[gilleshk]

I wasn't blaming you about being hysterical...just what I think was a gross over reaction in America to 911. In fact, I think that people make way too much about terrorist attacks or threat. As I said, a lot more people die from traffic accidents than from terrorist attacks yet no one gets their knickers in a bunch about it...

[MovingIn07]

Originally Posted by gilleshk

I wasn't blaming you about being hysterical...just what I think was a gross over reaction in America to 911. In fact, I think that people make way too much about terrorist attacks or threat. As I said, a lot more people die from traffic accidents than from terrorist attacks yet no one gets their knickers in a bunch about it...

I think the issue is that traffic accidents are just that - accidents. Terrorist attacks are a deliberate attempt by somebody to end life and cause chaos. I think that's why they are considered more important.

[gilleshk]

Perhaps but the fact remain that statistically, it's a lot more dangerous to ride a car or walk the street hence we should be more worried about it...

For whatever reasons, people harbour fears that are illogical. I lived in Morocco for a while and so many people wondered how dangerous it was there because a couple of bombs exploded at one point or another. It's a heck of a lot less dangerous than walking most cities in North America at night.

[Sleuth]

Car accidents are routine and Americans are becoming so used to violent death that it takes something like 9/11 to provoke any kind of reaction.
For instance the infamous (in America, anyway) St. Valentine's Day massacre was 7 people killed by a rival gang and it provoked a mass outrage, brought the Feds into Capone's world, launched the Untouchables and began the end of prohibition. Hard to imagine it having that effect today.
Plus 9/11 was an attack, not an accident.

[aussiegal]

Taking someone's life willingly will always provoke a far greater outcry and fear than an accident no matter the difference in number of lives lost between the two. One is an assault against humanity and the other is what it is, an accident, usually caused by the victims' own error in judgement. It is also not surprising that it attracts more media attention and therefore leads people to fear a terrorist attack over a car accident no matter how unlikely. The media is after all trying to sell papers, or advertising or whatever. Terror sells, accidents don't.

[gilleshk]

Originally Posted by aussiegal

Taking someone's life willingly will always provoke a far greater outcry and fear than an accident no matter the difference in number of lives lost between the two. One is an assault against humanity and the other is what it is, an accident, usually caused by the victims' own error in judgement. It is also not surprising that it attracts more media attention and therefore leads people to fear a terrorist attack over a car accident no matter how unlikely. The media is after all trying to sell papers, or advertising or whatever. Terror sells, accidents don't.

I can't say I am surprised that people are scared with all the media hypes it gets but it remains illogical. But then again, most people are not logical...

An assault against humanity?...That's a good one!

[aussiegal]

Originally Posted by gilleshk

An assault against humanity?...That's a good one!

Gees, you don't leave any comments alone.

Do you know what the word humanity means? Whether you interpret it to be mean 'the human race' or 'the quality of being humane' my comment is 100% accurate.

Who made you judge and jury of everything that anyone cares to write here and is anyone else entitled to an opinion?

[MovingIn07]

Aussiegal - give up. You're right. He's pulling your tail - I would just withdraw with dignity if I were you!

[vnowak]

Of course it doesn't need to make the headlines, however, that is what sells....

People are so hooked on sensational stories that just by watching the news here in HK, you can really see the difference with Europe.

In Europe, it will make the headlines (just the story) whereas here, they will show you footage of the dead person's blood and body...or dead body of a motorcyclist (the white bag on the road)

For some reasons, people are hooked on sensational stories so when the day is fairly quiet and a bomb alert is given, well then that's the headline of the day.

Originally Posted by gilleshk

Of course, the police have to respond and check it out...I just don't think it's anymore of a story than a little old lady run over by a truck... Or a kid pulling the fire alarm in the school and having the building evacuated, the fire department has to respond but it doesn't need to make front page.

[gilleshk]

Originally Posted by vnowak

Of course it doesn't need to make the headlines, however, that is what sells....

Sadly true,,,must be a reflection on our "humanity"