Altering Plans Because Of Danger?

[Mitchell]

General question for the forum members.

We're aware of the potential threat from ISIS, other terrorist organizations, etc. I'd be lying if I didn't admit it is scary..

Tonight, my aunt the artist was discussing her fear of both myself, and my cousin, traveling on the subway, etc, due to the threat of ISIS.

While I appreciate my aunt's concern, and I'm well aware of the threat.. I'm one who believes that people have to go on with life, and just be cautious, in spite of threats.

While the threat to buses, etc.. may not be as great, as the subway, due to the subway being underground.. I prefer taking the subway, as opposed to the bus, because the subway is faster than the bus. As I've mentioned previously, I've been on the bus only a couple of times in the over two years I'm living in NYC, and the bus just seems so... slow.

I don't want to get off the original intended topic of my thread.. though. My initial intended question is.. do forum members find themselves alternating plans due to the ISIS threat.. or do you just proceed forth with life and plans?

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[knicks255]

The whole point of terrorist activity like that is to try and make us afraid to do the things we do everyday. That's why it's called "Terror"ism. I think moving forward and continuing to do things in the face of danger is admirable, and stopping taking the subway because it might be bombed is letting their disgusting actions have an effect. The sad truth is that there's always going to be someone out there who wants to hurt others, whether it's a collective state like ISIS, a militant organization like the Lord's Resistance Army we saw all that "Kony 2012" stuff about, or just some asshole who likes to hurt people. We can't let that stop us from living our lives. I mean, we can certainly take precautions, but that's what the police and all those fancy new security measures being developed every day are for.

That said, I wouldn't go on the D line at 9:00 AM if it was like "Hey, we're going to bomb the D line at 9:00 AM today". Just try to be safe, but don't be paranoid.

 

[Myriads]

This is a question that I saw come up a lot back after 9/11 when the nation went bug fuck over terrorist threats. And my take on it now is the same as it was back then.

A terrorist threat is like the weather. It can happen, and will happen somewhere. But from my point of view as a lone individual, it's pretty random. I have a greater chance of getting mowed down by a drunk driver, falling down the stairs and breaking my neck, or getting hit by lightning. The only difference is that my death wouldn't be a premeditated act.

So I live my life as if terrorism is another random deadly thing that may come my way, and I am aware and watch out, but don't change my life in major ways as a result.

You can build a prison for yourself that has no bars. I try not to.

Myriads

 

[Crackity Jones]

Statistically speaking, Mitch, you are hundreds (if not thousands) of times more likely to be hurt or killed crossing the street or driving your car than in any terrorist attack. Changing your plans or habits because of ISIS wouldn't make any sense, other than in a 'placebo' sense.

 

[TTT for joy]

Even if the threat was bigger, than it actually is, I wouldn't change my habits , because that would mean I'd let the terrorists win in some sense, but yeah the stats most certainly point to the fact, that I am more likely die to some crazy driver while crossing the street, rather than to a terrorist threat.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't plan to alter how I live just because of ISIS, or what my aunt said. Myriads analysis is very accurate. It seems.. overly cautious.. to change one's life, just because of something that might happen.. randomly.

 

[C.A.B.]

All of the above is good advice, Mitch. But.... I'd still check under the bed before you go to sleep, just .... ..... just to make sure.


You never know.

 

[Ticklish9's]

Basically everything Myriads said sums up what I'd have said.

Cars kill tens of thousands of people a year. They basically give us a 9/11 worth of deaths per month. If you're really worried about your safety, nix the driving. Terrorism isn't even as likely as lightning.

 

[teamtickleguy]

One thing's for sure, it really does make you think.... I wouldn't abandon plans due to a terrorist threat although might make alterations surrounding the particulars or specifics of the threat - after the recent plane disasters I do think twice about flying long-haul and it's at the back of my mind, but i wouldn't make any changes to my plans except for perhaps avoiding flying with the airlines affected by the recent disasters.

I also do not travel on the London tube if I can help it, I've never liked it, but it feels just that little more claustrophobic these days - I still opt for it over the bus, but walk where possible now. The trick is not to let your mind run away with you and get all paranoid.

In my local area, we have had two brutal murders recently, killer(s) still at large and many other stabbings and violent crimes - many of our streets have also had the street lamps switched off late evening - this has definitely made me think twice about the routes I take, transport modes etc.

As others have said, I also think that I'm much more likely to be hit by a car, have a sudden heart attack or break my neck in a freak accident.

Just last week I had two very near-misses on the road, one due to sheer volume of traffic and not enough road space, the other due to Mother Nature - the morning sun combined with a wet road and a light-coloured car resulted in me not seeing the car at all until I'd joined the roundabout and almost ran into its side - lucky I was going at a slow speed because I HAD actually spotted the cyclist that the car was passing at the time and was waiting to see where the cyclist was going to go. It was bizarre, the car really did 'come from no-where'.

 

[Ticklish9's]

"One thing's for sure, it really does make you think.... I wouldn't abandon plans due to a terrorist threat although might make alterations surrounding the particulars or specifics of the threat - after the recent plane disasters I do think twice about flying long-haul and it's at the back of my mind, but i wouldn't make any changes to my plans except for perhaps avoiding flying with the airlines affected by the recent disasters. "

That seems backwards though - those airlines are the ones likely to be MOST vigilant after an incident, no?


I'm all for minimizing threats to life and limb (which is why I almost never get into a car) but there's a cost-benefit analysis to be done. I'm going to die - that's all there is to it - and I probably won't get to pick the time and place, so at some point I have to trade slightly elevated risk for capacity to achieve things. Flying is so supremely safe that that's an easy one.

 

[4Pawz]

You have to live life. Anything can happen at any time. Be aware, take available and necessary precautions, and continue on. Otherwise exactly what Myriads said will happen, you will be a prisoner in your own head.

 

[Dussicar]

I worry more about genetically modified foods more than terrorists.

You are a billion times more likely to die from something the corporation you work for, or the government you keep voting into power does on its known cogniscience to stay in power than a bunch of people who want to bomb a toilet in a bus depot.

 

[Oddjob0226]

ISIS is like this big -----> . <-------------

I ain't changing nothing.

 

[kopfhorer]

ISIS? Who the fuck are they, anyhow?