Dire Warnings
 

Hi All -

I have enjoyed this forum for a few months now, both lurking and posting. I have also had some questions very helpfully answered for me. Here's what I am curious about. It seems that many posts contain the most dire warnings about seemingly small or unpreventable threats i.e. West Nile, hurricanes, hepatitis while clamming, bears, blizzards, etc. I realize that life has its hazards, however I would think that a travel site would have less doom and gloom and more adventurous people on it. Am I weird or do others feel this way? Really just curious. I hope I don't offend anyone.

shaz60 you're not alone in thinking alot of these "warnings" are over the top.

Unfortunately people who tend to be alarmists also want others to join them and affirm that their panic is justified.

Hurricane Warnings are issued by the National Weather Center.

West Nile Warnings are issued by CDC.

Bear Warnings are issued by the particular park.

Just a thought, but are some posters a tad understimulated? They may groove on these "emergencies." No harm done, whatever makes them happy.

I think we all feel better when we talk about something what's bothering us right this moment. It has nothing to do with danger or alarm, it's like: I put this in writing, now it doesn't bother me any more.

The easiest way to handle this is not to read beyond the topic :)

The West Nile Virus warnings are the craziest. We were told today that CA now has the most fatatilities from WNV - 4! Why is the news media so hooked on this while so many people order up their big macs. Now heart disease is something to worry about!

Since I have posted about a Hurricane warning, I can answer this one!

If one were to be thinking of coming to Florida this week, one might stop and think, do I want to travel where they have not one but two hurricanes headed their way?
And those who are here, might like to discuss it.
Dire, not really, Topical, I think so.

"seemingly small or unpreventable threats i.e. West Nile, hurricanes, hepatitis while clamming, bears, blizzards, etc. I realize that life has its hazards, ...."
Yes, and one of those hazards might be an unsuspecting tourist planning a trip without knowing some of the risks involved in a certain place,time of year, etc.
I doubt you are any more weird than the rest of us :)

Truth be told, it was the question about clamming that put me over the top. I have eaten clams all my life. I have lived near the shore all my life. I have never thought that I should be thinking about Hepatitis. If the poster was anyone other than a local, what would they think? How about the woman who wanted to get married in VT? I'm sure she knows that it snows there. The drinking FA, the person from England who is now worried about West Nile in AZ of all places. Perhaps we should all get in bed and put the covers over our heads.

My thinking was that people who like to travel and like to talk about travel, would be people who don't mind taking a few risks and being inconvenienced once in a while.

I did not read the clamming thread but most people seem to know about the dangers of shellfish etc. But perhaps it is good for those who are unaware, those who have not lived near the water.
I know what you mean about the drinking pilots etc .. but it is still Travelers Talking, so I think best thing is to ignore what is silly to you and hunt out the good stuff :)

Scarlett -

I agree totally with topical (or tropical) warnings. I have suffered through hurricanes both at home and in Bermuda and NO. I'm referring to the people who post warnings when the trip is in June of 2005. Plus you never know, I'm pretty weird.

LOL, shaz, weird is Good! Welcome to the Club ((F)) Keep reading, you will feel So at home!
Scarlett

Alarmists? I'd rather think I'm armed with wisdom from experience.;;) When Mother nature growls, I back away respectfully. I lived here long enough to know she's much stronger than we are.
I'd like to think I'm a bit adventurous, but when it comes to my kids relying on me to make a wise decision on their behalf, I'm as boring as they come.
What tends to get on my nerves are the extreme laissez-faire attitudes some people have when in situations that are tempestuous. The "ahhhhh, nutin's gonna happen!" "Why get all worked up about it?" "What are ya gonna do about it?" "Everything's gonna be fine" attitudes. Those are the ones you see walking around in a thunderstorm.8-|
I betcha some of those types that came through hurricane Andrew feel a bit differently now.

Dire warnings? Pah! They're nothing to get your underwear all bunched up about. It's just folks on the internet forum. Remember the post about how all the trees in the mid-Atlantic states had been stripped of their leaves by locusts? Sure, some of them are silly or alarmist but many people are silly or alarmist. By far the majority of posts here ar einformative and entertaining without any high anxiety. Try not to focus on the negative posts and you'll feel better although you may miss something that could help you stay out of a jam.

I am the person from England who asked about West Nile in Arizona. (Not, 'of all places' - AZ happens to have the highest number of cases in the US - even though that's not many!). I don't think the replies I had were alarmist. I asked - they answered. I'm armed with more info that I started with. Nothing - not mosquitos, nor bears, nor snakes, nor earthquakes (all possible hazards) will put me off this trip. But it's all new and what's wrong with asking questions? Most times the answers will put your mind at rest. A pity a lot of would-be visitors to SW England, a couple of years ago, didn't ask questions - then they might've continued with their plans, instead of cancelling because they were afraid of catching foot and mouth disease .... (hoof and mouth you call it?).
Ask the natives and they will set you straight. And am very grateful for that too. Would a trepid explorer go climbing Everest without getting the weather forecast first????? :)

Dear Wildblueyonder -

I am very happy that you had your questions answered and were reassured. Why AZ has the most cases of West Nile instead of the many other hot, humid, wet states is beyond me. Perhaps better reporting? However you asked the quesion. My quibble is with the routine questions that somehow require people to list all the possible things that could happen to you. Not everything should be wonderful, but if we ask about a particular place, do we really need to know that there is plenty of stuff to kill us there? I also agree that I should skip over this stuff if I don't like it. I simply thought that these topics would be more prevalent on a general message board.

PS Wildblue-
Have a great trip!

It does seem odd that AZ has the most cases, I agree - that's why I was surprised and asked about it. Oh, I think we sometimes become over-anxious about our trip plans. That's partly because we maybe spent a lot of money and a lot of time planning - and want it to be perfect. Of course, it can't ever be perfect, but we still try to make it that way!! I guess if it's only ourselves we have to look out for, then we wouldn't worry so much - but if it's our family, then we feel kind of responsible. Thanks shaz - will try to ensure a great trip! All fears and silly anxieties will dissipate as soon as I'm on that plane. And then the real fears will start! LOL!

LOL Wildblue. I agree that if it is just my DH and I, I really don't care. Involve any of my children and I am much more concerned. That being said, DO NOT come to my house if you have any type of dust allergies.

To those who think the "drinking F/A" and the "drunk pilots" are trivial and silly matters- I'd say, you'd only think that until that factor became an issue in an accident causing death or injuries to someone-and then of course, you'd be singing quite a different tune. Don't confuse unlawful actions of persons with critical responsibilities with acts of nature-they are in no way comparable!

I think many of us can tell the difference between worthwhile warnings and what I previously referred to as "alarmist" warnings.

Warning people about things like Cicadas defoliating trees in the Northeast when it's not even happening is not just alarmist, it's innacurate and silly.