Comments | edge_walker: On 9/11.

edge_walker

On 9/11.

Sep 12, 2006 01:18

2001 US death toll † CauseToll Passenger car accidents…20,320 …or all motor vehicle related accidents42,196 Suicides30,622 Gunshots…11,671 …or all assaults20,704 Drownings3,281 Poisoning/overdoses14,078 Fallings15,019 Burns3,423
Noone is talking about them. And why would anyone?

These deaths do not make for a story. No enemies are involved ( Read more... )

writing

Comments 4

True dat. anonymous September 12 2006, 18:59:37 UTC

I have long felt that the news media gives people their warped senses of risk by hyping more dramatic events and ignoring everyday deaths. For example, many people who think nothing of driving a car while talking on the phone, drinking coffee or changing CDs are terrified of flying. Even based on passenger miles, they're a lot less likely to die in a plane crash than in an automobile accident ( ... )

Re: True dat. anonymous September 14 2006, 17:17:40 UTC

Oops - I forgot to sign my name. I really do need to get an account, as you suggested. Any ideas for a nom de plume? - Jeannette

edge_walker September 14 2006, 21:49:15 UTC

Hmm, a pity amraam ;-) is already taken :-( - by a guy who last used it more than 5 years ago, and posted just 4 entries in total. Pah. (At least that’s not quite as infuriating as the dude squatting on edgewalker…)

I have no other suggestion, I’m afraid. I don’t remember you going by any other nicks, so have no idea what sort of thing you would pick.

edge_walker September 14 2006, 22:01:21 UTC

Yeah; the apt summary goes that you’re much more likely to die in a crash while driving to the airport than while flying.

Excellent point about heroes too; thanks for the illustrations. I only get whiff of American media over here (local media ran translated American-produced 9/11 coverage; otherwise, it’s through the ’net), so I had noticed the obsession with killed soldiers, but not seen enough of it to put the pieces together that way.