This swine flu reminds me of our neighborhood watch meeting a few days ago

[TwixVoy]

had about 60 people from our neighborhood present. Plus one police officer.

I only showed up because I found it interesting I had a note stuck to my door telling me our neighborhood wasn't safe and everyone needed to come to an urgent neighborhood watch meeting.

The person who called the meeting (and was the primary speaker) kept telling all of us that we needed to go to extreme measures to protect our selves because of a rise in crime in our neighborhood. She suggested everyone install expensive alarm systems (including ones with "cellular backup" in case the robber cuts power to your house... right....), that we buy a gun, that we call the cops on anyone walking around outside that we don't recognize. She also suggested we all go from house to house and warn everyone who didn't show up to the meeting (estimated about 300 people) that they were at risk of major crime.

She was convinced our neighborhood wasn't safe because, in her words, a "strange black man was in my back yard with out my knowledge". (when pressed on the details it turned out to be the guy from the energy company)

Every now and then the police officer would try to get a word in and say "Honestly, we have 3 police officers in your neighborhood. Your neighborhood is actually very safe. In the past year the most serious crimes committed here range from some graffiti from some kids and petty theft".

But 90% of the people at the meeting wouldn't hear it. They were convinced the person who called this meeting and was telling them they were in imminent danger was correct. Some even got angry with the police officer because they weren't patrolling the neighborhood more often.

The police officer eventually got tired of it and left half way through the meeting. I left when the 90% got together to start forming a plan of action to save the neighborhood from the supposed major rise in crime.

Some people just don't want to hear that things aren't as bad as they are being told I suppose. It is very interesting the way the mob panic mentality takes hold.

[MUAD_DIB]

1. Some people need fear in order to function.

It gives them a sense of purpose and an "Us vs them" attitude.

[KT2000]

2. Let me guess -

these idiot neighbors are going to end up shooting each other or their kids.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

3. Doubtful. Accidental gun deaths are pretty rare.

[bottomtheweaver]

4. Somehow there's always a profit to be made in a panic.

Usually by GOP contributing weapons manufacturers.

[Hannah Bell]

6. think talking up disaster & shorting stocks. wasn't that kramer's mo, sending folks out

(e.g. to chatboards) to hype his rumors when he wanted to short something?

another reason i don't like some of "concern"-mongering here.

[bottomtheweaver]

10. That too.

We already know Rummy's getting rich off Tamiflu, and if we ever get back to torture, which is doubtful, it will be yesterday's news and why go through that again? But I was thinking of those pricey "cellular backup" systems which I have to wonder if that lady had some connection to.

[FedUpWithIt All]

5. You do realize DU has a search option, right?

You never get concerned or worried, right? Never talk about being screwed? Never had to defend your right to post something that was concerning to you? Never talked about shit hitting the fan? Never made assumptions based on trends and historical fact?


You are correct, it is very interesting the way the mob panic mentality takes hold.

[lpbk2713]

7. I think I'll just go watch a movie.

:eyes:

[Missy Vixen]

8. We used to have the "cellular backup" burglar alarm at our house

We now have the standard version. It typically gets used when my husband's out of town.

Here's the thing. There's a fine line between fearmongering and encouraging people to try to take care of themselves. We live in an earthquake zone, for instance. The last one (2001) caused a shocking amount of damage. We had a windstorm in 2006 (?)that knocked out power to most of Western Washington; we were without for a week. Despite the fact that people have been through this before, have they made preparation? No.

I'm not advocating building an underground bunker or panic buying the local grocery store. What I wish people would do is the following: I wish they'd wash their hands when they use a public restroom. I wish they would stop going to work when they are sick or their kids are sick. I wish they would stop coughing or sneezing without covering their mouths and noses. If they can afford it, it might be nice to lay in some canned goods, powdered milk, the appropriate cold and flu remedies.

We have a pantry. There's a few things I'll be getting at the store over the next couple of days. I know we'll be fine for at least a week here with what we already have, if not two. In the meantime, though, it would be nice if others would think about this stuff before they are panicked, determine what they need to do, and quietly do it.

IMHO.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. The cops should come down hard on that neighborhood.

I know they have better things to do with their time, but it would be nice if they could for just one week pull over everyone who pulls out of their driveway for every petty thing until they call another meeting to apologize for being stupid.