The recent sightings of a Dallas-area man exposing his penisaround campus is indeed very scary to think about; however, I findMatthew Kreth’s article published last Tuesday exponentiallymore dangerous to society than a mentally ill exhibitionist.
In his article, Kreth facetiously suggests that SMU has a newclub run by perverts that he calls the “MustangMasturbators.” While admittedly that is clever alliteration,it is the extent of any substance in his article; furthermore, Ibelieve that it is ideology such as his that exacerbates thisperceived phenomenon of out-of-control sexual deviants.
The first, somewhat comical, issue that Kreth suggests is thatincidents such as the aforementioned “seem to be on the risethis year” and are an “alarming trend.” Would Ibe way out there if I guessed that Mr. Kreth probably has a surplusof duct tape and plastic sheeting in his place of residence?
Instead of presuming, Matt, you could have taken a few secondsto research the SMU PD Web site to discover that sexual assaultshave actually declined over the last three years in and around SMU.(The elusive link is www.smu.edu/pd/mainstats.asp.) The statistics(i.e., facts) show that there were two reported sexual assaults,including forced and non-forced, in the year 2000 and one in eachyear following up to 2003. Now there were a few other reports ineach of those years that were not officially SMU PD reports butlet’s just say, for simplicity, that there are about twoevery year.
While I’m not minimizing the incidents that did occur,Kreth’s tone implies that we should be bolting our doors andaffixing chastity belts and blindfolds to SMU women.
These incidents are unfortunate but rare, and I highly doubtthat this “Mustang Masturbators” club will continue tobe active considering it only had one member (pun not intended). Iwould bet a chihuahua that the few remaining sexual assaults thatoccur every year are most likely perpetrated by SMU students andnot by non-affiliated parties, but that’s just myopinion.
This kind of “leap before you look” mentalityplagues this country currently. If you just pause to examine thefacts and then think logically about this issue, you can spareyourself much unnecessary anxiety. It’s bad enough that I geteyed if I’m walking behind someone on campus and our feethappen to be in-step. Americans need to stop reacting out of fearand start looking to logic for answers.
While the previous irrational concern discussed by Mr. Kreth issomewhat comical and can be easily dispelled by the facts, his nextsuggestions, I believe, are very serious and extremelyirresponsible.
Kreth’s contradictory statements of concern for the safetyof SMU women followed by his encouragement of SMU women takingmatters into their own hands by confronting and laughing at theperpetrators leaves me a little bit confused. Should the girlsprotect themselves by running away or should they confront thesecriminals?
Most importantly, Kreth calls these perpetrators”sick” but then follows by suggesting that we shouldlaugh at them and mock them. He then implies that we should wishthem to be locked in jail and brutally raped by other inmates.
I can only speak for myself, but this is not how I believe acivilized society treats sick people. These perpetrators have amental illness. Look it up in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manualof Mental Disorders under paraphilias.
Would you laugh and mock a person for exhibiting the symptoms ofschizophrenia, or make fun of someone who has clinical depressionand tries to commit suicide or even someone with alcoholism? Icertainly would like to think of my community and myself as alittle more compassionate and intelligent than that.
Don’t think for an instant that I am disregarding ordiminishing the actions of these ill individuals. They should takeresponsibility for their actions and be kept away from the rest ofsociety until they can maintain socially acceptable behavior. Ifind it abhorrent to wish mockery and brutal rape upon them whenwhat they need is therapy and treatment for what is, essentially, amental disorder.
When I hear Kreth’s suggestions, I picture a group ofinsecure high school males gathered around a locker room making funof the kid with mental retardation while wishing and inflictingharm on him, when there should be nothing but pity and compassionfor the kid.
Haven’t we matured past that testosterone-drivensophomoric group-think/act mentality by college? Apparently not.Some people will always say what’s popular even thoughit’s not always right.
If Kreth’s grand vision of justice is served, thesementally ill people will go to jail, get brutally raped and then bereleased back into society in a month where they will be lessdangerous than before. That’s an excellent solution (notesarcasm), and in the meantime, I’m going to cure my impotenceby looking at nude photographs of Rosie O’Donnell (note: justan example).
Matthew, here’s a thought: Maybe the reason you’reembarrassed to let your mom read the DC, as you say, is becausethere are articles that contain wishes of brutal rape upon peoplewho are mentally ill and in need of psychological help?