Within the last few months there have been a string of high profile domestic violence incidents, but surprisingly society isn’t united in their opinions about such actions.

By now we are all well aware of Ray Rice, the former Baltimore Ravens’ running back. Rice is on the receiving end of a media onslaught due to the fact that he violently knocked out his wife, Janay Palmer, after she spit in his face while riding a hotel elevator.

The catch is that the entirety of the “altercation” was caught on the hotel security camera. Rice viciously punched Palmer in the face, resulting in Palmer being knocked unconscious. According to hotel security on the scene Rice was found dragging Palmer out of the elevator, attempting to justify his actions by claiming that Palmer was intoxicated and he was attempting to get her back to their room.

Early in the month of August, Jon Koppenhaver, a mixed martial artist who refers to himself as “War Machine,” brutally attacked his former girlfriend, adult film actress Christy Mack. On the morning of August 8 Koppenhaver attacked both Mack and a male acquaintance at her Las Vegas residence, resulting in numerous broken bones and internal injuries for Mack. Koppenhaver is facing possible life in prison due to the 32 felony charges, he is being brought up on in federal court. The charges against him include attempted murder, domestic battery via strangulation, first degree kidnapping and sexual assault.

Surprisingly some do not see these as cut and dry situations. Boxer Floyd Mayweather, who served jail time in 2012 after pleading guilty to charges of domestic violence, wished Rice “nothing but the best” during the blow back that he so rightly deserves. Utilizing social media sites fans of Koppenhaver have been sending threatening messages to Mack.

Stephen A. Smith offered advice to women in such situations in an interview with EPSN: “Don’t do anything to provoke a man into beating you.” Smith would go on to state that it is important to recognize that there are “elements of provocation” that are not looked into enough following such cases.

Support for these “men” is not limited to celebrities. Various Skyline students have voiced, often comically, that both Palmer and Mack “must have done something to deserve it,” such statements made all the more troubling and disturbing when we take into account that the students speaking aren’t always men.

In the wake of such ignorant comments, as well as the violent and hateful actions that preceded them, we are forced to come to terms with one horrendous fact: Violence against women is not taken seriously enough in our current society.

Should Rice be unemployable for the remainder of his life? Absolutely. Should he be sharing a prison cell with Koppenhaver? Most definitely. And men, and women, who speak out in defense of such “human beings” should recognize that they are part of the growing problem.