On Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:04:19 +0000 (UTC), Baxter
Post by BaxterUnfortunately, too many pro-gun American men dont know the difference and
this is a central problem in the process of redefining the purpose and
availability of firearms in America. Men, whether intentional or not, tend
to confuse their guns for their penises. The bigger the gun/penis, the more
masculine they are. Guns have become penis extensions, if not penis
substitutes, and the phallic similarities are obvious.
http://tinyurl.com/mkfkcub
Really?
There is no viable argument for the penis theory as against pragmatic
explanations for gun ownership. Psychiatrist Bruce Danto rejects the
penis theory because it fails to account for female gun ownership. In
fact, 50% of those who own a gun for protection only are women
(especially black women), even though women are much less likely than
men to own guns for sport.{43} To say the very least, this pattern is
more easily explicable by reference to women's felt need for
protection than by feelings of penile inadequacy.
Dr. Danto also notes that the penis theory would predict that male gun
owners would be inclined toward the largest barrel and bore weapons
available. But the respective popularity of guns of different sizes
uniformly appears to reflect purely pragmatic concerns.{44} The penis
theory is equally incapable of explaining other demographic
differentials in gun ownership. When all gun owners are counted (not
just those who own for protection alone) survey evidence shows that
gun owners are disproportionately rural, Southern, male,
Protestant, affluent and middle class... [and that] weapons ownership
tends to increase with income, or occupational prestige, or both.{45}
A final point of interest is Dr. Tanay's citation of Freud's view that
weapons may symbolize the penis in dreams. This, Freud says, is true
of dreams involving any long object (e.g. "sticks, umbrellas, poles,
trees") but especially of objects that may be viewed as penetrating,
and injuring ("knives, daggers, lances, sabers; firearms are similarly
used...."). This passage refers to dreams in general without
distinguishing gun owners from others. Dr. Tanay is perhaps unaware of
-- in any event he does not cite -- other passages more relevant to
his argument. In these other passages Freud associates retarded
sexual/emotional development not with gun ownership, but with fear and
loathing of weapons.{49} The probative importance that ought to attach
to the views of Freud is, of course, a matter of opinion. The point
here is only that those views provide no support for the penis theory
of gun ownership.
Lets repeat these again:
Freud associates retarded sexual/emotional development not with gun
ownership, but with fear and loathing of weapons.
And:
weapons ownership tends to increase with income, or occupational
prestige, or both.
By the way,
Survey of gun owners by Carol K. Oyster, Ph.D., University of
Wisconsin, 1998:
Bachelors or advanced degree: 68% of women and 51% of men.
(average of American population, 25%)
-dan z-
--
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