I agree there is such a pattern. I just don't think the facts of that particular case support the allegation that it is actually an example of that pattern. When I first read the rather breathless accounts, I immediately assumed that it was an obvious instance of the pattern you cite. But as I looked into the details, it became clear tha…
I agree there is such a pattern. I just don't think the facts of that particular case support the allegation that it is actually an example of that pattern. When I first read the rather breathless accounts, I immediately assumed that it was an obvious instance of the pattern you cite. But as I looked into the details, it became clear that (although related in some ways), the motivations and actions involved in the adolescent male's crimes were unlikely to have more than an incidental relationship with the opportunities for abuse that are opened by the many badly misguided policies and laws allowing males access to women's spaces. I think it's unfortunate that this case was misinterpreted because of its appearance of being a poster child for the opposition to such policies. Legal experts who are actively engaged in examining the laws and policies and in advising politicians will quickly discover that this "example" is more rhetoric than substance. That has the negative impact of branding our legitimate, well-grounded examples as mere right-wing ideology, lacking basis in fact, which, I hasten to emphasize, is NOT the case.
BTW, I loved Taibbi's recent pieces on this issue. I don't think political axes belong in this battle at all. The fact that it's increasingly becoming a right-wing platform just alienates those on the left and makes the conversation about politics, not policies.
I agree there is such a pattern. I just don't think the facts of that particular case support the allegation that it is actually an example of that pattern. When I first read the rather breathless accounts, I immediately assumed that it was an obvious instance of the pattern you cite. But as I looked into the details, it became clear that (although related in some ways), the motivations and actions involved in the adolescent male's crimes were unlikely to have more than an incidental relationship with the opportunities for abuse that are opened by the many badly misguided policies and laws allowing males access to women's spaces. I think it's unfortunate that this case was misinterpreted because of its appearance of being a poster child for the opposition to such policies. Legal experts who are actively engaged in examining the laws and policies and in advising politicians will quickly discover that this "example" is more rhetoric than substance. That has the negative impact of branding our legitimate, well-grounded examples as mere right-wing ideology, lacking basis in fact, which, I hasten to emphasize, is NOT the case.
BTW, I loved Taibbi's recent pieces on this issue. I don't think political axes belong in this battle at all. The fact that it's increasingly becoming a right-wing platform just alienates those on the left and makes the conversation about politics, not policies.