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Women encourage killers. They do it by falling in love with
warriors and heroes. Men know it, and respond with overwhelming
enthusiasm. The Crusaders marched off to war with a lady's favor in
their helmets. They were not setting out on some mission of gallant
gentleness. On their way through Asia Minor, the Crusaders literally
roasted Christian babies in cases of mistaken identity. Because the
local folk did not speak a language they understood, the chivalrous
knights assumed the panicky babblers were heathens. Heathens, of
course, deserved no mercy. So the heroes sliced up the adults and
baked the infants on spits, all the while thinking of how the girls back
home would admire their bravery.28
Technically, it's called sexual selection. The females of a species
develop a craving for a certain kind of guy, and all the males compete
to live up to the female ideal. Lady peacocks adore hunks with
towering blue tails. So peacock gentlemen sport foppish plumes.29
Lady bower birds swoon over bachelors with an architectural flare. So
bower bird males turn sticks and scraps into a Taj Mahal. And what
have human females gone for in nearly every society and time?
"Courage" and "bravery." In short, violence.
The poetry of the classic sixth century Arab master Labid is a
testament to the feminine ability to bring out the animal in a man. In
Labid's lyrical verses, a young fellow jostles along on his camel,
dreaming of how he can get his beloved's attention. She, it seems, does
not recognize his true worth. He dreams of how he will prove himself
to her. And how will he demonstrate his manliness? With feats of
daring glory.
Now what is the one feat of daring glory guaranteed to rivet the
admiration of a beauty in Labid's tribal desert society? You rush into
the nearest village, kill a few of the males and steal as many camels and
old clothes as you can get your hands on. Greatness belongs to the
killer. And the young ladies swoon over guys who are great. Labid
will tell you, it works every time.30
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Women encourage killers. They do it by falling in love with
warriors and heroes. Men know it, and respond with overwhelming
enthusiasm. The Crusaders marched off to war with a lady's favor in
their helmets. They were not setting out on some mission of gallant
gentleness. On their way through Asia Minor, the Crusaders literally
roasted Christian babies in cases of mistaken identity. Because the
local folk did not speak a language they understood, the chivalrous
knights assumed the panicky babblers were heathens. Heathens, of
course, deserved no mercy. So the heroes sliced up the adults and
baked the infants on spits, all the while thinking of how the girls back
home would admire their bravery.28
Technically, it's called sexual selection. The females of a species
develop a craving for a certain kind of guy, and all the males compete
to live up to the female ideal. Lady peacocks adore hunks with
towering blue tails. So peacock gentlemen sport foppish plumes.29
Lady bower birds swoon over bachelors with an architectural flare. So
bower bird males turn sticks and scraps into a Taj Mahal. And what
have human females gone for in nearly every society and time?
"Courage" and "bravery." In short, violence.
The poetry of the classic sixth century Arab master Labid is a
testament to the feminine ability to bring out the animal in a man. In
Labid's lyrical verses, a young fellow jostles along on his camel,
dreaming of how he can get his beloved's attention. She, it seems, does
not recognize his true worth. He dreams of how he will prove himself
to her. And how will he demonstrate his manliness? With feats of
daring glory.
Now what is the one feat of daring glory guaranteed to rivet the
admiration of a beauty in Labid's tribal desert society? You rush into
the nearest village, kill a few of the males and steal as many camels and
old clothes as you can get your hands on. Greatness belongs to the
killer. And the young ladies swoon over guys who are great. Labid
will tell you, it works every time.30
<< < GO > >>