Male Madness
The Overwhelming Maleness of Mass Homicide
By Erika Christakis, TIME.com
(TIME.com) — There’s a predictable cycle of mourning and finger-pointing that follows a massacre like the shootings last week in Aurora, Colorado. First come the calls for unity and flags flown at half-staff. Then the national fissures appear: The gun lobby stiffens its spine as gun control advocates make their case. Psychologists parse the shooter’s background, looking for signs of mental illness or family disarray. Politicians point fingers about “society run amok” and “cultures of despair.”
We’ve been down this path so many times, yet we keep missing the elephant in the room: How many of the worst mass murderers in American history were women? None. This is not to suggest that women are never violent, and there are even the rare cases of female serial killers. But why aren’t we talking about the glaring reality that acts of mass murder (and, indeed, every single kind of violence) are overwhelmingly perpetrated by men? Pointing out that fact may seem politically incorrect or irrelevant, but our silence about the huge gender disparity of such violence may be costing lives.
Imagine for a moment if a deadly disease disproportionately affected men. Not a disease like prostate cancer that can only affect men, but a condition prevalent in the general population that was vastly more likely to strike men. Violence is such a condition: Men are nine to 10 times more likely to commit homicide and more likely to be its victims.
The numbers are sobering when we look at young men. In the United States, for example, young white males (between age 14 and 24) represent only 6% of the population, yet commit almost 17% of the murders. For young black males, the numbers are even more alarming (1.2% of the population accounting for 27% of all homicides). Together, these two groups of young men make up just 7% of the population and 45% of the homicides. Overall, 90% of all violent offenders are male, as are nearly 80% of the victims.
We shouldn’t need Steven Pinker, one of the world’s leading psychologists and the author of the book “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” to tell us the obvious: “Though the exact ratios vary, in every society, it is the males more than the females who play-fight, bully, fight for real, kill for real, rape, start wars and fight in wars.” The silence around the gendering of violence is as inexplicable as it is indefensible. Sex differences in other medical and social conditions — such as anorexia nervosa, lupus, migraines, depression and learning disabilities — are routinely analyzed along these lines.
Continue reading here.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Headclunker 07.24.12 at 6:25 pm
Yes these are glaring statistics. But the dicks have a barrage of excuses for their mostness. And they all have to do with systems defined by men. They claim their IQ’s are, on average higher, although female intelligence is different from male. More extremely intelligent and stupid, they excuse their worst by their best in these systems defined by them. If you want oranges to rate higher than apples, just value being orange more highly as better.
Did you know? Research on shark attacks, time of day, depth, temperature, turbidity, salinity… shows few clues, but one outstanding statistic: 9 out of 10 shark attack victims are men.
Did you know? Males have a 4X higher incidence of autism, then women.
They also have a slightly higher incidence of mental illness.
Did you know? Lead toxins are associated with both IQ and cognitive processes and are believed to play a role in violent behavior.
So where is the research? Why are we not busy making the world a better place?
Ask Hillary.
HP Boston 07.24.12 at 7:55 pm
YUP
yttik 07.24.12 at 8:53 pm
Great article. Thanks for sharing it.
freddiebrown 07.27.12 at 5:21 pm
I got this email today. I am barfing as we speak.
Don’t they know there are more honorable ways to “harvest” our email address than to trick us into doing so ?
***********************************
Barack’s 51st birthday is coming up.
I hope you’ll wish him a happy birthday by signing the card we’re putting together for him.
You’ll be adding Freddie, from California, alongside thousands of other supporters’ names — folks from all 50 states, from all different backgrounds. Together, all those names will be impressive — they’ll show the strength of this campaign and our support for Barack.
And I know he’s going to love it.
Add your name today — and then ask a friend to join you:
http://my.democrats.org/Happy-Birthday-Barack
These last few months until Election Day won’t be easy — so let’s show Barack we have his back every step of the way.
- Michelle
Delle 07.28.12 at 7:29 am
These are the men Candice has to run against:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/07/ouch-top-democrats-slug-it-out-in-bloody-twitter-brawl/#comments
What jerks they are!
She should win easily if given a fair chance.
Headclunker 07.28.12 at 9:53 pm
I really believe that if Obama gets a second term, America will decline to the standards of a third world nation. As the only alternative, I have been wondering who Willard Mitt Romney is. I do not like his base, but they are not real wild about him. The just want Nobama. Well, some of his right wing critics have put up this utube from 1994.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&feature=related
Hey, I think I like this guy.
freddiebrown 07.29.12 at 12:39 am
Headclunker – Hey, I like this Romney guy too.
I listened to many of the Republican debates and initially Romney did not stand out. But as I found out more about the personal side of him, I see that he is a real nice person. None of the bravado that others have when they are too full of themselves. He seems very humble and down to earth as well. Many people say that he does not have the charisma like Bill Clinton or Barack but I am tired of the rah rah rah, hollywood swagger and fist bump nonsense. I don’t want my president to pretend to be a regular guy on the street.
I like my president to act PRESIDENTIAL.
Delle 07.29.12 at 5:20 am
I stayed at this hotel when I was in Venice over 20 years ago. It’s beauty is beyond description. I have very fond memories of my time there, which is why this news has made me so very upset.
“Top Italian hotel OK’s Muslim porter won’t have to take orders from woman boss”
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2012/07/italys-top-5-star-hotel-oks-muslim-porter-who-refuses-to-report-to-woman-boss-i-do-not-take-orders-f.html
Freddiebrown I know you travel a lot. It you are in Italy please do not stay at the Danieli!
That request goes to all of you!
stoney42 07.29.12 at 7:25 pm
Just want to say “Hi!” Nothing much going on here. Getting tired of politics. Watching some Olympics. Love to all Pumas.
freddiebrown 07.30.12 at 4:12 pm
Ok OK… read this and vomit after you laugh your head off… CNN is so desperate that they write such crap. “Obama’s family tree connection to first African American slave” Is this desperation to hook the black vote or what ?
Like he’s afraid the black won’t come out for him because he did nothing for them? Hmmm. Actually the comments at the end are quite funny as well.
http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/30/obamas-family-tree-connection-to-first-african-american-slave/#comment-98654
freddiebrown 07.30.12 at 4:40 pm
OK – I know I shouldn’t post such nonsense on here but this is sooo funny. I stole it from a blogger in the above link: DWP if it is in-appropriate, please delete it.
*****************
One day in the future, Barack Obama has a heart attack and dies.
He immediately goes to hell, where the devil is waiting for him.
“I don’t know what to do here,” says the devil. “You are on my list, but I have no room for you. You definitely have to stay here, so I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’ve got a couple of folks here who weren’t quite as bad as you. I’ll let one of them go, but you have to take their place. I’ll even let YOU decide who leaves.”
Obama thought that sounded pretty good, so the devil opened the door to the first room.
In it was Ted Kennedy and a large pool of water. Ted kept diving in, and surfacing, empty handed. Over, and over, and over he dived in and surfaced with nothing. Such was his fate in hell.
“No,” Obama said. “I don’t think so. I’m not a good swimmer, and I don’t think I could do that all day long.”
The devil led him to the door of the next room.
In it was Al Gore with a sledge-hammer and a room full of rocks. All he did was swing that hammer, time after time after time.
“No, this is no good; I’ve got this problem with my shoulder. I would be in constant agony if all I could do was break rocks all day,” commented Obama.
The devil opened a third door. Through it, Obama saw Bill Clinton, lying on the bed, his arms tied over his head, and his legs restrained in a spread-eagle pose. Bent over him was Monica Lewinsky, doing what she does best.
Obama looked at this in shocked disbelief, and finally said, “Yeah man, I can handle this.”
The devil smiled and said……….
“OK, Monica, you’re free to go.”
Headclunker 07.30.12 at 9:44 pm
freddiebrown,
You are BAD. It is an appropriate lead in for the following story: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/30/bill-clinton-to-give-nomination-address-for-obama/
WTF? I cannot wait to hear that speech. Bill Gwatney and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones are not so long gone. I hope old Joe isn’t taking it too hard. Evereybody has to do time under the Obama bus.
freddiebrown 07.31.12 at 12:48 am
It is too sad that once again, Bill Clinton has to be trotted out like some prized stallion, to show the country that Obama has some political and economic savvy by way of association with the Clintons. Anything to sweeten up the deal for Obama and to get the white Clinton votes.
Very. Embarrassing. For. Obama – who shows once again that he cannot stand on his own two feet, never mind record, when push comes to shove.
Delle 07.31.12 at 9:40 am
freddiebrown #10
Obama doesn’t need to hook the black vote. He’s got them in his pocket.
I believe this story was put out there to try to convince people that Obama is an American.
Me thinks the WH is nervous after Sheriff Joe’s report.
HP Boston 07.31.12 at 11:05 am
FORGET THE ASSHOLES!
VOTE FOR WOMEN >>> JILL STEIN >>>> Stop listening to the freaking NSFP they suck! they lie ! and shoot the fucking TV!!!!!
DancesWithPumas 07.31.12 at 12:37 pm
“I believe this story was put out there to try to convince people that Obama is an American.”
I believe Obama is a n American. I do not believe he qualifies for the Presidency because candidates for the Presidency are held to a hire “natural born citizen” standard, ie BOTH parents must be American.
I disagree that the story was put out there to try to convince people that Obama is an American. The only thing it theorizes is Obama, through his mother, is descended from a slave and slave owners. No one can say the slave was the 1st slave. Also, Kenya was active in the slave trade and didn’t forcibly ship slaves over to the US one slave at a time.
freddiebrown 07.31.12 at 1:54 pm
I think this story is just another distraction from the real issues that Americans every where and every day have. Distract, Divide and conquer. That is his current motto.
I was watching Fox this time last night. Two were interviewed and the ice skater were talking it up. They showed a group of Olympic medalists that put a video together in support of Mitt Romney. They were very grateful to Romney for turning the Salt Lake Olympics around and also added a few never before sports to the roster. Supposedly he turned a 400 million deficit into a 100 million surplus. Can/Has/Will Barack Hussein Obama do this at any time in his life claim a direct hand in anything that made a million bucks?
No, he instead tells us that our success is not all ours (the Government has a claim to your success because without the roads, bridges, airports etc we would not be successful) – i.e. when push come to shove, you split hairs.
So everynight, we humans, should thank Adam & Eve for spending a hot night together because if not for them, we would not be here.
I am beyond sick of the crap that comes out each day.
Headclunker 07.31.12 at 9:54 pm
I am going on a family vacation to the land of psycho killers and forest fires. I have been thinking about packing body armor and a respirator but the darts that can fly when my family gets together could defeat just about any protection.
DancesWithPumas 07.31.12 at 9:57 pm
Headclunker,
You’re going to Colorado?
I’m going on a road trip to Boulder beginning next weekend.
ipotter 08.01.12 at 12:01 am
How about those young ladies bringing home the gold from London! Woo-Hoo!!!
freddiebrown 08.01.12 at 4:03 pm
TRENDING: Poll: Obama over 50% in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania
(CNN) – President Barack Obama has a majority of voters backing him in three critical battleground states, according to a survey released Wednesday.
The Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll showed Obama leading his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Florida 51%-45%, in Ohio 50%-44%, and in Pennsylvania 53%-42%. Florida and Ohio are considered toss-ups in November’s general election, while Pennsylvania is rated “lean Obama” on CNN’s Electoral Map.
DancesWithPumas 08.01.12 at 5:33 pm
Those poll numbers may or may not be accurate reflections of voters intentions to date.
Personally, I don’t take much of what the NY Times / CBS / FOX / CNN / MSNBC / Man Stream Biased Corporate Media say to heart. I read them just to get the gist of what they want us to think about, and, how.
Either way, no matter which guy “wins”, we all lose.
HP Boston 08.01.12 at 9:35 pm
YUP Dances I repeat:
HP Boston 07.31.12 at 11:05 am
FORGET THE ASSHOLES!
VOTE FOR WOMEN >>> JILL STEIN >>>> Stop listening to the freaking NSFP they suck! they lie ! and shoot the fucking TV!!!!!
freddiebrown 08.02.12 at 12:02 am
HP – The reality is that one of two men – Obummer or Romney will be president in 2013. There is a slim chance that Romney will pick a woman VP – but don’t turn blue waiting.
I wish I could say everything is a lie. But as you know, in 2008, some lies became reality.
HP Boston 08.02.12 at 7:56 am
A lie is Never a reality, never. A lie is always a lie.
I will never vote for either of these men.
Vote for women, one is running…never vote for men, stay home or vote for women.
freddiebrown 08.02.12 at 12:19 pm
I’m definately not staying home nor wasting my vote. We need to get rid of the current faux Pres. Not every man is bad, not every woman is good.
DancesWithPumas 08.02.12 at 1:57 pm
“I’m definately not staying home nor wasting my vote. We need to get rid of the current faux Pres. Not every man is bad, not every woman is good.”
I assume you mean voting for a 3rd Party candidate is a wasted vote. I think a cast vote is never wasted. It either represents in the affirmative support for a candidate whose positions most closely reflect ones own positions, or it represents a protest / lack of confidence vote against the two major party candidates.
Not all women are “good” but all women are better than any male. Women live and achieve in spite of all the blockades and obstacles placed in their / our paths. If those obstacles were non existent for women, as they are for males, women would surpass males by light years. Me thinks this is a major part of the reason the system / so many males fear women.
If one sincerely wants to see a fair representation (50%) of women in positions of authority and power, then one supports and votes for women. Get as many women into these positions and then get selective re which ones we don’t agree with, etc. Having males be the default human doesn’t help anyone, except the system that is wed to male supremacy.
HP Boston 08.02.12 at 5:20 pm
Ditto Dances !
stoney42 08.02.12 at 6:57 pm
One of my grand-daughters is expecting a baby in late December. A GIRL!! More reason for me to champion women’s equality.
DancesWithPumas 08.02.12 at 8:11 pm
Stoney
Congratulations!!
And, yes, of course!
HP Boston 08.03.12 at 5:21 am
Stoney
NICE! Wish I had a grand daughter, love the boy I have but ahhhhhhhhh a girl!
DailyPUMA 08.03.12 at 1:21 pm
Are you sure there was no other way to discuss the mass killing than simply saying that all men are scum?
I would like to point out that your blog does not endear itself to male Hillary Clinton voters. So I have to ask, are you really Hillary Clinton supporters since her popularity dips among men who connect her to blogs like yours?
Before I go, I’d like to sincerely apologize to the women of and on this blog, and other blogs created and attended primarily by women, for my harrassing behavior. I realized recently that I have a tendency to bash women on women’s blogs while I’ve given males and male bloggers enormous latitude. I’ve always felt impotent and controling and brow-beating women was one of the most effective ways for me to feel powerful and all-knowing, even if wasn’t the truth. Actually, many of the women in my life turned away from me for this very reason. This, of course (and obviously) angered me. I felt I was an unwitting victim. As a result, I tend to lash out at, criticize, lie about, disresepct, and generally degrade women. My thinking is: “By God, if women won’t recognize me for the fine specimen of the human I am, and welcome me with open embrace, then I’ll badger them into doing it.” In other words, figuratively speaking, I’m an equivalent of a rapist. Forcing my way until I get what I want.
Once again, I am truly sorry. You will not be hearing from again.
Best to all of you.
DancesWithPumas 08.03.12 at 2:24 pm
DailyPUMA,
Obviously you didn’t read the article. If you did, you certainly didn’t comprehend it. Perhaps you should take up the issue with TIME magazine, or any of the multitude of media that are finally assigning responsibility for violence to the real owners / perpetrators of it. Boo Hoo. The pretenders to the patriarchal throne aren’t wearing any clothes.
If a blog can turn a man’s support of Hillary’s experience, brilliance, and political positions, he wasn’t a Hillary supporter to begin with. Besides, most women know males can and will revert whenever they perceive a tampering with their fragile egos. Incidentally, I haven’t noticed any women supporters of Hillary turning away from her based on your (embarrassing) use of “PUMA” in your screen name, or any of the numerous blogs that blame women for everything negative under the Sun. You are the antithesis of much of what Hillary, and Hillary supporters, represent. Not only are you lackwitted, more importantly, you are abusive.
Aside from that not insignificant point, how the hell do you know “her popularity dips among men who connect her to blogs like yours.”? The answer is: You don’t know, other than speaking for yourself and a few other men. Feminist blogs like this one, turning self-centered males away from Hillary Clinton, must be the reason her approval ratings are so… ummm … low.
FYI: There is not a bone in my body, nor a cell in my brain, nor an impulse, nor latent desire, nor any need on Earth that propels me to endear myself to males. Nope. Nada. Nyet. None. Nein. Non. No.
Now, please go dribble your drivel elsewhere. You are not welcome here, or anywhere else that actually matters.
DailyPUMA 08.03.12 at 4:35 pm
Dances with PUMAs, you’re actually going to pretend to have a discussion with me after actually changing my comment up above and then deleting my registration? I assume it was you that removed the part of my comment where I stated….
“that many men died in that theatre diving in front of bullets to save their wives and girlfriends”.
The fact that this article simply focuses on the bad act of one man and not the heroism of the many, (both male and female), does lend itself to make one wonder why you are so angry”.
And if you get the chance, would you please restore my prior message to what it originally was? I loathe to think what you did to your first Barbie and Ken doll, not the Barbie, but I wonder where the Ken Body Parts are buried.
murphy 08.03.12 at 5:21 pm
“Once again, I am truly sorry. You will not be hearing from me again…”
And then you chImed right back in again. You know what’s so annoying about men? In addition to being murdering, rapist, eco-terrorizing, war mongering, porn freaks they are such fucking liars!
So emotional and touchy too. I think they all should seek professional help for their “issues.”
oh, and while you’re being “not heard from again” on this blog, stay the fuck off my Facebook page too.
rofl.
DancesWithPumas 08.03.12 at 6:14 pm
DailyPUMA
How sexist of you to assume I played with dolls as a child. How egoic of you to think your weenie, or a plastic doll’s weenie is of any importance to me or anyone else, save the owner of said weenie. Is that your issue? Are you afraid your weenie is going to get lost in some big bad lady part?
Did your daddy belittle your little bit of manness? Or was it your mother? Or your ex-wife?
Yoohoo, the article was written in Time magazine. Go ask Time magazine why they are so angry.
DancesWithPumas 08.03.12 at 6:32 pm
… Focuses on the “bad” act of one man…
You really are fucking nuts. The TIME article focuses on the statistics of male violence. The cumulative numbers. Agreed, occasionally someone is present and able to stop a violent act, but far and away, the violence is carried to fruition.
Anyway, you are way too dense for me to waste my time on.
Get lost.
DailyPUMA 08.04.12 at 1:18 pm
Murphy, what part about inserting words I did not write onto my post, don’t you get?
Dances with PUMAs wrote…
Not all women are “good” but all women are better than any male.
But you don’t hate men. And your response to the Ken comment I made assumed I was talking about one specific body part, when I was not. And if you didn’t play with dolls growing up, that would explain a lot.
And Murph, I posted on your facebook page because I thought you had a bit of integrity and would actually not approve of falsifying someone else’s words. Soliciting donations while falsifying someones comment is probably some type of fraud. Now that’s the kind of behavior that Hillary Clinton would just be thrilled by.
DailyPUMA 08.04.12 at 1:39 pm
As for “Time Magazine” having written the article, that’s not the point. The point is the entire comments section is filled with men hating comments. No mention of the men in the theatre, more than one, it was SEVERAL men who instinctively dove in front of their women as the bullets were being fired, and died as a result while saving their women’s lives.
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