it's an extraordinarily complex problem with no single solution. i don't think it's about excusing or apologising for adolescent boys/young men's behaviour, it's about understanding the context in which this behaviour is taking place. yes, these kids make lousy choices about how they live their lives and they should be held responsible for those choices - but unless we acknowledge that their choices are to some extent constrained by their social, economic and cultural environments and do something to try and change that, the situation will just get worse. this isn't about being a bleeding-heart liberal, it's about understanding a basic truth that those at the bottom of the pile in a society fractured by inequality and inequity are less likely to have any investment in or commitment to that society.