The difference is something I call “selective collectivism”. The pulse shooting means that Muslims are a problem. One trans shooter means that we need an answer to “the trans question”. But when white conservatives commit more domestic terrorism than all other groups combined and even gather under a banner that says “we are all domestic terrorists”, neither white people nor conservatives will ever be expected to answer for a “domestic terrorism problem”. Men make up the vast majority of violent criminals, but to suggest that masculinity needs to examine itself and find a better way forward prompts immediate massive backlash. Is the latest outrage indicative of an entire class of people with deep-seated, fundamental problems or is it yet another lone wolf and absolutely not a reflection on the culture that created it? Depends. Do I personally like the villain?
The difference is something I call “selective collectivism”. The pulse shooting means that Muslims are a problem. One trans shooter means that we need an answer to “the trans question”. But when white conservatives commit more domestic terrorism than all other groups combined and even gather under a banner that says “we are all domestic terrorists”, neither white people nor conservatives will ever be expected to answer for a “domestic terrorism problem”. Men make up the vast majority of violent criminals, but to suggest that masculinity needs to examine itself and find a better way forward prompts immediate massive backlash. Is the latest outrage indicative of an entire class of people with deep-seated, fundamental problems or is it yet another lone wolf and absolutely not a reflection on the culture that created it? Depends. Do I personally like the villain?