One of the most common points of contention in gender/race/etc. politics is whether, when a certain trait or action is more common in one group than another, it's acceptable to treat this as relevant in your interactions with them.

On one hand, just because someone is more likely to have a certain trait or action doesn't mean that they will, and if they don't then treating them as if they did is something of an injustice. They're being punished for something that they haven't even done. On the other hand, recognizing patterns is a fundamental part of interacting with the world (and surviving/thriving); does this change when the patterns involve people? Can we be expected to ignore patterns just because they're merely trends and not absolute rules?

Honestly there really isn't an easy answer, but I'm interested in people's opinions and feedback on these scenarios. Which are acceptable, and which are unacceptable? What criteria are you using to judge this?

1. You've seen statistics showing that men are more likely to commit violent crime. Is it acceptable to be more cautious of your safety when around men (for example, late at night)?

2. You've seen statistics showing that black people are more likely to commit violent crime. Is it acceptable to be more cautious of your safety when around black people (for example, late at night)?

3. You've seen statistics showing that women are more likely to take time off from work or stop working altogether (in the career sense). Is it acceptable to be less willing to hire a woman because of that?

4. You're working in the government and you're aware that terrorist attacks (or terrorist threats) in your country more commonly come from a certain group, whether it's Maoists, Muslims, or the Patriot movement in the United States. Is it acceptable to give them extra scrutiny at the border, on airplanes, etc.?

5. You've noticed a trend that taxis are more likely to drive dangerously than normal vehicles. Is it acceptable to be more cautious of your safety as a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorist when around taxis?

6. You're a woman who's had the experience of a lot of men seemingly losing interest after having sex on the first date. Is it acceptable to decide not to have sex on the first date with new men, even if you don't know for sure how they individually would react, or what their personal turn-offs are?

7. You're a man who's had the experience of a lot of women seemingly losing interest after you've opened up and shown emotions that imply weakness. Is it acceptable to decide to be more stoic with new women in the future, even if you don't know for sure how they individually would react, or what their personal turn-offs are?

If you have any other examples that you think are interesting, feel free to comment on those too.