A. Violence is sort of fun, in the same way that cruel jokes and bodily fluids are fun. But no, I don't think it's necessary. I think that violence is a natural part of the human condition, but that it needs to be better understood and channeled, and not given reign over the rest of one's consciousness.
I'm almost a pacifist, but not quite. I think that people view violence as a solution to problems when it's rarely a solution to anything, especially in the long-term view, and I think that women are way too quick to confuse violence with strength when they're looking for a mate. At the same time, though, I think that there's nothing wrong with a couple of guys getting together and beating the hell out of each other just for fun, or for exercise. It's the animal, it's in us, and in order to truly achieve balance you have to encompass the animal just as much as the angel.
When I was about twenty, living near Portland, I used to go into the city on a regular basis for exercise. A buddy of mine and I would go hang out near this building where a flock of skinheads liked to meet, and I would throw paper airplanes at them (it wasn't until one of them finally read what was written on the paper and discovered -- gasp! -- Gloria Steinhem -- that we finally started getting into fights). It was really nothing but exercise, and maybe a way of demonstrating precisely what I thought of their neo-nazi "master race" philosophy (you can't feel much like a member of a master race when you're flat on your back). Didn't seem like anything wrong with it, really, 'cause it was just a bunch of us young punks doing what came natural.
What bugs me is when people bring others into their little brawls, and then act as though they had to right to ruin and end lives. When we drop bombs on little girls, I think that's wrong. When assholes fly planes into skyscrapers, that's wrong. If Osama bin Laden and the Shrub and Cheney and Hussein wanted to get together in a battle royal and wipe each other out, I'd have no big problem with it -- it's when they involve the other six billion people on the planet in their little profit-making ventures that I find myself full of the urge to never shut up.
Also, I think men shouldn't hit or otherwise harm women. Part of being a real man is being good to women (it's probably the most important part). This is sexist, and I take a lot of flak for this from some of my friends, but it's the way I feel. To me, it's a no-brainer.
I'm just full of long answers today. :)
Q. Why do so many women have this irritating submissive streak? I ask because it came up a couple of times today. Where did women get the idea that being a victim was cool?
