The Nevada Sagebrush

Please continue to follow up on this story. This is scary.

What a creep. Lock this loser up. Thank goodness she is alive.

Lock the sick bast*** up and throw away the key.

Campus is too close to the sketchy downtown people. They need to patrol that area better.

They need to destroy all those shady downtown motels and improve the area around campus.

This guy is not “sick.” Wanting to do sexual things with members of the opposite sex is not abnormal. I know the concept is unacceptable to many people, but from an animal perspective, sexual coercion is not abnormal either. Anyone who doubts this should read “A natural history of rape: biological bases of sexual coercion” by Randy Thornhill and Craig T. Palmer. It is available through the UNR library in print as well as online. Its call number is HV6558 .T48 2000. As the authors point out, this does not justify rape, but applying evolutionary principles to social problems would go a long way to understanding and perhaps preventing them.

Sadly, people are not willing to do whatever it takes to achieve a goal like eliminating rape. However, we can at least do things to limit the probability of these things happening. Why did the UNR feminist group “Women Without Borders” sponsor a coat drive for homeless people in Reno? Why would a bunch of women of sexually reproducing age want to encourage homeless people, many of whom are mentally ill, to feel at home in Reno? Look it up under Nevada News “University organizations host coat drive for homeless” 11/26/2007.

Also, the victim in this case should have been more cautious. Several weeks ago there were multiple emails sent out about an attempted sexual assault in the same area around the same time. Was she completely unaware of this?

Victor, regardless of the underlying evolutionary reasons for “sexual coercion,” the vast majority of society has managed to cope with acceptable definitions of sexual actions. One of the nice things of cognitive abilities is being able to redefine how you behave; to move beyond our animal instincts.

Avoiding an intellectual debate about the causes of rape, the suggestion that people attempting to better their community by helping homeless people, many of whom are down on their luck (are you suggesting all mentally ill people would rape someone given the oppurtunity), is something you shouldn’t do because it could lead to more rapes seems to fail several logical tests (modalities, presumption, black or white…).

And yes, she should not have been where she was. I’ll devolve to Godwin’s Law here. Perhaps the Jews who were exterminated by Hitler and his minions should have been more cautious as well.

Well Victor, after some guy rapes you let me know if you still have the same opinion. Just because somebody writes a book doesn’t mean their accurate. Anybody idiot can write a book. There are a thousand “peer reviewed” articles that says rape is a crime of violence and control, not sex. That fact that you would even take such a stance it testament for your absurdity.

In the book I mentioned, the relationship between social science and biological science perspectives on humans issues is discussed. The authors argue that non-biological points of view are less valuable in learning the cause of social problems and in preventing them. I agree, which is why I posted my comment in the first place. The first few comments posted were emotional and that is understandable, but people need to look at things from a perspective that explains why and how things occur so they can better deal with the problem. Obviously the vast majority of people are able to move beyond their animal instincts, but that is irrelevant to the fact that a minority can not. Perhaps if the victim in this case interpreted things differently, she would have taken steps to avoid the likelihood of being victimized.

Your point of view that homeless people are simply down on their luck is not a complete assessment. UNR’s Center for Regional Studies put out a study on homelessness that was posted in a Nevada News story on 12/12/07. It states that among the homeless there is “a high incidence of alcohol and drug abuse.” The report also discusses the large number of Reno’s homeless who are mentally ill and criminal. Mental illness, criminality, drugs, and alcohol do not typically allow an individual to “redefine” how they behave. You should see how one might find trying to make these people feel comfortable in the area in which you live as a perplexing choice.

I see trying to make them comfortable where they live as a way to help improve thier chances of recovery. Anyone who’s battle addiction knows it’s not an easy thing to beat. Academic discussions are biological explanations are nice, but that doesn’t change the fact someone decided their personal needs superceded the rights of another. My point that most people move beyond wonton needs is not irrelevent because society decides whats relevent, and as the emotional opinions point out, this guy is probably fucked – whether there is a biological explanation or not.

Like you said, the guy obviously has problems. Identified with his ray-duhs jersey, overweight, and approaching middle age, the guy sounds like a stereotypical loser. My purpose in pointing out the biology is that there is a basis in sex crimes other than sociological factors. Millions of women worldwide are not sold into sexual slavery so men can reassert their emotional dominance or something… Sex crimes have a basis in sex. It is terrible what happened to this student, but obviously she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course it is not her fault, but perhaps if she had a different point of view on the nature of sex crimes, she as a young woman would have seen herself as a potential victim and been more careful.

That one book by the way is just the one I felt was the best of a bunch on the subject. The Getchell Library has a large section devoted to the topic and even more on the general topic of sociobiology.

Any word on whether he was caught?

I am surprised this has not been in the RGJ. Understand the sagebrush is down for break but how about an update from the RGJ.

Most certainly an update would be helpful.

I am more concerned with the welfare of the woman. I hope she is ok and back in school next semester. Society really needs a reality check on what it means to be a quality human being.

I share the interest in a follow up to this sad story. Wishing a full and speedy recovery from a terrible ordeal. Do not let this animal take your present and future from you. Stay strong my friend and you will conquer this.

The guy obviously has problems. We live in Nevada. Legal prostitutes here, DUH! if he wants sex, he could go to a hooker, but obviously he gets off on his dominance.

On December 22nd I wrote: “…the victim in this case should have been more cautious. Several weeks ago there were multiple emails sent out about an attempted sexual assault in the same area around the same time. Was she completely unaware of this?” This statement also applies to the Brianna Denison case. The initial report stated that the door to the house was unlocked. When will women realize that they have to do things that reduce the chance that they will be attacked? These cases are extremely sad, but I can’t fathom not doing everything possible to secure your own safety. Something is seriously wrong with the way these young women are viewing the world. To reiterate what I wrote on January 3rd, “…perhaps if she had a different point of view on the nature of sex crimes, she as a young woman would have seen herself as a potential victim and been more careful.”

Lila, I assume you are a woman. Why would a woman take the point of view that this guy “gets off on his dominance.” Based what I’ve heard, legal brothel prostitutes cost about $400 an hour. If this was a realistic option for this guy, he wouldn’t be resorting to rape. According to the latest description we have, the suspect is a short, fat, loser. What a shock. Like I said in my first comment, it should not be shocking that men want to have sex with women. It should also not be a shock that some men deviate out of the typical rules of human interaction to achieve that goal. I truly don’t understand the mentality of people who want to believe that things like this only happen because of a desire for dominance. That feminist line that “rape isn’t about sex, it’s about power” doesn’t make any damn sense. To reguritate a quote on the subject, “if rape isn’t about sex, there are an awful lot of penises and vaginas that need explaining.” Why is there so much trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes? Why does rape happen in hundreds of other animal species (including primates)? Most important, how the hell does that ‘crime of dominance’ point of view help protect the next potential victim? By calling it a crime fueled by a desire for dominance, you can shrug it off as the result of one man’s psychosis. This doesn’t help anyone.

Victor, you sound like you are justifying the perpetrator’s actions. Leave it be and let people leave their comments and questions. This is a discussion board, not a “defend the accused” board. Thank you. Best wishes to the victim.