Although I don't consciously discriminate against people, I am aware that I sometimes find my mind grouping people, based on they way they act, and treat others outside their group. This was cultivated from the unique profession I have been in for 21 years.

I work in a Bowling Center.
I deal with people from many cultures & ages, in the same area, all at the same time.
The dynamics of having that many cultures in the same building, shoulder to shoulder, for hours at a time, dictate that they all must be treated equally. In my business, overlooking one group of people while catering to another can lead to aggressive actions from those who have felt slighted. When you add alcohol to that dynamic, any kind of perceived favoritism can become a real problem, very quickly. For preservation of the peace, the job demands that I see & treat everyone equally. Or there'll be trouble.

I respond & treat people according to their actions. If someone is causing problems to others, I reprimand them individually. If someone is doing it as a group, they are reprimanded collectively. Not based on their color, but their actions. There are bad eggs in all walks of life.

Now, I must admit that I do see patterns in certain groups. Active visual clues, that increase the probability that this groups likelihood of being less then accepting & cordial to another group or groups that they have a known cultural bias toward.
In this case, I let them pick where they would like to bowl. They invariably pick a spot beside a group similar to their own, as opposed to a spot where they can facilitate trouble. Of course, that, in and of itself can lead to trouble. If you allow that to go unchecked, all of a sudden you will find that you have large segregated groups. Not only does it look and feel unseemly, it creates a mob dynamic that fosters aggressive tendencies toward other dissimilar groups.

I prefer to match bowling neighbors according to their dispositions. Fun timers get matched up with fun timers. Casuals with casuals. Competitives with competitives. Aggressors, people that have caused problems in the past, turn mean after a few drinks, or make it known early on that they came primarily to cause problems, get their own little section. The above method results in the most fun, with the least amount of problems, for everyone involved.

So, although I may see racial patterns in behavior, those patterns are no indication of how you will be treated.
Your actions & attitude, either individually or as a group, will dictate your treatment.
Rude, inconsiderate, & aggressive actions & behavior gets no one any closer to understanding and accepting each others differences.
And not just in bowling.

I have come to believe that Bowling makes great strides in bringing people closer to getting along with others, who may, on the surface, seem vastly different from you. We are all there for the same reason, shoulder to shoulder, regardless of our race, religion, sexual orientation, or station in life.
To have a good time, and to KILL THEM PINS!
(and to make more work for me, which means I hate all bowlers equally!)

Your well thought out methods should be commended. You've obviously put a lot of thought into this, based on your years of experience.

Just remember, if your observations lead you to suspect a white group may be looking for trouble, you're a thoughtful person who pays attention to body language and the human dynamic.

If your observations lead you to suspect a black, Hispanic, Muslim (or any other non-white) group may be looking for trouble, then you're a racist.

[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 07-03-2006).]

quote Originally posted by Formula88: Your well thought out methods should be commended. You've obviously put a lot of thought into this, based on your years of experience.

It helped when I realized that people have different ideas of fun, even while doing the exact same thing!
Some people bowl to better their skills.
Some just to have fun.
Others to release aggression.
And some to be competitive.
Others, just to have something to do while they get drunk!

There's just so many things to consider when trying to keep everything smooth, that you learn real quick what works the best to eleminate any kind of conflict before it even gets started.

but bowling hurts my wrist.

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: but bowling hurts my wrist.

Ryan, you've got a limp wrist?

quote Originally posted by litespd: Ryan, you've got a limp wrist?

That's not what your sister said.

I haven't noticed race ever determining how someone acts at a bowling alley. I more notice age being the biggest factor. It's difficult for me to play near a bunch of highschoolers out with their friends going crazy right next to me when I'm doing whatever the hell I can to get my damn ball in the damn pocket!!!!!!!! But then I'm only 24 years old, and when I go bowling with my friends, I guess I kinda do the same thing. I just don't like it when people try bowling right next to me when I'm on my approach. That's one thing I never do. Even when I was a little squirt! Most people just don't know better I guess.

quote Originally posted by Zewerr: I just don't like it when people try bowling right next to me when I'm on my approach. That's one thing I never do. Even when I was a little squirt! Most people just don't know better I guess.

The 10 Rules Of Bowling Etiquette:

1. DO yield the 'right of way' When two bowlers are on adjacent lanes, and simultaneously ready to bowl, the bowler on the right delivers first. The other bowler ought to remainoff or to the rear of the approach area. This rule doesn't apply if the bowler on the left is shooting for a spare.

2. DON'T take a practice swing with your bowling ball on the concourse or behind the approach. Wait until you are upon the approach itself before doing any practice exercises.

3. DO be ready when it's your turn to bowl. Remain in your lane area while your teammates are bowling, don't wander off.

4. DON'T use an excessive amount of body gyrations at the foul line after delivering the ball. Confine your body 'English' to your own lane.

5. DO bowl immediately when it is your turn. Once you have your ball, assume your stance and start your delivery, it isn't necessary to wait for lanes on either side of you to be cleared before you bowl, just observe the 'right of way' rule.

6. DON'T bring food or drink into the settee or bowlers area, a drop of liquid or any type of foreign substance spilled on the approach could cause a slip and serious injury.

7. DO wait until you have completed the frame before checking your score. Don't come back to the scorekeeper after the first ball has been rolled.

8. DON'T bench jockey while others are bowling. Friendly bantering is an accepted part of the sport, but don't overdo it. Be a good competitor.

9. DO return your bowling shoes to the counter control desk after bowling, and if you've borrowed a 'house ball' return it to the storage rack.

10. DON'T linger at the foul line after releasing the ball. As soon as your ball hits the pins return to your seat.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: If your observations lead you to suspect a black, Hispanic, Muslim (or any other non-white) group may be looking for trouble, then you're a racist.

Some call it racism, I call it profiling - a technique whereby a set of characteristics of a particular class of person is inferred from past experience, and data-holdings are then searched for individuals with a close fit to that set of characteristics.

One more rule for the above 10.
If you throw a gutter ball, even 8 feet down the lane, watch it all the way. Most people just turn around and walk away. I always encourage them to watch the ball all the way down the gutter. This will teach them how to look agony straight in the eye.
While on the subject most bowlers that make a 7-10 split never see it because they turn around and walk away before the ball reaches the end.
I made it only once and watched the whole thing.

Last spring, while I was bowling in league, I had a 4-10 split come up. I picked it up as you would a 7-10, by bouncing the 4 pin off the left wall, and crossing over and taking out the 10 pin. I thought that was pretty cool. The very next frame, 7-10!!! Ah crap!!! I told my teammate to videotape it just in case, so she pulled out the digital camera and began to record. Oh well. I guess it would've been sweet if I picked it up.