I once explained to a female peacenik friend of mine that when men enter any new situation they assess the danger potential.
We do it in an unconscious manner. We check escape routes, potential weapons (just like video games) and we are particularly sensitive to other men. We ask the mental questions: are they stronger than I, are they mentally stable, are they hostile? This threat assessment occurs whether we are walking into a Burger King, getting on a bus or getting off the elevator at our lawyer's office. We do it all the time, below the conscious level.
My female peacenik friend never heard nor understood a word I said. I'll talk more about the moral, mental, historical and political problems with the peace movement in another blog.