Eenie, meenie, who da ho?
May 1, 2009 10:00 AM Subscribe
This is kind of pointless.
posted by doctor_negative at 10:06 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by doctor_negative at 10:06 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
Some of these are pretty obvious. Glassy eyes = DWI, creepy dude = sexual battery, etc. Also, don't try to fight your baser instincts - the person who looks most suspicious is usually the person that did it in this game.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:11 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:11 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
At first I was wary of this, feeling voyeuristic and mean-spirited. Then I started paying attention to the way I was conscientiously employing/rejecting stereotypes as I picked. Needless to say, race/class/gender/appearance issues abound. Which, to my mind, reinforces Xoebe's comment above.
posted by barrett caulk at 10:11 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by barrett caulk at 10:11 AM on May 1, 2009
Also, don't try to fight your baser instincts - the person who looks most suspicious is usually the person that did it in this game.
I have a job for you. It's with the TSA. You can conduct "random" searches.
posted by orville sash at 10:12 AM on May 1, 2009 [5 favorites]
I have a job for you. It's with the TSA. You can conduct "random" searches.
posted by orville sash at 10:12 AM on May 1, 2009 [5 favorites]
This is pretty awful and rubs me wrong in just about 700 ways.
Commentary not withheld...
but not at all meant as an attack on the poster or the fact that it was posted because it's interesting
While my ability to pick an alleged drug dealer out of a crowd is a skill of which I was already aware, I was even more accurate in picking those charged with "failure to appear"
So look out Dog the Bounty Hunter!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:13 AM on May 1, 2009
Commentary not withheld...
but not at all meant as an attack on the poster or the fact that it was posted because it's interesting
While my ability to pick an alleged drug dealer out of a crowd is a skill of which I was already aware, I was even more accurate in picking those charged with "failure to appear"
So look out Dog the Bounty Hunter!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:13 AM on May 1, 2009
Apparently my baser instincts tilt toward PC-style ratiocination! Heh.
posted by barrett caulk at 10:13 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by barrett caulk at 10:13 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
I am proud to report that I do no better than random chance at this game.
posted by hayvac at 10:14 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by hayvac at 10:14 AM on May 1, 2009
I have a job for you. It's with the TSA. You can conduct "random" searches.
9 times out of 10, the person making the funniest facial expression is in fact the person who got arrested for punching a cop.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:18 AM on May 1, 2009
9 times out of 10, the person making the funniest facial expression is in fact the person who got arrested for punching a cop.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:18 AM on May 1, 2009
I was even more accurate in picking those charged with "failure to appear"
Yeah, the deer-in-the-headlights "But nice young women don't go to jail!!!!" look is a dead giveaway.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:19 AM on May 1, 2009
Yeah, the deer-in-the-headlights "But nice young women don't go to jail!!!!" look is a dead giveaway.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:19 AM on May 1, 2009
Yay, thanks internet for reviving the pillory. Now more comfortable!
posted by everichon at 10:21 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by everichon at 10:21 AM on May 1, 2009
Utter Forged Instrument?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:21 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:21 AM on May 1, 2009
I find it kind of unfair to do this with people who are only alleged to have committed crimes. I take issue with the police departments that put up mugshots of this too. Innocent until proven guilty, but let the smearing of your reputation begin prior to trial even.
posted by caddis at 10:22 AM on May 1, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by caddis at 10:22 AM on May 1, 2009 [3 favorites]
Just what I need, another way to waste time. And I do mean waste.
posted by scratch at 10:23 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by scratch at 10:23 AM on May 1, 2009
7 out of 14.
Fourteen times I clicked. I'm so ashamed.
(7 out of 14, though)
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:32 AM on May 1, 2009
Fourteen times I clicked. I'm so ashamed.
(7 out of 14, though)
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:32 AM on May 1, 2009
Utter Forged Instrument?
Utter, v. To put or send (as a forged check) into circulation; to publish or put forth; to offer.
Source: Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Ed.
posted by exogenous at 10:36 AM on May 1, 2009
Utter, v. To put or send (as a forged check) into circulation; to publish or put forth; to offer.
Source: Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Ed.
posted by exogenous at 10:36 AM on May 1, 2009
I'm really good at picking out the people who violated parole, apparently. I just keep guessing the people giving the camera the cockiest look.
I do find that I pick men way more than women. Interesting, I guess?
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 10:39 AM on May 1, 2009
I do find that I pick men way more than women. Interesting, I guess?
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 10:39 AM on May 1, 2009
I just had two people play this. The black judicial system social worker who sits across from me scored 50%. The white parole officer dude who sits next to me scored 18%, including a miss on the violation of probabation question.
posted by The Straightener at 10:39 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by The Straightener at 10:39 AM on May 1, 2009
I find it kind of unfair to do this with people who are only alleged to have committed crimes.
Yeah, this. I missed that particular detail the first time around. In general I'm not a big fan of this sort of information being available on the net and, not only available, but published in such a revealing sort of way. An alleged crime might as well be a conviction in these scenarios, because if any employer finds out about it there is likely to be some kind of fallout. Which is frankly unfair.
I do think it is interesting, though. And I like to think that maybe the point, if it were done with actual convictions, would be to prove that appearance really is no way to judge on these. Because I'm batting at 20% here, and from what I'm seeing most of us are.
It would be nice if there were some kind of followup, like after you had done x amount of these it took you to page with a summary (breakdown of age, sex, race, type of crime) and a sort of discussion question about how you feel about your results.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 10:44 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this. I missed that particular detail the first time around. In general I'm not a big fan of this sort of information being available on the net and, not only available, but published in such a revealing sort of way. An alleged crime might as well be a conviction in these scenarios, because if any employer finds out about it there is likely to be some kind of fallout. Which is frankly unfair.
I do think it is interesting, though. And I like to think that maybe the point, if it were done with actual convictions, would be to prove that appearance really is no way to judge on these. Because I'm batting at 20% here, and from what I'm seeing most of us are.
It would be nice if there were some kind of followup, like after you had done x amount of these it took you to page with a summary (breakdown of age, sex, race, type of crime) and a sort of discussion question about how you feel about your results.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 10:44 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
62% - and when I missed, it was usually my second choice. Heroin = skinny. Pot = heavier. Battery = usually male, kind of pissed off. Robbery = scary looking.
I was surprised how well I did. I found it intuitive after awhile.
posted by MythMaker at 10:44 AM on May 1, 2009
I was surprised how well I did. I found it intuitive after awhile.
posted by MythMaker at 10:44 AM on May 1, 2009
This would make more sense if it was a mix of offenders and non-offenders. As it stands, it's guess the crime. Guess the criminal would be much more interesting.
posted by eyeballkid at 10:45 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by eyeballkid at 10:45 AM on May 1, 2009
Well I misread perp as prep and thought to my self, how hard can it be?
posted by Sailormom at 10:45 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by Sailormom at 10:45 AM on May 1, 2009
Yay, thanks internet for reviving the pillory.
A Christian invention!
(Kidding. I'm kidding. Really. Have some lithium.)
posted by rokusan at 10:49 AM on May 1, 2009
A Christian invention!
(Kidding. I'm kidding. Really. Have some lithium.)
posted by rokusan at 10:49 AM on May 1, 2009
This is profoundly sad.
No quiero estar cansada sola
quiero que se canse conmigo.
posted by zenon at 10:50 AM on May 1, 2009
No quiero estar cansada sola
quiero que se canse conmigo.
posted by zenon at 10:50 AM on May 1, 2009
“Every person is responsible for his own looks after 40.”
Abraham Lincoln
posted by binturong at 10:50 AM on May 1, 2009 [2 favorites]
Abraham Lincoln
posted by binturong at 10:50 AM on May 1, 2009 [2 favorites]
You seem to be using IE 6.0 which is an outdated browser.
Please update IE or use a different browser.
what
posted by Big_B at 10:56 AM on May 1, 2009
Please update IE or use a different browser.
what
posted by Big_B at 10:56 AM on May 1, 2009
IE6 is almost a decade old and two versions behind. Upgrade your browser already.
posted by brenton at 11:07 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by brenton at 11:07 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
Isn't this comparing 5 mug shots from 5 people who were arrested? So you're not "spotting the perp", you're picking the Retail Theft from the DUI from the Domestic Assault. They're all perps.
posted by Nelson at 11:10 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by Nelson at 11:10 AM on May 1, 2009
Wow, I'm awful at this. No wonder I lost my job as high inquisitor. Well, that, and I accidentally stabbed the king with my ceremonial Judging Sword.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 11:36 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 11:36 AM on May 1, 2009
eyeballkid was more clear than i was ... i meant knowing what a particular criminal looks like, since yes, they are all criminals.
posted by sio42 at 1:49 PM on May 1 [+] [!]
This just illustrates my point on how people go straight from "arrestee" to "criminal" with so little thought and why it is profoundly unfair to publicize this information.
posted by caddis at 11:49 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by sio42 at 1:49 PM on May 1 [+] [!]
This just illustrates my point on how people go straight from "arrestee" to "criminal" with so little thought and why it is profoundly unfair to publicize this information.
posted by caddis at 11:49 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
IE6 is almost a decade old and two versions behind. Upgrade your browser already.
posted by brenton at 2:07 PM on May 1 [+] [!]
IE6 still has 60% of the enterprise market!
posted by caddis at 11:54 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by brenton at 2:07 PM on May 1 [+] [!]
IE6 still has 60% of the enterprise market!
posted by caddis at 11:54 AM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
I've got a theory. Tell me if it's impossible.
The photos on this site are not mugshots. The people in the photos are volunteers. The "correct" answer that the site provides after each choice is randomly selected. The site itself was designed by a psychologist or sociologist. We are all participants in an experiment. Our selections are recorded, and will be broken down by gender, race and age in an attempt to study the overall prevalence of prejudice and bigotry.
What do you think?
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:21 PM on May 1, 2009 [4 favorites]
The photos on this site are not mugshots. The people in the photos are volunteers. The "correct" answer that the site provides after each choice is randomly selected. The site itself was designed by a psychologist or sociologist. We are all participants in an experiment. Our selections are recorded, and will be broken down by gender, race and age in an attempt to study the overall prevalence of prejudice and bigotry.
What do you think?
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:21 PM on May 1, 2009 [4 favorites]
Faint of Butt might be right. A lot of these don't look like mugshots, and I see mugshots every day at work.
posted by agregoli at 2:03 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by agregoli at 2:03 PM on May 1, 2009
Flagged > I don't feel comfortable confronting my own inner demons about this issue.
posted by not_on_display at 2:11 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by not_on_display at 2:11 PM on May 1, 2009
I like that idea FoB, whether or not it's the case.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:17 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by eyeballkid at 2:17 PM on May 1, 2009
I don't know Faint of Butt, these types of pictures are readily available.
posted by caddis at 2:18 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by caddis at 2:18 PM on May 1, 2009
IE6 is almost a decade old and two versions behind. Upgrade your browser already.
IE6 still has 60% of the enterprise market!
And the cutting-edge-ness of the average enterprise in America these days is how sharp, exactly?
posted by rokusan at 2:32 PM on May 1, 2009
IE6 still has 60% of the enterprise market!
And the cutting-edge-ness of the average enterprise in America these days is how sharp, exactly?
posted by rokusan at 2:32 PM on May 1, 2009
Interesting. A whois lookup for Pick the Perp reveals a phony name ("Pickt Hep Erp") and a domain that's registered under "A Happy DreamHost Customer." Whether this is an experiment, viral marketing, or what-have-you, somebody's playing silly buggers.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:27 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:27 PM on May 1, 2009
A better score does not mean you are more insightful than someone with a lesser score.
It just means that, by random variation, you happened to get a better score than someone else.
There is no level of "perceptiveness" that can distinguish the folks who are charged with, say, retail theft from those who are charged with uttering a forged instrument.
posted by jayder at 7:18 PM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
It just means that, by random variation, you happened to get a better score than someone else.
There is no level of "perceptiveness" that can distinguish the folks who are charged with, say, retail theft from those who are charged with uttering a forged instrument.
posted by jayder at 7:18 PM on May 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
perhaps not but there is some element of being able to distinguish violent crimes from non-violent and the like. nevertheless, if you ever spend time working in criminal justice the people who get charged with some of these crimes will really surprise you.
posted by caddis at 8:27 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by caddis at 8:27 PM on May 1, 2009
0 out of 10. They all look guilty to me.
posted by Kevin Street at 8:56 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by Kevin Street at 8:56 PM on May 1, 2009
I don't know, jayder. There's something in the eyes of violent criminals.
For something like marijuana distribution, I figured they would be mostly young, because that's who gets busted for that sort of thing.
DUIs look a bit drunk, mostly guilty.
Loitering looks homeless.
Etc.
posted by MythMaker at 10:14 PM on May 1, 2009
For something like marijuana distribution, I figured they would be mostly young, because that's who gets busted for that sort of thing.
DUIs look a bit drunk, mostly guilty.
Loitering looks homeless.
Etc.
posted by MythMaker at 10:14 PM on May 1, 2009
Hmph, my perps won't load. I'll have to guess based on which name sounds angrier.
posted by rottytooth at 6:09 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by rottytooth at 6:09 AM on May 2, 2009
There's something in the eyes of violent criminals.
Honestly, I think that's a load. I see perfectly cheerful mugshots of murderers all the time, many look like your next-door neighbor.
posted by agregoli at 8:18 AM on May 2, 2009
Honestly, I think that's a load. I see perfectly cheerful mugshots of murderers all the time, many look like your next-door neighbor.
posted by agregoli at 8:18 AM on May 2, 2009
Hmph, my perps won't load. I'll have to guess based on which name sounds angrier.
Same here. I got 5 out of 15 without pictures!
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 11:13 AM on May 2, 2009
Same here. I got 5 out of 15 without pictures!
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 11:13 AM on May 2, 2009
There's something in the eyes of violent criminals.
Does this look like a necrophiliac serial killer?
Or this? (The one on the right, that is. Rosalynn Carter is not—to my knowledge—a serial killer.)
posted by decagon at 7:30 PM on May 2, 2009
Does this look like a necrophiliac serial killer?
Or this? (The one on the right, that is. Rosalynn Carter is not—to my knowledge—a serial killer.)
posted by decagon at 7:30 PM on May 2, 2009
Does this look like a necrophiliac serial killer? Or this?
Totally! The first one looks exactly like Ted Bundy, and the second one is a dead ringer for John Wayne Gacy!
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:59 PM on May 2, 2009
Totally! The first one looks exactly like Ted Bundy, and the second one is a dead ringer for John Wayne Gacy!
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:59 PM on May 2, 2009
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posted by mudpuppie at 10:01 AM on May 1, 2009