The other day I heard someone make a comment to the effect that women do not need men anymore. They were drawing a comparison between modern day life in the developed world and how things were only a century or two ago, when a woman had absolutely no status unless she was married to a man. Things have certainly changed, and for the better, I think. Today people of whatever gender are more or less free to partner up with whoever they want, based on their own likes and (perceived) compatibility. The idea of latching on to someone out of need is considered somewhat pathetic.

It's true that most construction jobs are done by men. And most nursing positions are filled by women. But there is crossover in both fields, as there is in science, secretarial work, the military, etc., etc. More and more, people are going into occupations based on their likes and interest, rather than on some preconceived gender roles. And this is a good thing.

A couple years ago, not far from where I live in San County, US Navy ship Bonhomme Richard was undergoing a major overhaul in port when it caught fire. The ship burned for ten days, spewing toxic smoke over many homes and businesses. The damage was so severe that the multi-billion-dollar ship was declared a total loss. Several officers lost their careers over the incident. But the worst thing about it is that the fire was apparently started on purpose. The guy who the Navy thinks started the fire was a low-ranking sailor who had tried out for the seals but had not made the cut. He ended up doing work that he considered beneath him, and apparently felt slighted. Apparently he felt like there was only one career path for him and it did not include chipping paint.

Whether or not this would-be seal committed arson, cost the taxpayers billions, and poisoned thousands of people is beside the point. There are plenty of examples of disgruntled, alienated, angry young men who act out with violence. Unfortunately, in most of the cases there is no question of whether they are guilty of mass murder. The real question is, why do they do it? I think the reasons come down to intellectual inflexibility. These guys simply cannot handle the fact that the world does not line up with their preconceived notions. It's too easy for them to dismiss the hard work, talent, and sacrifice of successful people as just so much luck, or nepotism, or cheating.

I am reminded of a class on electronics that I once took at a local junior college. At that time I was at a crossroads in my life, not sure of my next move. I was working full time for a big electrical contractor by day, and attending the class at night. (My goal to move horizontally, into something like what I was doing but which was less taxing on my body. I was already 38 years old, and carpal tunnel syndrome was screaming at me to get out of the electrical trade.) I spent most of my weekends studying, taking copious notes on the textbook. I ended up with an "A" in the class, acing the final exam. The instructor asked if he could have my notebook to show future students. But none of this came easy. I worked my butt off.

One of the the most memorable moments in the class occurred one night when the instructor paired me up with a guy in his late 20s for a laboratory exercise. We were tasked to solve a complex series of problems, and from the outset, two facts were apparent: I knew what I was doing, and my partner was clueless. At one point he asked me, "How do you know this shit?" I told him about the hours I spent every weekend poring over the textbook, and I showed him my notebook. "I can't do that," he said. "I gotta have a life!" I believe he ended up flunking the course, and lived with his parents another 10 years. Some life!