Build and release the app and ignore the whiners. All that you're doing is delivering notification to your users when the statistical likelihood of sustaining harm increases. If people get offended by the macroscopic implications of mathematics that's their issue, not yours.
Really? You're offending me because I come from a so-called bad area.
In fact most of the population of the world actually live in "bad areas" and would no doubt feel pretty insulted to find an app that categorized their 'hoods as a "no-go zones".
Let me put it another way, this app would be a reminder of how poor you are. I wouldn't want that - I can't say I know anyone who lived there would either.
Why should he or she care one bit if you're offended?
Like the previous poster said, if you don't live in the area, then it's probably smart to not walk around some of these areas. Just because other people live there isn't some reason why this app shouldn't exist.
The point is, just because some people have to live in these areas isn't a reason why people who are fortunate enough to not live there should be forced to go there and put themselves in a statistically more dangerous situation.
Would you walk around most areas of Detroit or the east side of Cleveland, at night, alone?
As a person who grew up in a so-called bad area i feel in no way offended, because i know the actual risks.
My mother works as a railway attendend and often has to go to different cities without guides just to get to her hotel. I'd love for her to have an app or something that guides her on the safest path possible.
If you live in a bad area you shouldn't be ashamed about it, but ignoring it just makes things worse for everybody.
Me too. I'm not denying bad things can happen. An app won't navigate you away from a potential mugging, if they guy decides to try another street. That's the problem you are believing that this might be possible statistically it's not possible. This is not Minority Report, and actually you may be putting your mum in danger just by suggesting that it works. Criminals buy apps too.
The point I wanted to make was this:
If the app's aim was to draw attention to areas that needed help, for use to focus the minds of governments and aid agencies, and people with a social conscience, and they were using the data to determine the most needy areas in an aggregated fashion it could be positive thing. Where can we help next?
Do you see? This would be making the world a better place.
It is not doing this.
It is basically contributing to the view people from certain areas should be avoided, because statistically speaking they are mostly criminals.
This is not for the good of the many, it's for the good of the one.
I believe the issue people are having with this is that its a bit condescending.
These guys built a mobile app and node API in 20hrs based on something that - they believed - is general common-sense among any city dwellers (avoiding bad neighborhoods).
If you think you know a better way of approaching the problem, then the general response in the hacker community is: build it yourself.
Asking to change wording to something less offensive is fine... but calling them out for not being socially concious and not trying to fix a problem that has affected cities for centuries is a bit of a stretch... especially considering it was a weekend project.
Wanting something is merely entitlement. Changing something is rewarded. As has been mentioned, if you disagree on the proposed solution to the "problem," a better endeavor would be to change it.
In other words: walk the walk, don't just talk the talk.
Edit: Oh, and complaining about downvotes isn't worthwhile either.
Wanting something is merely entitlement. Changing something is rewarded. As has been mentioned, if you disagree on the proposed solution to the "problem," a better endeavor would be to change it.
In other words: walk the walk, don't just talk the talk.
