This article makes me feel really protective of the boys in my life. I'm not saying I excuse bad behavior. I'm saying the young men I know are not like this. I understand that what I'm about to say is anecdotal and not researched. But it can't be that much less rigorous than the conditions under which this "study" was conducted. I think the college students I teach would be appalled and shocked to see themselves depicted this way. I know so many guys in this age range who work hard and love their parents and siblings and have friends of both sexes and treat everyone they know with respect. Some of them are athletes and some of them are under pressure to get into law school and some of them are dope-smoking slackers and some of them are proudly gay journalists and some of them just wish they could be working on cars. None of them is the kind of monster profiled in this article. I wish some of them had been among the 400 studied.

I understand the larger point James Hannaham is making about it being wrong to expect people to conform to our preconceptions about them, but anyone wanting to get a grip on these dynamics could do worse than to study theater. All theater is political, and all politics is theatrical.

I am one of those pain in the ass loudmouths who can't help stirring shit up sometimes just for attention. Nevertheless, all the money (and attention) in the world would not be enough to induce me to get near this nasty business. This bit of information will turn your niece's world upside down. This is the kind of thing people get really depressed over. If she's even the slightest bit depressive ordinarily, this could make her suicidal.

I really don't know if my joints will wear out when I am 80. I guess if they do, I'll look back and say, "Oh, dammit, that guy was right. I guess I was just too fucking fat."

I agree that it would be great if we had five political parties. I also wish that we had a presidential candidate who was exactly like me in every respect except for the laziness and lack of any relevant expertise. I would totally vote for that person! But, okay, maybe you haven't heard, but this is a really important election! You can vote for more war, more torture, more spying, more corruption, and more internationally alienating activities, or you can vote for less. This is not a time for wailing about how the libertarian candidate never gets a fair shot. This is a time to vote for less apocalypse as opposed to more.

Rendered lamb fat.

I would have been so disappointed to see Obama engage in the same kinds of misleading language and outright lies that his opponent did. I am glad he did not. I am also glad he often acknowledged points of agreement between himself and McCain. I thought it showed strength, integrity, and rationality. Obama has tried to keep it clean throughout his campaign. This refusal to hit below the belt until it's his last option is what passes for arrogance on the right, but I have always admired it. I'll admit that I'm a tried and true lefty, so could not predict what would win the hearts and minds of undecided voters (clearly a mysterious category). But in your post it seemed like you were criticizing Obama for projecting those same qualities his supporters have long admired.

The first letter in the comments section of this article is from a Canadian. A Canadian to professes to feel strong affection for the US, no less. She advises us to get a grip. She (and all the other Canadians who feels sorry for us because we're so hung up on the election) wants us to stop being so emotionally invested in our elections. She thinks we ought to start a third party or something. What a novel idea. A new political party. One that could challenge the entrenched machine of the established American political process. Sounds great. Oh, but guess what? We already have several third parties in the US! We have a libertarian party and a green party and a communist party and a socialist party to name a few. These parties never get anywhere because the Republican and Democratic parties are brands representing the massive institution that is the US government, which itself represents a variety of corporate and financial interests. Our government is essentially a closed system, as anyone trying to make it more inclusive or democratic quickly finds out. So, Canadians, please read my post and stop lecturing us not to be so emotional about our elections. If you are interested in the way the US works, maybe you could read a book and educate yourselves instead of thinking, like Sarah Palin, that physical proximity constitutes intellectual understanding.

Reno is my hometown. I love it more than any place on Earth. You can't cover up anything in Reno. Reno is all about bar brawls, because Reno likes people to wear their blood on the outside. Reno kills geese in the park and cooks them up for Thanksgiving dinner. Reno promises to quit drinking but can't. Reno saves children from burning cars, then goes home and drinks. Reno wipes its bloody nose on its shirt sleeve, then forgets about it. Reno is embarrassed about some stupid thing it said last night, but not the blood on its shirt sleeve. Reno has the most beautiful face I've ever seen. Reno has thoughts of suicide sometimes. Reno has a photographic memory. Reno, I love you, and I hope you will vote for Obama, but I will still love you if you don't!

Sure, abusers can change. They have life-altering moments just like anyone else. The point is, *you* can't change them.