tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47896653854399647.post3446591351973614746..comments2024-03-29T09:12:39.693+00:00Comments on Google Earth Design: Sub Prime Mortgages Map: Great DesignRich Treveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00074610839485450953noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47896653854399647.post-65075136592724832312009-03-11T11:33:00.000+00:002009-03-11T11:33:00.000+00:00Tom,Firstly, my discussion of the map was from a d...Tom,<BR/><BR/>Firstly, my discussion of the map was from a design point of view, I wasn't praising it for its content but the way it presented that content.<BR/><BR/>That being said, I wouldn't ever want to promote material that is inappropriate on my blog so your point is definately worth considering. <BR/><BR/>I would counter your point by saying that your comment 'Poor non-whites are irresponsible borrowers' is an interpretation of the data, not an explicit point that was made by the map. I could make an interpretation from the same data 'Non-whites are generally poor and poor people have been misold mortgages they didn't understand'. I think that's just as valid.<BR/><BR/>However, race is a very sensitive issue in discussions of society so to some extent I do agree with you that putting it as a variable in the way that its been done was liable to produce strong reactions. When plotting anything about race we have to be very careful about what conclusions people are going to come to and in this case more care probably could have been taken.Rich Treveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00074610839485450953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47896653854399647.post-16786930299005543602009-03-10T18:45:00.000+00:002009-03-10T18:45:00.000+00:00Or that map is a lop-sided representation of the r...Or that map is a lop-sided representation of the race and class-charged problem of inappropriate lending practices. By only offering %subprime, %white, and income, the map is practically saying, "Poor non-whites are irresponsible borrowers." What the map should really strive to offer is the fact that rich, white people are greedy and willing to lend to anyone to make a quick buck. This map distorts the reality of the situation terribly. I'm severely disappointed in the NYT.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06007752455170465703noreply@blogger.com