this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2025
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What is the xfactor?

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[–] Sunsofold@lemmings.world 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I hope you can see it's not as simple as a single 'x factor.' There are many things that affect murder rates, and many of them have little to nothing to do with simple population count.

[–] sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 1 points 14 hours ago

I mean, the guns and permissive attitude towards them the way they are opposite for drugs is a massive xfactor

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The EU is a tad bigger than the US (450M), and the average murder rate is around 1 per 100k.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1268504/homicide-rate-europe-country/

The key factors are most likely the different views on gun ownership and a different take on violence and bullying in general. Even the American national "sport" is nothing but a glorified brawl.

[–] Quilotoa@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

Rugby is a) only a niche sport, basically played in the UK and a few non-European countries, and b) way less of a brawl.

[–] FridaySteve@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

Even the American national β€œsport” is nothing but a glorified brawl.

Baseball?

[–] dermanus@lemmy.ca 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Most obvious answer to me is Canada. Numbers wise the population is smaller but in terms of the culture and general attitudes it's about as close as you'll get.

[–] sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 2 points 20 hours ago

I actually am kinda focusing more on approximately same sized population

[–] Quilotoa@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Indonesia is closest in population to the U.S. It has a murder rate of 0.4 per 100 000 population while the U.S. has a rate of 5.8.

[–] sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

What do you think is the X-factor?

[–] Quilotoa@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

No one thing. It's a combination of laws, attitudes, culture, and convenience.

[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Great point. Insanity, honestly. Australia learned that the hard way but I wonder if that might be its internal antidote to situations similar to the current Situation in us

Like, even if I was rich and had everything, its like, why do you want to have to micromanage the singlest person in the way you're lobbying and voting and acting to cause? Thats so stressful and stupid, how about you make sure all schools get propery funded, anybody who wants to work can get high quality employment options to put their hands and brains and hearts to good use, everyone has a home if they want it

better for everyone when everyone has what they need. Then there's no need for violence cuz you can easily get your monthly nut

[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

weve had churches, elementary schools shot up. an entire class of kindergartners slaughtered. zero changes.

there is no 'hard way' the united states will ever be able to go through that will allow them to address the issue unleashed upon themselves.

death is just a tax they are willing to pay for pretend security

[–] sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

To what extent do you think school shooters have their motivation based on?

  • bullying
  • fame/infamy (be like whatever serial killer fascination)
  • toxic parentsl relation
  • religion

sure, there are some cultural pressures; but most of those things are ubiquitous to humanity in general.

the real difference is availability ... the permanent solution to any temporary problem in the united states is a handgun away.

the only people claiming otherwise are desperate to clutch their human killing devices for reasons i will never comprehend.