Why is Western society so violent?

[zboy1]

Any reason why America and most other Anglo countries are so violent? And, no...not all of it can be attributed to 'Black people' as Whites can be just as violent as they are...

I'm not necessarily talking about crime rates in countries, but violence in society like beatings, fights, rapes and assaults. And I'm also talking about 'acting tough' and 'intimidation' as a sign of masculinity in men.

I've been back to the States after having been abroad, but I notice that people here try to act all hostile and aggressive, and try to intimidate people as much as possible. Even the women act like the men, LOL!

I never feel safe anywhere in the USA--even in rural areas; that's why America has such a high porportion of people owning guns for 'protection.'

I know African and Latin countries are also pretty violent, but why is Asia the exception?

[abg98]

One theory would be the societies' roots in imperialism/colonialism and individualism. Our esteemed heroes of history were genocidal (to varying degrees) slave owners lol

[mattyman]

" And I'm also talking about 'acting tough' and 'intimidation' as a sign of masculinity in men. "
Tell people like that, that they need to grow the f**k up.

I think that people take messages about about 'standing on one's own two feet' or 'being the provider', or being masculine the wrong way. When you look at how poorly a lot of people's needs are being met for love, and how conditional they feel any love they do get is, it's no surprise.

Could also be that people feel as if they show any weaknesses, or even signs of basic human vulnerability, they'll be taken advantages of, have the pack gang-up on them, or whatever. You can't really blame people if they've had experiences of growing up in a toxic environment, been bullied, never known genuine friendship or love can you? Too many people not really feeling truly accepted for who they are, only by the bravado they put on, that's my theory. All it does is breed fear, it makes people paranoid and feel that they need to attack anything that's outside their scope.

Just as Winston describes it, a 'social war-zone'.

[Repatriate]

I've narrowed it down to American culture being hyper competitive and very cut throat socially. If you notice when you go overseas other nationalities can hang out with each other seemlessly. People of the same nationalities even form comfortable bonds or mini communities. Americans always seem to have this lone wolf mentality. When you see groups of Americans together there's usually some very specific reason they are hanging out together otherwise they would prefer to be on their own. Things are further complicated by race and regionalism. Some white Americans won't even acknowledge other race Americans. It's just exportation of toxic race culture.

[starchild5]

Because these are newbie countries...They haven't been tested enough by TIME ....Once a society goes through enough pain and suffering, they calm down. Asian Civilization is very old and it too had a bloody history. Tribes, Kingdoms in Asia were always fighting each other....

The bloodiest guy still in history is an Asian Genghis Khan.

The biggest Serial Killer of all time in History of the planet was an Indian. The word Thug in English itself came from him.

Thug Behram

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thug_Behram

He had killed well over 1000 people in India.

Once, the self realizes, fighting is useless, it does not solve anything..during the next incarnation, it learns its lesson and tries to be peaceful.

India and China two of the most peaceful countries on earth now, had the most violent history, worse than what America is now. In India for example, the great Emperor Ashoka was so violent that he burned his Harem of 1000 women alive when he felt insulted by a single women. He fought wars and annihilated the entire villages with children and women.

If you don't pay taxes in India to these Kings. They would cut one of your wife's breast as a warning and next time, her throat.

At one time, almost half of men in India died in battle and their women committed Sati aka suicide by throwing themselves into fire so that they don't fall into enemies harem.

India and China were always fighting for territories in South East Asia. Its only now, they have calm down. India was like America few centuries ago. America will in time calm down.

[Yohan]

Any reason why America and most other Anglo countries are so violent? And, no...not all of it can be attributed to 'Black people' as Whites can be just as violent as they are...

I'm not necessarily talking about crime rates in countries, but violence in society like beatings, fights, rapes and assaults. And I'm also talking about 'acting tough' and 'intimidation' as a sign of masculinity in men.

This is all relative, comparing what with what? Men and women?

I would say, it is a sign of masculinity in WOMEN.

The point is that not only men are violent in Western countries, but women are at least as violent as men.
This is a negative by-product of feminism.

I never feel safe anywhere in the USA--even in rural areas; that's why America has such a high porportion of people owning guns for 'protection.'

I think, this is exaggerated.

Yes, it is true that USA has a 'gun-culture' but many Asians have a 'knife-culture'.

It depends where you are in USA.
There are wide areas in USA where you can go out day and night without being worried about security.

Of course I heard terrible stories about abandoned suburbs of some certain cities in USA, for example Detroit, which are economically totally broken down and are nothing but a slum filled up with so-called trash-people of any race.

I did not feel unsafe in Seattle with my US-friends, nor did I feel unsafe in and near Portland or in San Francisco, and of course Hawaii is perfectly safe, too.

Nobody of my friends living in USA has a gun ready or is afraid to go out of their home without an armed escort.
I have never been in Eastern part of USA, but know some friends in Dayton, Ohio, no complaints at all - and other friends working in N.Y, but living outside the city, northeast, a lot of greenery, good neighbors, nice house, no fence, no guns, no burglers, no lootings, no beggars, no slums, totally peaceful.

I found security and nice neighborhood in USA strongly related to your wallet, to live in USA in a nice and safe environment is quite expensive.

It should be noticed, that US-citizens wherever they are travelling overseas for vacation or business, are not known for criminal activities.

[Yohan]

I know African and Latin countries are also pretty violent, but why is Asia the exception?

I do not think Asia is an exception, there is a lot of street criminality in Philippines, just one example. Vietnamese people can become very violent, too. Korean people, regardless if they are living in North Korea, South Korea or in Japan are known to be violent-ready any time.
Thailand has a huge prison population often related to drug abuse and fighting with knives...

[Rock]

Any reason why America and most other Anglo countries are so violent? And, no...not all of it can be attributed to 'Black people' as Whites can be just as violent as they are...

I'm not necessarily talking about crime rates in countries, but violence in society like beatings, fights, rapes and assaults. And I'm also talking about 'acting tough' and 'intimidation' as a sign of masculinity in men.

This is all relative, comparing what with what? Men and women?

I would say, it is a sign of masculinity in WOMEN.

The point is that not only men are violent in Western countries, but women are at least as violent as men.
This is a negative by-product of feminism.

I never feel safe anywhere in the USA--even in rural areas; that's why America has such a high porportion of people owning guns for 'protection.'

I think, this is exaggerated.

Yes, it is true that USA has a 'gun-culture' but many Asians have a 'knife-culture'.

It depends where you are in USA.
There are wide areas in USA where you can go out day and night without being worried about security.

Of course I heard terrible stories about abandoned suburbs of some certain cities in USA, for example Detroit, which are economically totally broken down and are nothing but a slum filled up with so-called trash-people of any race.

I did not feel unsafe in Seattle with my US-friends, nor did I feel unsafe in and near Portland or in San Francisco, and of course Hawaii is perfectly safe, too.

Nobody of my friends living in USA has a gun ready or is afraid to go out of their home without an armed escort.
I have never been in Eastern part of USA, but know some friends in Dayton, Ohio, no complaints at all - and other friends working in N.Y, but living outside the city, northeast, a lot of greenery, good neighbors, nice house, no fence, no guns, no burglers, no lootings, no beggars, no slums, totally peaceful.

I found security and nice neighborhood in USA strongly related to your wallet, to live in USA in a nice and safe environment is quite expensive.

It should be noticed, that US-citizens wherever they are travelling overseas for vacation or business, are not known for criminal activities.

You make a great point. The US actually seems pretty safe to me as an adult as long as you stay in rather generic regular areas. My parents have never owned guns and to my knowledge have never been even threatened physically. The travel frequently between midwest and south too. Ditto for my aunt in Seattle area. The only people in my extended family who I know to have been assaulted or held up are the ones living near black neighborhoods (just the particular fact in my family) or the ones who cause trouble themselves (I have one cousin who is kinda a badass 6'5" dude who likes to brawl). Personally, the only time I've ever felt or been threatened was when I went to school for a couple years on Chicago's south side on a campus that was adjacent to some huge housing projects.

In developed NE Asia + SP, I feel free to roam anywhere 24/7 and this has never served me wrong. Even Bangkok feels safe tho sometimes the police harass people these days with stop and searches. China I never felt ill at ease except when walking through a few seedy areas of a some cities or being watched by packs of those opportunistic teenage Xinjiang snatchers. If a heated argument or fight ever broke down between Chinese people in an establishment, I would quietly pay my bill and exit. I kinda felt uncomfortable at night going through Tibetan area of Chengdu too but I was probably just being overly cautious.

London and western Europe seem mostly fine too as long as you avoid certain notorious districts.

But on the African continent, South America, and Caribbean, security and personal safety are an ever present material risk which you can only partially mitigate by proper planning and compromises in your day to day life. Let your guard down when you are out and about and next thing you know, someone has exploited the situation and you find yourself some sort of crime victim. IMO, having to live in such a way is a major downer and contaminates much of the benefits you gain living in such places. I like to walk around day and night absorbed in my own world not having to worry constantly about my surroundings.

Philippines to me is a cross between super-safe NE Asia and violent Latin America. But the risks are much easier to mitigate there if you stay in the large safer zones and avoid insulting people or in any way making enemies (they are face-loving Asians after all). If you wander into squatter areas or just the more mundane parts of Metro Manila or Cebu or even take a jeepney through these areas, you may get held-up. Snatchings and more frequently pick-pocketings can happen about anywhere except in super safe areas and malls. I've met quite a few longer term expats in Phils (both western and Asian) who've never been a victim of a violent crime. I cannot say the same of say Rio or other such cities.

[Traveler]

In mostly white areas of the US (even in poor white states such as West Virginia) the crime rate is actually pretty low. I think Asia is safer for men. For women, I don't know. I've witnessed more domestic violence in Asia. I've witnessed more women getting beat by their boyfriends/husbands. I've also talked to western women who had experiences like being groped or having to fight off a pervy Korean taxi driver. I think the greater access to guns in the US means that violent people can do more damage. In the US, there are school shootings. In China, there school knifings. People are more likely to die from a would inflicted by a gun.

[Ghost]

.

[Traveler]

Western Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, and Korea all have low homicide rates compared to the rest of the world. The US homicide rate is similar to Thailand's but is lower than the Philippines'.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1730562/original.jpg

[Bane]

Because these are newbie countries...They haven't been tested enough by TIME ....Once a society goes through enough pain and suffering, they calm down. Asian Civilization is very old and it too had a bloody history. Tribes, Kingdoms in Asia were always fighting each other....

The bloodiest guy still in history is an Asian Genghis Khan.

The biggest Serial Killer of all time in History of the planet was an Indian. The word Thug in English itself came from him.

Thug Behram

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thug_Behram

He had killed well over 1000 people in India.

Once, the self realizes, fighting is useless, it does not solve anything..during the next incarnation, it learns its lesson and tries to be peaceful.

India and China two of the most peaceful countries on earth now, had the most violent history, worse than what America is now. In India for example, the great Emperor Ashoka was so violent that he burned his Harem of 1000 women alive when he felt insulted by a single women. He fought wars and annihilated the entire villages with children and women.

If you don't pay taxes in India to these Kings. They would cut one of your wife's breast as a warning and next time, her throat.

At one time, almost half of men in India died in battle and their women committed Sati aka suicide by throwing themselves into fire so that they don't fall into enemies harem.

India and China were always fighting for territories in South East Asia. Its only now, they have calm down. India was like America few centuries ago. America will in time calm down.

I actually kind of like this.

[Break the chains]

It's culture. Music and movies glorify violence and violent people. People don't value life highly.

[Stag]

I don't think the violence is unique in our lifetime, as history is awash with blood. I think it's simply human nature.

[travelsouth]

A defacto country Isis is violent. The Saudi government is beheading people. Does anybody remember the country in Asia that is beheading people for minor drug offenses? More often than not this is tied to Islam. Honduras is the most dangerous area not technically at war. This is due to the illegal drug market in places like the USA. There are so many variables to all this. And if you think the Wal-Mart in Des Moines is so violent, then maybe it's time to book a trip to San Pedro Sula for a reality check.

If I was to really summarize the issue (or pinpoint the problem) it would be this. Things like drugs can add fuel to the fire, but anyone with an apocalyptic world view is dangerous. The more serious they take it the more dangerous they are (which is why Isis is more dangerous than some holiday catholic).