystified by the fact that tweets by black people “are classified as containing sexism almost twice as frequently.” And whether the word bitch and various common synonyms should result in flagging and censure only when used by white people and other, as it were, unprotected categories is left to the imagination.
Also, open thread.
They were once regarded as staples of the students’ canteen. But now burgers, lasagne, chilli and tacos have been taken off the menu at a London university which has banned beef as part of its efforts to fight climate change.
From next month, Goldsmiths, University of London has said it will remove all beef product from its campus shops and cafes. Students will also face a 10p levy on bottles of water and single-use plastic cups when the academic year starts to discourage use of the products.
It is part of a new drive by the university to become carbon neutral by 2025, which involves building more solar panels and switching to a “clean” energy supplier.
Academic courses will also be reviewed to give students more opportunities to study climate change as part of their degree.
Professor Frances Corner, the new Warden of Goldsmiths said that “declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words”.
The beef ban is the first announcement she has made since taking over as the head of the university earlier this month.
Prof Corner, who used to be head of the London College of Fashion, has championed ethical designs and describes herself as a “fashion activist”.
She has previously warned of the dangers of wearing fake fur, arguing that it makes wearing real fur “culturally acceptable”.
Either from the Daily Telegraph or “Noddy Runs a College,” I forget which.
Roughly 77 percent of NYC restaurants have slashed employee hours. Thirty-six percent said they had to layoff employees and 90 percent had to increase prices following the minimum wage hike
In other news, objects thrown upwards tend to come down.
Utterly—but which objects?
The article keeps harping on restaurants, with one nod to different bushiness—. . .NYC’s “big employers” (11 or more employees) . . . but noting hipsters, et al, and definitely noting the article’s focus on restaurants, are the businesses that are hardest hit actual functioning business oriented restaurants, or are we seeing the downfall of some number of places that one is merely expected to show up at to be seen at?
Remember the great success of I think at least two instances that David has noted over time, where the theme of the restaurant was being ideologically correct, rather than the more prosaic and likely to be successful idea of We are a business, first, and secondly our business is creating and serving food.
One expects that the actual, committed, businesses—aka, We are here to work, not pose for pictures, et al—would note the incoming change, note the actual work being actually involved, and adjust the work as needed.
Personally I’m eating more beef, and meat generally, in the firm expectation that the Khmer Vert will get their way and restrict consumption in the near future. It’s sort of like Ricardan equivalence, but harder on my arteries.
you shouldn’t try this at home
From the article in question, an amusing bit of spin:
Followed by:
SendGrid fired Richards because they were horrified by her behaviour, and at the time stated repeatedly in their PR that they wouldn’t tolerate this kind of social justice headhunting by their employees while they were operating on behalf of the company. The NYT is trying to conflate a despicable online crybully with the company that disciplined her for that behaviour.
Charlie Suet,
the firm expectation that the Khmer Vert will get their way
Khmer Vert. I’m stealing that. Bravo!
The NYT is trying to conflate a despicable online crybully with the company that disciplined her for that behaviour.
That’s because they’re the New York Times. It’s what their readers expect.
“Honk!”
‘Ello, ‘ello, ello… is that a joke, by any chance? You’re nicked, matey.
“New York City’s $15 Minimum Wage Is Now Officially A Disaster…”
Gosh, nobody saw that coming, right? At least, nobody any of the people who dreamed it up ever talked to did, and they’re the only ones who count. Because equality and fairness, or something.
Further to this recent item,
Ben Sixsmith on immigration and why nations matter.
Heh:
leftist thinkers have emphasised how constant innovation breaks down values and attachments; consistency demands acknowledging that mass immigration is similarly destabilising
The experiment has been going on for enough decades that nobody can pretend to be surprised at unintended consequences. Alongside who? and how many? it’s become a question of whom?, and how it’s a good and just thing that the corrupt values and outdated attachments of the whom should be dissolved by mass immigration.
When ecologists gather.
Progressive feminist parenting:
https://twitter.com/obianuju/status/1160921802283147265
Progressive feminist parenting
Previously.
And also.
“Heh”
Well, there is this.
(Apparently. It’s only 40 miles away, and in all my 47 years I’ve never been to Edinburgh during the Festival. Glasgow has Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, the Royal Scottish Orchestra, the BBC, STV, the Citizens’ Theatre, one of the great medieval Universities, a world-renowned School of Art, Academy of Music, and both one of the finest municipal libraries and one of the finest municipal art galleries in Europe, but Edinburgh imports a bunch of jerks from London for a festival once a year and everyone thinks it’s the cultural centre of the bloody world. Bah, humbug. I’ve seen more culture on a month-old yoghurt.)
“When ecologists gather.”
“Why should I put my pronouns on my name tag?”
Because you’re surrounded by lunatics.
Progressive feminist parenting
19th Amendment Delenda Est!
Speaking of lunatics and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival…
“Did they just assume their child’s gender?” wins that Twitter thread.
Progressive feminist parenting
It’s okay for girls to be themselves but it’s not okay for boys. I like how she says “free-thinking without a smidgen of irony.
“Why should I put my pronouns on my name tag?”
Because even though we’re standing right in front of you, we like to refer to you in the third person. And there’s nothing rude about it at all. Unlike you not announcing your preferred pronouns to the world. THAT of course IS rude. It’s a simple as that.
Because even though we’re standing right in front of you, we like to refer to you in the third person.
You mustn’t draw attention to the contrivance. They don’t like that.
I love how, in the ecologist twitter thread, the poster responds to #3 on the sign when challenged (indicating no one has to comply) while totally ignoring #4 (we want to normalize this), which essentially means “you’re off the hook for now, but you will be made to care.”
Ministry of Truth is a day late, but still giving it a go.
Ministry of Truth is a day late, but still giving it a go.
Minitru is a massive fail on this one, too many versions got out too soon, besides, Fredo called himself Fredo once, which is pretty Fredo thing to do. (annoying auto play video at link – quote below)
Laughing at some criminal’s stupid hairstyle = “Hate speech”.
Saying, “I hate the Tories” = “Being a journalist at Sky News”.
Just so you know.
Saying, “I hate the Tories” = “Being a journalist at Sky News”.
Ah, but he’s “older and wiser” now. And not at all adolescent.
I’m sure this has something to do with toxic masculinity.
OK, this is from 2015, but now is time for some woke feminist slam poetry, “Princess Peach Speaks”, wherein we learn of the 8 bit misogyny of Super Mario. (Language caution – but of course)
[Finger snapping and up twinkles ensue]
So, artificial intelligence isn’t intelligent at all–it’s actually quite dumb. Apparently context matters, and AI is unable to discern the context–without (more) information not contained or readily accessible to its algorithm.
We can debate the appropriateness or logic of having/using double standards in language, e.g. a black can say nigga, a white cannot. But then the fact of a double standard exposes AI to its own shortcoming.
“University bans hamburgers ‘to tackle climate change'”
Goldsmiths…. Goldsmiths…. Ringing a bell. Wait, isn’t that the loony bin where that Bahar (“It is an iron-law of physics that I cannot possibly ever be racist” Harambe or whatever, caused a bit of a kerfuffle as NUS president, announcing a “no whites allowed” gathering.
I see now that a tornado must have hit Goldsmiths and done $100,000 worth of improvements.
(Yes, I’m back from holiday.)
(Yes, I’m back from holiday.)
You’ll notice the stools have been reupholstered.
You’ll notice the stools have been reupholstered.
“Reupholstered”. I take it that is a Brit expression for “latex paint rollered over peeling varnish” ?
Don’t get me wrong, running the 60 grit over the roughest flaking bits was most welcome.
e.g. a black can say nigga, a white cannot.
It evens out, though: A black can say “all white muthafuckas should die” and a white can also say that.
Bathroom of note.
You’ll notice the stools have been reupholstered.
I wouldn’t know, I’ve never used the loo here.
Some of you may be familiar with author Larry Correia — he’s been hilariously suspended from Facebook for 24 hours for saying Bad Things about the Pinelandians of Pinelandia.
:::guffaw:::
…author Larry Correia — he’s been hilariously suspended from Facebook for 24 hours…
