So I’ve never been to NYC. My sister lives in Hoboken, NJ and has invited me for the weekend. We’ve been planning on spending it in NYC, for the most part. Eating out, seeing a show, hitting Times Square, seeing the Statue of Liberty. All that stuff.
My co-worker just called and told me about the new warning from the FBI to NYC regarding possible terrorist attacks at major landmarks.
I’m not a big worrier about stuff. I take so much in stride but now I’m sort of going through these brief moments of “Are you kidding me? What the fuck am I supposed to do - not go?”
I’m still going - I don’t want to cancel my plans. I won’t lie - I’ll be a little nervous flying in, going to landmarks - but I’m not going to not go because of it.
How about you - how worried, if at all, would you be?
I’d look around at subway stations to see if anyone may have bulky things strapped to their bodies, but would not be worried otherwise. Life goes on. Don’t know how the warnings will change tour schedules or site openings. You’ll have to play it by ear, I suppose.
You’re in more danger every day of being in a car accident, having a brain aneurysm, and so on, than you are of being killed in a terrorist attck, recent events notwithstanding. (No, I don’t have a cite, but life is a risk. Period. Get used to it.)
Oooookay, pretty much acknowledged that life is a risk and I’m pretty used to that. I’m not changing my plans - I am simply curious about how this affects the daily life of dopers and if they would worry.
I’ll worry a little but still go. Wheeee!! NYC and Kathleen Turner nekkid.
So if someone offered you a trip to NYC and to the statue of liberty this weekend - would you go?
As one of the board’s resident New Yorkers, I would say don’t be worried. Those of us who live here continue to go about our daily lives with few changes.
Yes, they gave the warning, but it really doesn’t change anything. New York is a very big city, and the chance that anything will happen at all, much less where you are, is minimal. Silly as it is to say, if you let the terrorists terrorize, it’ll mean the terrorists have won.
I actually have never been to the Statue of Liberty, but I wouldn’t hesitate on going. Actually, I’d say that you should probably go to Ellis Island (same ferry tour) instead of the Statue, because I find it to be an incredibly moving place, particularly for those of us whose families have immigrated within the past few generations. In any event, I recommend that you go to either or both of them as early as possible, on the first ferry if you can.
Also, this weekend is Fleet Week, so you’ll see lots of sailors in town, and security may be even tighter.
If you have any questions about NYC tourist stuff, or anything else about the City, drop me an e-mail. If you’re interested in getting together with NYC dopers, some of us may be available, too.
The gov’t is gonna periodically come out with these warnings in order to cover their ass. If they fail to warn of a threat - however unlikely - & it comes to pass, they’re screwed.
I live on Long Island & go into Manhattan every month or two & have never been concerned about being the victim of a terror attack. I stayed away in September, October, & November of 2001, but that was more due to shock than a real feeling of threat.
IOW, if I were you, I wouldn’t worry too much about being a terrorism victim while in NYC. I would, however, pay attention to “walk/don’t walk” signs - people drive like maniacs, especially cabbies.
And definitely go to Greenwich Village - it’s a trip.
[shameless plug] If you’re in the East Village at night, go to Korova Milk Bar {Ave. A btw. 12th & 13th Sts.}, where my friend tends bar & the alcoholic ice cream drinks are to-die-for! [/shameless plug]
I’m 2 blocks from the stock exchange, and 4 blocks from what used to be the WTC. After watching the Towers crumble from my office window, I couldn¡¦t believe this happened. Many months later I still cant believe it happened. It just all seems so unreal to me, I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, and because it¡¦s unreal I’m not worried. You have to live your live, and can’t be fearful of what could remotely happen. There¡¦s nothing I can do, so I’m not going to worry. Enjoy your weekend in NYC, we need people to visit more now then ever.
I second Billdo’s endorsement of Ellis Island over the Statue of Liberty, especially since the statue itself is still closed to the public.
So all’s you can do on Liberty Island is get a close-up look at the thing, which you can do on the ferry to Ellis, anyway.
Ignore the walk signs – just follow the locals. Korova is indeed a fine bar. But you ain’t gonna find any sailors there. If you do find yourself somewhere where the sailors are, buy them a round-- we’re an expensive town, and these guys don’t get paid much, and we owe them more than we can ever imagine.
Fun trick – officers above a certain rank aren’t supposed to drink with enlisted people (I forget exactly how it works). So buy a big group a round of shots and see how well the ranking officer does the “fake drink/discreet dump” move.
One other thing I thought about. Since NY was already hit I don’t expect them to be hit again then again the terrorists may think that people think the same way I do so they will hit it again. In which case they won’t hit it because I will think that they will hit it. Confused??? I know I am
I would go ahead with your plans. Besides the odds of you being killed ina terrorist attack are very low, I’d bet on a mugger or a car jacker if I was a betting man. Which I am. Wanna make a bet on which happens?
Ditto on the Statue being closed. But there is soooo much to do in NYC, and you’re lucking out weather-wise this weekend. I won’t even list things, as your sister already has an itinerary planned, I assume.
By the way, Sis is lucky to be living in Hoboken—very nice little town, and so convenient commuting-wise.
I’m sure you can find some street vendor selling kevlar if you feel really worried.
And besides you should come and see New York while it’s still here.
Who me? Worried?
As far as seeing a show you should be warned that Caberet now stars JOHN STAMOS as the MC.
Those people keep their jobs by claiming danger and issuing false alerts. Every time people stop their frantic whispering about terrorists, a new alert is issued and nothing ever happens. The gov’t likes to keep people afraid, that way they can pass any power-grabbing laws they want with the people’s full cooperation.
If something happens, it will. But there’s no sense living your life like a scared sheep.
Gosh, I’m really sorry I offended your sensibilities.
Please show me which of the terrorist threats alerts issued since September have actually materialized into either a) an attack, b) an attempted attack, or c) indictments in conjunction with an imminent attack.
If the answer is “none” then I’ll go with my original remark.
If he can’t disprove your asinine assertion then you think it must be true by default? I know this isn’t GD, but people shouldn’t let stuff like that slide.
[/shameless plug]