Spain
Out of context: Reply #108
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- DaveId0
"do you really think that those kind of comparisons get you anywhere? what is the point? what has a deliberate attack on 5000 people has to do with annual car-crash statistics?"
---------------------------Here's the thing:
9/11 is unlike anything that has ever happened before. My silly car-crash statistic was not meant to diminish the importance or recognizing that fact (and figuring out what to do about it). Come to think of it, I have never heard one instance where anyone refered to 9/11 without awknowledging the gravity of it.
Is pointing out the statistical insignificance of the danger of terrorism helpful? I would say that for me, on a personal level, it is not only useful, it's absolutly necessary. It's the exact same coping mechanism i ue to help me get over my fear of flying. It's simply a way for me to battle the "be very afraid" propaganda that's being rammed down my throat from every direction (not just the media, but friends and familily, and design forum posters...)
I realize that the threat of terrorism is a very localized thing. there are obviously places in the world that have no choice but to be very afraid of terrorism (including most major cities?). My statistic will obviously sound offensive to those people, and in such cases is certainly useless.
Here's an instance off the top of my head that my staticstic will be usefull: my boss sends his kids to London (from the bay area) every summer. His wife is now insisting that he must go with them to be on the plane in case it is hijacked. I know it sounds crazy, but i don't think that is totally uncommon.
Fear is very dangerous.
historically speaking, scared populations are the most dangerous things in the world (especially when they are jingoist populations of countries with powerful and undeterable militaries).
unless we can each deal with the fear rationally on a personal level, we will be personally responsible for whatever we allow our governments to get away with.
i think what has happened in Spain is a very powerful example of the population-government-fear dynamic resolving in a different way. Are they saying "terrorism works, we're out of here" ? or are they saying "we refuse buy into your feat" ?
btw winter, i like your "Jesus Christ gang" point...