Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Botany

(70,282 posts)
Wed May 28, 2014, 09:56 AM May 2014

Coldwell Banker Cuts Ties With Correspondent After 'Homosexual Impulses' Remark About Shooter

Source: Huffington Post

Coldwell Banker Cuts Ties With Correspondent After 'Homosexual Impulses' Remark About Shooter


Coldwell Banker has apparently decided to part ways with a lifestyle correspondent who
appeared on Fox News and said Santa Barbara shooter Elliot Rodger may have been battling
"homosexual impulses" before he killed six people Friday.

snip

"When I was first listening to him, I was like, ‘Oh, he’s angry with women for rejecting him,'" she said during the Fox News segment, "and then I started to have a different idea: 'Is this somebody who is trying to fight against his homosexual impulses?' Was he angry with women because they were taking away men from him? ... Was he angry at the men for not choosing him? ... He couldn't feel loved, he couldn't feel successful, maybe he couldn't even feel like a real man."

snip

The company responded on Tuesday afternoon, writing: "Dr. Robi’s comments on the tragedy in Santa Barbara do not represent the opinions of Coldwell Banker. Therefore at this time we feel it best to part ways with her as our lifestyle real estate correspondent."

Ludwig took to social media on Monday to clarify her comments, saying she was "misunderstood":
I in NO way meant to indicated being homosexual or having homosexual impulses is a cause for spree killing. My job @judgejeanine was to assess several POSSIBLE triggers for #ElliotRodgers behavior. #peace #forequalrights However, I [a]pologize to ... all of those who felt offended. That was never my intention.


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/coldwell-banker-homosexual-impulses_n_5398404.html?utm_hp_ref=media&ir=Media

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Coldwell Banker Cuts Ties With Correspondent After 'Homosexual Impulses' Remark About Shooter (Original Post) Botany May 2014 OP
I think sometimes when these tragedies happen MissMillie May 2014 #1
He took a very long time explaining why he did this, in his manifesto. Demit May 2014 #6
I'm one of those people who refuse to take his word 951-Riverside May 2014 #8
And Im guessing you're one of those people who didn't bother to read his manifesto. Demit May 2014 #13
I read his manifesto ... Wernothelpless May 2014 #16
Well, i got a similar vibe (isolation & pain) but boy are you gonna hear from the Aspy crowd. Demit May 2014 #20
the human brain is still in the cave ... Wernothelpless May 2014 #21
I find that those that try to define what a 'real man' is... canuckledragger May 2014 #11
'Misunderstood' is the 'out of context' of people who can't refute the exact words they said. Aristus May 2014 #2
"to all of those who felt offended"!!! How about apologizing "to all those I LoisB May 2014 #3
If you are going to be picky a feel offended by trying to contact a mass killing .... Botany May 2014 #4
so pretty on the outside so ugly within leftyohiolib May 2014 #10
Yep standard BS reply...You felt bad but I didnt say anything inappropriate sorry you feel that way lunasun May 2014 #5
Wow, I did not know that fox commentators posted on DU CBGLuthier May 2014 #7
But it's not a bank. It's a real estate broker. I've seen a lot of them. freshwest May 2014 #37
"Dr." Robi mahatmakanejeeves May 2014 #9
"California Southern University"? alp227 May 2014 #38
I hear Putin News is hiring. nt geek tragedy May 2014 #12
Coldwell Banker has lifestyle correspondents?! They_Live May 2014 #14
That's what I took away from it LOL, people say stupid shit snooper2 May 2014 #17
Not only that, but they're qualified psychologists, as well Blue_Tires May 2014 #33
mind... They_Live May 2014 #34
My favorite grocery store has designated a clerk for something like that. freshwest May 2014 #36
Yes, you DID mean it, you disgusting excuse for a talking head. closeupready May 2014 #15
I have mixed feelings about this cosmicone May 2014 #18
Asperger's Syndrome and Borderline Personality Disorder ... Wernothelpless May 2014 #19
Would you please for the love of all things empirically provable DeadLetterOffice May 2014 #22
Perhaps, you haven't read about this man Wernothelpless May 2014 #23
Perhaps, you don't know anything about Asperger's DeadLetterOffice May 2014 #27
that's only one opinion .... Wernothelpless May 2014 #29
OOOO yes PLEASE block me! DeadLetterOffice May 2014 #31
Please, don't diss people with Asperger's. Rozlee May 2014 #25
That's absolutely true ... most of the time ... Wernothelpless May 2014 #26
Do you have ANY concept of how statistics and probability work? Population samples? DeadLetterOffice May 2014 #28
They could have had a history of seizures or lymphomas and not been dealing with life well. Rozlee May 2014 #30
Not pinning a thing or blaming ... Wernothelpless May 2014 #32
Welcome to the 21st century, Dr. Ludwig. (nt) Paladin May 2014 #24
"However, I pologize to ... bearssoapbox May 2014 #35
A gay man is not "a real man?" Anyone who does something we don't like is either gay or struggling merrily May 2014 #39

MissMillie

(38,452 posts)
1. I think sometimes when these tragedies happen
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:01 AM
May 2014

Everyone goes racing for some sort of explanation of "why?"

I'm not surprised Fox News went straight for the "oh, he must be gay" explanation--and of course you know they meant it as an insult.

And this "real man" stuff bugs the heck out of me too. You're not a "real man" if you're gay? You're not a "real man" if you have a hard time getting laid?

Crazy talk.

But like I said, I guess I expect crazy talk when people look for quick answers to complex problems.

We'll probably never know "why" this guy did this.

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
6. He took a very long time explaining why he did this, in his manifesto.
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:16 AM
May 2014

He was sickeningly clear. People don't seem to want to take his word for it.

 

951-Riverside

(7,234 posts)
8. I'm one of those people who refuse to take his word
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:21 AM
May 2014

It was never about getting laid, picking up women or misogyny.

He just wanted to kill a bunch of people but knew just doing that would make him look like a monster so he put out the "sob story" and it worked just like it worked for Chris Dorner, no one remembers the young couple Dorner gunned down in a parking garage in Irvine and no one remembers the 2 cops he snuck up on and blew away at a stop light. No, everyone just remembers Dorner as being a frustrated ex-cop who "stuck it to the man" not the cold blooded killer who cowardly snuck up on people and mowed them down.

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
13. And Im guessing you're one of those people who didn't bother to read his manifesto.
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:57 AM
May 2014

You also sound like one of those people who tell people what they're thinking instead of asking them. I'll bet you've said to someone more than once that you know them better than they do themselves.

Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
16. I read his manifesto ...
Wed May 28, 2014, 11:27 AM
May 2014

He sounded like a man with Asperger's and OCD ... he was insanely, compulsively, searching for a way to put an end to his isolation and pain ... he chose murder/suicide ...

People with Asperger's Syndrome lack people skills ... they are extremely shy, closed off, socially awkward ... they have two speeds which are completely sedentary/depressed or over the top obsessed ... they are literally locked away inside of themselves and don't understand why nobody around them can see how they suffer ...

He was left alone to go round and round in his head until he developed the antidote ... to end it all ...

And he may have been struggling with his sexuality as well ...

Tragic ...

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
20. Well, i got a similar vibe (isolation & pain) but boy are you gonna hear from the Aspy crowd.
Wed May 28, 2014, 12:04 PM
May 2014

I don't know enough about Asperger's. What I was aware of as I read along was that this guy never once considered that the answer to his pain might be within him. He consistently externalized it and blamed others. Life wasn't fair and it was everybody else's fault. Especially the beautiful women. They were supposed to notice him and want to give him sex without his having to do anything at all.

Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
21. the human brain is still in the cave ...
Wed May 28, 2014, 12:14 PM
May 2014

Every single day of our lives our brain peeks out of it's cave and looks for a problem to solve ..

There may be no problem to solve, but our ancient survival skills will LOOK for a problem and when it can't find a suitable task our brain will invent one ...

Now most of us will let it go after a period of rational thought, but there are those who are compulsive by nature (or thought process) and simply CAN'T let it go ... away they go spinning off into the darkness of their mind and create the saber-tooth cat of their caveman's dreams which may destroy them if they don't destroy it ....

Artists who have Asperger's have painted incredible paintings or written amazing overtures ... but some are lost ... truly, painfully, lost in their minds to fight imaginary dragons ...

This man was lost, obsessed, and everyone around him missed the signals ...

We have to find a way to deal with these frustrated LOST men, because we have a legion of them within our society today ...

canuckledragger

(1,632 posts)
11. I find that those that try to define what a 'real man' is...
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:52 AM
May 2014

Are VERY insecure themselves as to their own perception of their 'maleness' and are just projecting their fears onto others.

Nobody needs to define the role for myself, and I REALLY could care less what anyone thinks of me. (just check out my facebook page for a few examples!)

Aristus

(66,075 posts)
2. 'Misunderstood' is the 'out of context' of people who can't refute the exact words they said.
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:02 AM
May 2014

Too f*****g late, lady...

Botany

(70,282 posts)
4. If you are going to be picky a feel offended by trying to contact a mass killing ....
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:08 AM
May 2014

.... to being gay then I apologize

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
5. Yep standard BS reply...You felt bad but I didnt say anything inappropriate sorry you feel that way
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:13 AM
May 2014

and yes she did imply with her theory that being homosexual is the cause for the killings ....sick

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
7. Wow, I did not know that fox commentators posted on DU
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:17 AM
May 2014

That exact same odious fucking "thought" was expressed upon these pages within a day or so of the event. Kind of pathetic when a god damned BANK has a higher moral sense than a poster on a "progressive" internet board.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
37. But it's not a bank. It's a real estate broker. I've seen a lot of them.
Thu May 29, 2014, 05:40 PM
May 2014


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldwell_Banker

I does sound like a bank, in a way...

Saw an OP at DU that was straight from the Fox News piece. No link provided, since it would have never survived. Sort of shocking. Just flamebait, I guess.

mahatmakanejeeves

(56,885 posts)
9. "Dr." Robi
Wed May 28, 2014, 10:21 AM
May 2014

Of her two doctorates, one came from a correspondence school, and the other is honorary.

Robi Ludwig

Professional qualifications[edit]

Robi Ludwig got her masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her post masters training and certificate from Hunter College. She received her doctor of psychology from California Southern University, a private, correspondence school. She received an honorary doctorate from Cedar Crest College (where she previously received her undergraduate degree in mass communications) in May of 2009. She is a licensed and practicing psychotherapist in the state of New York.

alp227

(31,959 posts)
38. "California Southern University"?
Thu May 29, 2014, 11:49 PM
May 2014

Has the University of Southern California sued over trademark infringement?

They_Live

(3,222 posts)
14. Coldwell Banker has lifestyle correspondents?!
Wed May 28, 2014, 11:11 AM
May 2014

and a blog with a lot of stories?!

I learn something new everyday.

 

snooper2

(30,151 posts)
17. That's what I took away from it LOL, people say stupid shit
Wed May 28, 2014, 11:28 AM
May 2014

But to know that there is a title at Coldwell banker that is " lifestyle real estate correspondent"

WTF?

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
36. My favorite grocery store has designated a clerk for something like that.
Thu May 29, 2014, 05:33 PM
May 2014

His badge says something like that. I'd say I'm having a 'senior moment,' but I simply did not grasp what it meant when I asked him about it and was confused. So I just said, 'Great!'

He was a clerk but had the additional position of making things work for all the employees and the customers. It's a very diverse group of shoppers, almost as much as the local COSTCO and almost as fun as them.

I'm sure the company in the OP is looking to please more people of differing cultures, etc.

 

cosmicone

(11,014 posts)
18. I have mixed feelings about this
Wed May 28, 2014, 11:33 AM
May 2014

Repressed sexual impulses are a contributing factor to many violent outbursts and right or wrong, what she described is established science (if one can call psychology a science - which is also debatable.)

It is well-known that the most vitriolic homophobes have latent homosexual impulses. People who accept other people's sexual preference without prejudice are usually secure in their own sexuality.

Perhaps she should have explained it better -- as in -- "a few rare" people with previously disturbed psyches and under the influence of massive doses of alcohol may be triggered to be violent due to repressed sexual impulses. But then, it wouldn't have fit the Faux news agenda.

Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
19. Asperger's Syndrome and Borderline Personality Disorder ...
Wed May 28, 2014, 11:55 AM
May 2014

They can and do appear together ... in Borderline Personality Disorder the person loses himself entirely ... he does NOT know who he is ... gay or straight ... he's lost and with Asperger's they are locked inside of themselves feeling invisible and socially inadequate

The two can appear together ...

This was a very sick man ... He could have been Borderline and misdiagnosed as Asperger's also ...

DeadLetterOffice

(1,352 posts)
22. Would you please for the love of all things empirically provable
Wed May 28, 2014, 12:50 PM
May 2014

STOP: (1) armchair diagnosing this guy with Asperger's and/or BPD, (2) proclaiming that this alleged Asperger's and/or BPD was the underlying cause of his killing spree, and (3) describing in broad and entirely inaccurate brushstrokes what ALL people with Asperger's and/or BPD are like?

Also -- where'd you get your degree in mental health assessment and intervention? Because if you do in fact have one, I'd like to contact your alma mater and ask them to take it back.

Thank you.

Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
23. Perhaps, you haven't read about this man
Wed May 28, 2014, 12:55 PM
May 2014

He was being treated for Asperger's and had been in therapy for ASPERGER'S since he was NINE years old ...

No need to contact my "alma mater", dear ... you seem to have trouble with reading and comprehension ...

Good luck ..

DeadLetterOffice

(1,352 posts)
27. Perhaps, you don't know anything about Asperger's
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:26 PM
May 2014

It is unclear whether he was officially diagnosed with Asperger’s, although family members are quoted in some articles as saying that he was “on the spectrum.” (The Daily Mail claimed he was diagnosed, but then admitted they were wrong; but his family's lawyer maybe claimed he was -- it's not as clear cut as you make it). I haven't seen anything anywhere confirming a known diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.

But that does not in any case address points 2 & 3 (which were the important ones there, sorry) that you are proclaiming that this alleged Asperger's and/or BPD was the underlying cause of his killing spree, and describing in broad and entirely inaccurate brushstrokes what ALL people with Asperger's and/or BPD are like.

Go educate yourself, please, "dear." You are at best spouting misinformation, and at worst actively choosing to say untrue, prejudicial, hurtful things.

Dvoskin added that there is no empirical evidence of an increased risk of violence among people with Asperger’s.
“There are two cases where uninformed, self-styled experts said that a person had Asperger’s, and committed a heinous crime,” he said. “I would suggest you do the math of all the people diagnosed with Asperger’s in the United States and see what percentage two is of that number.”
<snip>
"In general, violent behavior is not a characteristic of Asperger’s,” said Dr. Shahla Chehrazi-Raffle, a forensic clinical psychologist teaching at the University of California, San Francisco. “Aggressive behavior or angry outbursts can occur, in cases where situations are misread. But this kind of behavior of accumulating guns, of planning how he’s going to kill other people, is not associated with Asperger’s.
<snip>
Other experts say no studies have been done confirming a link between Asperger’s and violent behavior, and that the fixation on Rodger’s reported Asperger’s is more of a collective attempt to come to terms with tragedy by distinguishing ourselves from the person who has allegedly committed the crime.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/28/don-t-blame-asperger-s-for-massacres.html

Asperger’s actually does not exist as an official diagnosis among mental health professionals anymore, though it still is a commonly used term. {Dr. Daniel Son} says as of a year ago, it now is simply considered part of the autism spectrum, and most who had been diagnosed with Asperger’s are thought to be high functioning and able to live relatively normal lives. Son, who treats a number of young autism patients, says that obsessive behavior can result from the disease and patients can become fixated on certain issues. But other factors usually come into play when behavior becomes overwhelmingly violent.
“It’s really more associated with a troubled upbringing rather than the autism,” Son said.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/blaming-shootings-on-autism-a-mistake-experts-2014-05-25



Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
29. that's only one opinion ....
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:31 PM
May 2014

"there is no empirical evidence of an increased risk of violence"

Well, there is NOW ... Sandy Hook and this sad disaster as well ....

So you go from knowing NOTHING about this man's Asperger's to quoting someone's opinion ...

We have the facts of these cases and then we have opinion ....

Now you can cut and paste to your hearts content, but it won't change what happened in either of these cases ...

any more spam and I'll block you ... go away, troll ...

DeadLetterOffice

(1,352 posts)
31. OOOO yes PLEASE block me!
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:42 PM
May 2014

Yay, my first ignore! And by someone unable to actually understand what "empirical evidence" is!
I'm so proud!

(By the way -- posting actual data counter to your unfounded view of reality is not 'spam.' Oy.)

Seriously -- ignore me all you want. Yay for willful ignorance and all that. But I'm still going to keep posting that your are WRONG in your characterization of Asperger's. I'm pretty sure my 20 years as a mental health professional trumps your armchair stupidity.

Rozlee

(2,529 posts)
25. Please, don't diss people with Asperger's.
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:10 PM
May 2014

Aspie's seem to be everyone's favorite whipping boys lately. Tell it to Albert Einstein, or Susan Boyle of Britain's Got Talent; Charles Shultz, Isaac Asimov, Jim Henson, John Denver, Al Gore, Bill Gates, Keith Olbermann, Robin Williams and Thomas Edison. People with high functioning autism are no more or less a danger to the population than anyone else.

Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
26. That's absolutely true ... most of the time ...
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:16 PM
May 2014

But we can't possible overlook Sandy Hook and now this awful disaster, as well, without noting both men did have Asperger's and weren't dealing with life well ...

DeadLetterOffice

(1,352 posts)
28. Do you have ANY concept of how statistics and probability work? Population samples?
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:28 PM
May 2014

Again:

Dvoskin added that there is no empirical evidence of an increased risk of violence among people with Asperger’s.
“There are two cases where uninformed, self-styled experts said that a person had Asperger’s, and committed a heinous crime,” he said. “I would suggest you do the math of all the people diagnosed with Asperger’s in the United States and see what percentage two is of that number.”

Rozlee

(2,529 posts)
30. They could have had a history of seizures or lymphomas and not been dealing with life well.
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:36 PM
May 2014

We've had so many mass shooters in America and I don't think you can pin them all down to people with Asperger's or other high functioning autism. Psychologists and talking heads always jump on a cause du jour on why shooters go on rampages and blame everything from violent video games to single mothers and public schools for massacres. There's always blame to be assigned. But, the blame is never assigned to the proponents of the gun lobby and the lack of outrage from the NRA and conservative politicians.

Wernothelpless

(410 posts)
32. Not pinning a thing or blaming ...
Wed May 28, 2014, 01:58 PM
May 2014

We can have simple conversation here without laying blame .. one would hope? ...

It's too bad those around these young men didn't take their guns away from them since congress doesn't seem to be moving in that direction ...

This is a tragedy and there are those who are grieving for their lost children ... so enough ..

Posting opinion here won't bring any of them back or change one single thing ... so I'll stop posting on this thread ...

Bye ...

bearssoapbox

(1,408 posts)
35. "However, I pologize to ...
Wed May 28, 2014, 03:53 PM
May 2014

all of those who felt offended. That was never my intention."

add: "to be called out on what I said."

merrily

(45,251 posts)
39. A gay man is not "a real man?" Anyone who does something we don't like is either gay or struggling
Fri May 30, 2014, 04:27 AM
May 2014

with the issue?

Even Fox should not stoop this low.

The hidden story, though? We have a winger associating shooting people with not feeling like a "real man." Isn't that something very much like what the gun enthusiasts often accuse only the left of doing?

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Coldwell Banker Cuts Ties...