You write, "But I also paused to check my reactions against the work and sentiments of experts more deeply dug in on dangerous decision making..."
We've discussed this before, so I'll be brief. Let us keep in mind that experts in every field have limited room to maneuver.
If a needed solution can be found in that set of ideas generally considered "realistic", "reasonable", and "acceptable", then experts can be of great assistance.
But if conventional thinking could solve a problem, it would probably already be solved. And so often a needed solution may lie outside of the comfort zone of the status quo, and that presents a problem for those making a living as experts. Experts who travel too far beyond the group consensus risk being labeled crackpots, a rebranding which can be lethal to their careers.
Just something to consider, one more point of view...
On the topic of violence, maybe we suffer from too much sophistication, too much nuance, too many experts writing too many books and papers, too many considerations and angles, and this mountain of complex over thinking has obscured a more productive simple, direct, common sense insight.
Almost all the preventable horror in the world is committed by violent men.
This simple fact isn't a speculative theory. Anyone can turn on their TV and see it for themselves.
As a silly thought experiment, imagine that all the horror in the world was being caused by armadillos. In each case of horror we look to see what the problem is, and 95% of the time there it is again, armadillos. How long would it take for the experts to say, "Hey, I know, maybe we should get rid of these armadillos!"
Andy, I wonder if you have any comment on the following wild speculation, from an environmentalist point of view.
Through the processes of evolution all species are continually adapting to changing environmental conditions. I've been reading a bit lately about dropping testosterone and sperm levels in men. So I've started wondering, are we already in a natural process of adaptation to the threat posed by violent men?
My mindset lately has been that "we" need to do something about violent men. Is nature way ahead of me and already on the job? Is nature already answering your question...
"Is there a way to stifle the cascade of societal decisions that turn one man's craven strategy into a slaughter?"
You write, "But I also paused to check my reactions against the work and sentiments of experts more deeply dug in on dangerous decision making..."
We've discussed this before, so I'll be brief. Let us keep in mind that experts in every field have limited room to maneuver.
If a needed solution can be found in that set of ideas generally considered "realistic", "reasonable", and "acceptable", then experts can be of great assistance.
But if conventional thinking could solve a problem, it would probably already be solved. And so often a needed solution may lie outside of the comfort zone of the status quo, and that presents a problem for those making a living as experts. Experts who travel too far beyond the group consensus risk being labeled crackpots, a rebranding which can be lethal to their careers.
Just something to consider, one more point of view...
On the topic of violence, maybe we suffer from too much sophistication, too much nuance, too many experts writing too many books and papers, too many considerations and angles, and this mountain of complex over thinking has obscured a more productive simple, direct, common sense insight.
Almost all the preventable horror in the world is committed by violent men.
This simple fact isn't a speculative theory. Anyone can turn on their TV and see it for themselves.
As a silly thought experiment, imagine that all the horror in the world was being caused by armadillos. In each case of horror we look to see what the problem is, and 95% of the time there it is again, armadillos. How long would it take for the experts to say, "Hey, I know, maybe we should get rid of these armadillos!"
See? Simple.
Andy, I wonder if you have any comment on the following wild speculation, from an environmentalist point of view.
Through the processes of evolution all species are continually adapting to changing environmental conditions. I've been reading a bit lately about dropping testosterone and sperm levels in men. So I've started wondering, are we already in a natural process of adaptation to the threat posed by violent men?
My mindset lately has been that "we" need to do something about violent men. Is nature way ahead of me and already on the job? Is nature already answering your question...
"Is there a way to stifle the cascade of societal decisions that turn one man's craven strategy into a slaughter?"