General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Boston firefighters dig through ashes to find fallen comrade's wedding ring [View all]cyberswede
(26,117 posts)every fire they fight is potentially deadly - I don't see the same sustained level of risk for auto mechanics (to use your example).
Every fire is dangerous; every firefighter is performing a public service when they fight a fire, and risking his or her life in the process.
An accidental death in an occupation that is not predicated on risking one's life for every task performed just isn't the same. That said, all workplace deaths are tragic, and safety should definitely be improved.
I don't agree that there's a lesser degree of mourning for the auto mechanic's death - it's just not as public, and doesn't extend to "strangers" who have the same occupation the way it does for firefighters and police. I think this is partly due to the daily risk undertaken by firefighters, for example, which creates a sense of camaraderie and "brotherhood" between others in that profession. I suspect auto mechanics don't have that same sense of fraternity or community with other auto mechanics.
So, firefighters make a big deal when one of their own dies in the line of duty. That doesn't take anything away from others who die while on the job for other occupations. Your original reply in this thread seemed to suggest that you think it does, so that's why you're getting the reactions that you're getting.