# Goddamn it, I'm tired of the public traumamongering **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 16, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873 "2013-04-16T21:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/41 "2013-04-17T23:03:08Z")
> [@Slypork](#): > > I’m also sick of the way they name everything. “Bombing in Beantown” Brought to you by Taco Bell and Beano. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/42 "2013-04-18T01:01:13Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > First off, I sympathize with those who were affected by the bombings…it’s horrible, and the family that lost their son and had their daughter lose their leg must be in awful pain…and I feel for them. > > But. > > Let’s face it, this is 3 terrorist caused deaths in the past decade in the US. I’m not exactly going to go freaking out that death is looming everywhere. I’m far more likely to die on my way home from work today from a mundane traffic accident than I am to be blown up at a sporting event. > > Looking at stats (and going off the last full year of motor vehicle deaths), and taking that 25% of the US population is under 18, approximately 22 children have been killed in car accidents since the bombs went off. Are their families grieving any less? > > I’m not saying what happened in Boston isn’t terrible, and it’s simply sick that someone would intentionally maim and kill innocent people in this way, but we’re going a bit overboard. We had 3 killed and 25 injured in a 95 car pileup in Virginia just two weeks ago, and I don’t even remember hearing about it. Yes and tomorrow, 30 people will die from gun violence. And the day after that, and the day after that. And the day after that. But if we don’t catch the terrorist(s) responsible for this _Boston City Massacre_, well how can anyone go about their lives and feel safe? ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/43 "2013-04-18T01:45:38Z")
Thank you for the validation, people. Sometimes coming here is a good gauge for rightness, and I hate it when I find out I’m being an asshole way out in left field. Doesn’t happen often, but when it does I think about it long and hard and try to figure out why. Glad I don’t have to do that today! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/44 "2013-04-18T01:47:24Z")
Holy shit! Why aren’t bombs illegal? Gotta get the bombs away from everyone! Oh. Wait… ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/45 "2013-04-18T05:17:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You know what gets my eyes rolling is all the chest thumping about “this show you what kind of city this is” or “this shows you how we respond to such horror” concerning the first responders and all the hero stories about bystanders. > > You know what? Every city and every society responds the same way. I love Boston, but there is nothing special about the way Bostonians reacted to this that any other city in the world wouldn’t have. We’re all human beings, fer chrissake. Yup. But the organizers of the Boston Marathon deserve props for planning for something like this in the years following 9/11. Ezra Klein interviewed security expert Bruce Schneier: > [@](#): > > Ezra Klein: What should people be thinking about in the aftermath of an attack like this? > > Bruce Schneier: They should refuse to be terrorized. Terrorism is a crime against the mind. What happened in Boston, horrific as it is, is theater to make you scared. That’s the point. The message of terrorist attacks is you’re not safe, and the government can’t protect you — that the existing power structure can’t protect you. > > I tell people if it’s in the news, don’t worry about it. By definition, news is something that almost never happens. The brain fools you into thinking the news is what’s important. Our brains overreact to this stuff. Terrorism just pegs the fear button. … > … > EK: What should policymakers do in the aftermath of this kind of event? > > BS: Nothing. This is a singular event, and not something that should drive policy. > … > > EK: So what should we be afraid of? > > BS: Car crashes. Global warming. It feels insensitive to say it so close to the tragedy, but it’s true. What people should worry about are things so common that they’re no longer news. That’s what kills people. Terrorism is so rare, it’s hardly a risk worth spending a lot of time worrying about. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/if-you-are-scared-they-win-if-you-refuse-to-be-scared-they-lose/](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/if-you-are-scared-they-win-if-you-refuse-to-be-scared-they-lose/) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/46 "2013-04-18T13:44:04Z")
This just in… More people died or were injured, and magnitudes more property damage was done in the Fertilizer Plant explosion. And that was an accident. So far no public rending of clothing or expressions of fear and anquish. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/47 "2013-04-18T13:47:33Z")
> [@Faruiza](#): > > Holy shit! Why aren’t bombs illegal? Gotta get the bombs away from everyone! Oh. Wait… There’s a moronic thing going around Facebook that has a picture of Newtown kids being led out of the school next to a picture of Boston bombing victims. It says, “bomb goes off, bomber blamed; school shooting, guns blamed” or words to that effect. I keep pointing out that bombs are illegal and guns will stop being blamed if they’re illegal too but that’s apparently not the desired message. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/48 "2013-04-18T13:53:20Z")
Except they don’t stop getting blamed when they’re illegal. Don’t hijack this into a gun thread, please. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/49 "2013-04-18T14:06:03Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > So far no public rending of clothing or expressions of fear and anquish. Except on the local Houston news, where there’s a fair amount of it. But I get your point. It doesn’t count if it’s only local sackcloth and ashes. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/50 "2013-04-18T14:30:48Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > But goddamnitsomuch, I am sick to death of the public traumamongering. +1. Yes I have no heart. One of the sad part of tragedies like this is how many people come out of the woodwork looking for a piece of the action, a way to fit themselves into the event. This morning I watched one of the CNN guys trying for ten minutes to get an ER doc to say the Boston explosion was “just like Iraq.” Yes, yes we get that you’ve been to Iraq Mr. reporter. You’ve seen the shit. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/51 "2013-04-18T15:59:51Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > This just in… > > More people died or were injured, and magnitudes more property damage was done in the Fertilizer Plant explosion. > > And that was an accident. > > So far no public rending of clothing or expressions of fear and anquish. But the victims are being blamed for [living in Texas](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16205998&postcount=17). ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/52 "2013-04-18T18:37:20Z")
After everybody is through out-caring each other, which will be in another 2-3 days, the media will begin with the inevitable _What can we do to prevent this from ever happening again_ mode. It won’t be long before some nitwit will suggest video cameras on every street corner just to be safe. Or some equally overwrought solution, you know, to fight **TERRORISM**. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/53 "2013-04-18T21:48:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m really struggling trying _not_ to make a really tasteless joke right now. :smack: Hour after hour of coverage with looped video but no new info, only speculation. My heart bleeds into my brain which finally registers I Can’t Take This Anymore—_boredom_ (Denial.) I made a really sick joke that assures I’m going to hell. Maybe when it’s not Too Soon, a thread could be started. You first. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/54 "2013-04-20T02:43:48Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Except they don’t stop getting blamed when they’re illegal. > > Don’t hijack this into a gun thread, please. You’re right. I didn’t mean to start that. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/55 "2013-04-21T01:06:18Z")
Heartily endorse. I HATE tragedy porn. I’m as shocked and empathetic as the next guy when something terrible happens, but days later, you should not be publicly rending your garments about it when you were not remotely involved. Yes, yes, we all express grief differently. And some people are emotional cutters and need to STFU. See also: the anniversary of 9/11. GAH. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/56 "2013-04-21T03:42:28Z")
A lot of what I’ve been seeing (and being annoyed by) doesn’t even fit into the “that’s what terrorists want, for us to scared!” thing. Unless the terrorists also want people to seek attention on Facebook because their cousin’s father-in-law ran the Chicago Marathon two years ago, and they once transferred planes at Logan on their way from St. Louis to London, and THAT COULD HAVE BEEN US, MAN! I have never seen more tenuous connections to Boston and marathons in my life. It’s the impulse to insert themselves into the sad events that I can’t figure out. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/57 "2013-04-21T05:05:36Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > It’s the impulse to insert themselves into the sad events that I can’t figure out. A chance to be relevant? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/58 "2013-04-21T05:12:43Z")
It makes me think how incredibly easy and strife-free our lives are in the modern western world that shit that would be an undetectable blip on the strife radar to almost every other society in history becomes this huge deal to us. The majority of human societies throughout human history if subjected to a day as bad as of 9/11 or the boston thing - where that was the worst thing that happened that day - would regard that day as the best fucking day ever. It makes me wonder if our society would completely collapse if we actually faced real strife and tragedy, if shit like this which is fucking peanuts on the grand scale of things can so shake our national psyche, would real hardship just break us instantly? Then I think that perhaps we react this way in a recreational way. Many people in our society seem to take to victimhood as a part of some sort of club, and want to be a bigger victim than everyone else. It was like there was a fucking race after 9/11 for people from Nebraska who never knew anyone living within 1000 miles of New York were trying to scream the loudest about HOW 9/11 CHANGED EVERYTHING!!! and other such nonsense. Recreational trauma. Very weird. So we’re either the biggest bunch of pussies that history has ever seen, or we are neurotic people with so few real problems that we actually try to work ourselves up into a traumatized state recreationally. Either way, for fucks sake people, grow the fuck up. Shit happens. The Boston thing was probably the 400th worst thing that happened in the world that day, let alone year or decade. ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/59 "2013-04-21T10:49:00Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > When I read that Carlos lost \*two \*sons (one to the Iraq war, the other to suicide), I cried all night, then built a shrine to his cowboy hat in my linen closet. By which I mean, I really wish I could hug the guy and buy him a drink. He seems like a pretty fucking awesome dude. > > Thanks for linking those stories. Warm fuzzies! Carlos and his wife Melida _are_ awesome people. I know them from doing peace work up at Crawford during the Bush regime. A kind, compassionate and gentle soul. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873/60 "2013-04-21T21:35:13Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > So we’re either the biggest bunch of pussies that history has ever seen, or we are neurotic people with so few real problems that we actually try to work ourselves up into a traumatized state recreationally. A third possibility is that we are civilized, reasonable and compassionate. I don’t think I want to live in a society that accepts mayhem and death as part of the daily grind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-it-im-tired-of-the-public-traumamongering/655873.md?page=4)