(no subject)
jythie posted an article today and I just had to share it.
Bruce Schneier, a writer for Wired, that writes a series of commentaries about Security Matters. Today's offering speaks volumes about what's going on with people, the news and horrible events.
Virginia Tech Lesson: Rare Risks Breed Irrational Responses
And now for a most excellent quote from the article
I tell people that if it's in the news, don't worry about it. The very definition of "news" is "something that hardly ever happens." It's when something isn't in the news, when it's so common that it's no longer news -- car crashes, domestic violence -- that you should start worrying.
I absolutely agree with him. People in general have difficulties looking at risk in the long run. There is nothing wrong with this on a day to day basis, but when fear comes into the equation it is a big problem. Fears of exceedingly rare events make us do stupid things to prevent it from happening when there is no need to do anything.
Our greatest recent overreaction to a rare event was our response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I remember then-Attorney General John Ashcroft giving a speech in Minnesota -- where I live -- in 2003, and claiming that the fact there were no new terrorist attacks since 9/11 was proof that his policies were working. I thought: "There were no terrorist attacks in the two years preceding 9/11, and you didn't have any policies. What does that prove?"
Bolding is mine to emphasize his point. The policies have done nothing but make life inconvenient for us all. They don't prove we are safer.
Please discuss!
NOTE: I created a syndicated feed of his articles so I won't miss out
securitymatters
Bruce Schneier, a writer for Wired, that writes a series of commentaries about Security Matters. Today's offering speaks volumes about what's going on with people, the news and horrible events.
Virginia Tech Lesson: Rare Risks Breed Irrational Responses
And now for a most excellent quote from the article
I tell people that if it's in the news, don't worry about it. The very definition of "news" is "something that hardly ever happens." It's when something isn't in the news, when it's so common that it's no longer news -- car crashes, domestic violence -- that you should start worrying.
I absolutely agree with him. People in general have difficulties looking at risk in the long run. There is nothing wrong with this on a day to day basis, but when fear comes into the equation it is a big problem. Fears of exceedingly rare events make us do stupid things to prevent it from happening when there is no need to do anything.
Our greatest recent overreaction to a rare event was our response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I remember then-Attorney General John Ashcroft giving a speech in Minnesota -- where I live -- in 2003, and claiming that the fact there were no new terrorist attacks since 9/11 was proof that his policies were working. I thought: "There were no terrorist attacks in the two years preceding 9/11, and you didn't have any policies. What does that prove?"
Bolding is mine to emphasize his point. The policies have done nothing but make life inconvenient for us all. They don't prove we are safer.
Please discuss!
NOTE: I created a syndicated feed of his articles so I won't miss out
securitymatters