By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the violent shooting in California a few days ago.  Apparently, a young man named Elliot Rodger was very frustrated that he was not popular, couldn’t get involved in a relationship, and considered his height and his parents’ divorce as devastating events in his life.  Perhaps the biggest thing was his frustration with women:

“My orchestration of the Day of Retribution is my attempt to do everything, in my power, to destroy everything I cannot have,” Rodger wrote.

“All of those beautiful girls I’ve desired so much in my life, but can never have because they despise and loathe me, I will destroy. All of those popular people who live hedonistic lives of pleasure, I will destroy, because they never accepted me as one of them. I will kill them all and make them suffer, just as they have made me suffer. It is only fair.”

With this, many people took to twitter to discuss this, noting that Rodger had tried to use the Pickup Artist Techniques to pick up women.  He failed.  Constantly being rejected, he couldn’t take it anymore and this attitude seemed to have contributed to his instability to go on a violent rampage.  A lot of men have responded by saying not all men do this.  In reply, people have taken to twitter, articles, and even a tumblr reflecting about this whole tragedy.

Note: personally, I found the tumblr insightful, disturbing, enlightening, and shocking.

UPDATE: Another great article commenting on gender norms and men “trying to get laid.”  If you are trying to get laid but don’t care how, then the problem is with you.

SECOND UPDATE: An article indicating that mental illness, not misogyny, should be the foundation for why Rodger acted the way he did.

THIRD UPDATE: However, a very good article responds that the mental illness seems to be a non-sequitur.  Rodger’s misogyny is still paramount to his actions.  Part of this isn’t the individual actions, but of the culture that we create.

More than that, it seems that his misogyny was a very compelling motivation.  Indeed, some people in the PUAhate claimed him as a hero!

Another note, here’s an interesting story of someone saying that he’s not a misogynist, but….  Really compelling.  Moreover, another good article that’s all around good about the Rodger’s case and his misogyny.