Male Idiot Theory (MIT)

[Tank]

Found by Icarus.

Study supports the theory that 'men are idiots'

...Worthy candidates include a man stealing a ride home by hitching a shopping trolley to the back of a train, only to be dragged two miles to his death before the train was able to stop; and the terrorist who posted a letter bomb with insufficient postage stamps and who, on its return, unthinkingly opened his own letter.

Of the 413 Darwin Award nominations, 332 were independently verified and confirmed by the Darwin Awards Committee. Of these, 14 were shared by male and female nominees - usually overly adventurous couples in compromising positions - leaving 318 valid cases for statistical testing...

Something we all knew has now been backed up by scientific research.

[OldGit]

Oh yes?  What about Female Useless Driver Theory? 

[Asmodean]

Oh yes?  What about Female Useless Driver Theory? 

HA!

I liked the german female racing driver they featured on Top Gear some ages ago though.

[OldGit]

I missed that one.  I suppose she got round the track but couldn't park the car afterwards?

[xSilverPhinx]

I'm not a man hater or anything like that but, on the whole, there does seem to be some major differences in how men and women assess risk, which might lead to men doing dumber things on average, especially once they hit puberty. Good news is whatever causes this does seem to subside with age.


From the study:

[Men are] more likely to be involved in a fatal road traffic collision.

While men might have better spacial orientation, to me this is bad driving.

[OldGit]

True!  But young men smash themselves up because they are such good drivers, you see.

[Michael1]

When "Women In Science Happens" then maybe we will see less of these funny posts, and would we really want that?

[Asmodean]

I missed that one.  I suppose she got round the track but couldn't park the car afterwards?

Well, she couldn't drive a van around the N?rburgring faster than Clarkson's diesel-powered Jag.

[Recusant]

It would seem that if we look at this from an evolutionary standpoint, we can ask a question about why males seem to engage in more risky behavior than females of the species. Perhaps males who engage in risky behavior have historically contributed more to the gene pool than risk averse males. If this tendency is passed down via the Y chromosome, then it makes sense.

There's at least one study which seems to indicate that in the history of the species, about two times more females of Homo sapiens ended up reproducing than males. ("Genetic Evidence for Unequal Effective Population Sizes of Human Females and Males" | Oxford Journals a pop-science article which mentions this is "Ancient Man Spread The Love Around" | Sci Gogo) Many different factors probably played a role in that, but one of them could very well be a tendency on the part of males to engage in risky behavior, with a smaller percentage of them surviving to reproduce. But, more of the males who had that tendency reproduced than risk averse males. Or perhaps risk averse males reproduced, but fewer of their offspring survived because their aversion to risk meant that they didn't provide sufficient sustenance or protection. Either way, there may very well be a genetic explanation for more risk-taking behavior among men than women.

It may not be idiocy, but simply the history of the species which explains this apparent phenomenon.

[Pasta Chick]

As usual, I would say there's a social aspect to this.  A guy does something careless and risky, he's a badass.  Sometimes even if he doesn't live.  If he is sucessful, more power to him (literally, in many cases). Many of the same activities are traditionally "too dangerous" for women or "not their place" and those who choose to buck traction are considered selfish and thoughtless, foolish and just plain not as good. 

Tl;dr Women are socialized to sit down and shut up and not make a scene, so it shouldn't be surprising when they do.

[OldGit]

A lot of male mammals show similar traits, it's always said to be the testosterone.  Defending or monopolising the females, competing to reproduce.  Seems to me human male behaviour boils down to the same thing.

[Davin]

A lot of male mammals show similar traits, it's always said to be the testosterone. Defending or monopolising the females, competing to reproduce.  Seems to me human male behaviour boils down to the same thing.

Social animals demonstrate social traits? How odd... 

[Ecurb Noselrub]

It is the male tendency to engage in risky behavior that results in pioneering new lands, engaging in new experiments, going to the moon, etc.  As with everything, there is a good and a bad side to it.  But males who successfully negotiate the risk become the wealthiest, most famous, most powerful people in the world.

By the way, I read some place that 25% of the Mongolian population has some of Genghis Khan's genes in them.  He was a risk-taker - riding horseback, shooting arrows, invading lands, etc.  One of the most successful people in the history of the world from an evolutionary standpoint.   

[Davin]

Well, it appears that Men Who Love Spicy Food Have More Testosterone. I really like very spicy food... I suppose that settles it.

[OldGit]

That explains the avatar.