NationStates Jolt Archive

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?
I live and study in the East of Germany in Cottbus. The only thing worthwhile blowing up here is the university library :D.
Berlin has people pay attention to unattended luggage in the subway instead of the smoking ban, but that's about all that I've heard from. I feel rather safe where I am.

I feel safe. I live beyond city limits in a paid for house with an excellent security system. I’ll be fine.

There were 2 bomb threats on my school and one loyalist killing right outside the school gates and i still feel pretty safe. The odds of anything happening to me personally are very slim so I dont think about them all that much. Personally I also disagree with your thoughts that trouble in northern ireland will get out of hand again but thats just my personal opinion

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?

Major population centers have and will always be targets, but the odds are still very low of being killed in a terrorist attack. Saftey is largely a public mindset rather than a reality; how safe you are relies a lot more on people not having a reason to attack you rather than your ability to defend yourself.

The perception of danger is far more important that the reality in terrorism. Fear and anger lead to mistakes, which is precisely what a terrorist is hoping to provoke.

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?
I feel alot safer than I would if I knew as much as the government knew...

I could sit in a rocking chair on your porch with a shotgun and stare at the random passerby if that would make you feel better.
It keeps the salesmen away.

I don't feel safe at all, i live in London and i use public transport because i don't like my dad driving me around like a little kid. i have noticed a sense of conciousness coming from other passengers, people are always looking out for abandoned packages and you do see people looking at each other's bags and luggage. it's become terrible.

I live in Connecticut and commute every workday to New York City. My office is across the street from Grand Central Station, and we are soon moving into the Chrysler Building.

That said, I feel mostly safe.
I fear another great blackout or the trains breaking down much more than a terrorist attack at this point. There's little I can do about it, and I refuse to change my life to accomodate the terrorist agenda.

Terrorists are only terrorists if they can terrorise. I say fuck them! They're not gonna terrorise me, and I'm going to keep feeling safe.

Then again I don't live in a place likely to be targeted, so that helps, too.

I feel perfectly safe. I live in Dublin at the moment; Ireland being a small country and more or less out of the way of the big players in world politics, I don't feel threatened in that respect.

I don't think that the troubles in Belfast will escalate. The place has seen worse, "the worst since 2002" is not really that bad when you compare it to the 70s.

I live in London and I feel safe. Its not like we have carbombs in rural areas killing children on a regular basis

I could sit in a rocking chair on your porch with a shotgun and stare at the random passerby if that would make you feel better.
It keeps the salesmen away.


"Second Hand Lions"- a great film!

"Second Hand Lions"- a great film!

I just watched that a couple of weeks ago! Great film :)

I live in Connecticut and commute every workday to New York City. My office is across the street from Grand Central Station, and we are soon moving into the Chrysler Building.

That said, I feel mostly safe.
I fear another great blackout or the trains breaking down much more than a terrorist attack at this point. There's little I can do about it, and I refuse to change my life to accomodate the terrorist agenda.

Do yourself a favor. Carry a small flashlight or two in your briefcase.

I just watched that a couple of weeks ago! Great film :)

One of the few family movies I could watch with my kids-and my parents-and be entertained and not embarrassed. Michael Caine was even good, Robert Duvall is one of my favorites.

I feel safe. I'm already in a town rated as one of the safest in the country.My home is secure. There are no real significant targets close by. We dont use any mass transit, no reason to go to NYC for us. And I'm reasonably well prepared for most emergencies. I keep an eye on hurricanes more than anything.

Do yourself a favor. Carry a small flashlight or two in your briefcase.

Thanks, already do. :)

Along with a bandana, leatherman tool, and poncho. I had to stop carrying the duct tape, I kept getting questioned by security guards checked my bag in my building...

I just thought about it a few days ago as politicians talked about security around the World Youth Day and the WorldCup next year.
The WYD will be here in Cologne, attract 800k+ visitors and the pope. I work in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral and live next to the stadium where three games of the Cup will be held. I drive the tram to work each day, change trams at the most important traffic knot for public transport and step out at central station for work.
Guess what, i aint afraid. Because there is nothing i can do about it should someone decide not to pass up these opportunities. And i will never give in to terrorists and let fear rule my life.

Yeah. Reasonably safe. Nothing worth losing sleep over, at any rate.

At least that's what the voices in my head tell me.

I just thought about it a few days ago as politicians talked about security around the World Youth Day and the WorldCup next year.
The WYD will be here in Cologne, attract 800k+ visitors and the pope. I work in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral and live next to the stadium where three games of the Cup will be held. I drive the tram to work each day, change trams at the most important traffic knot for public transport and step out at central station for work.
Guess what, i aint afraid. Because there is nothing i can do about it should someone decide not to pass up these opportunities. And i will never give in to terrorists and let fear rule my life.
Now that you mention the world cup, I saw a terrorist video where they made a soccer ball bomb... I hope they don't manage to do anything next year.

I'm in the US. We have Homeland Security and The Patriot Act. How much safer can we get?

Thanks, already do. :)

Along with a bandana, leatherman tool, and poncho. I had to stop carrying the duct tape, I kept getting questioned by security guards checked my bag in my building...


Good- you're prepared. One pain though- I have the Leatherman Micra on my key chain-any place with security insists on holding on to it for me.

Yep, I feel safe. There no real point in feeling unsafe, as on the whole there is not really much you can do about it, plus it leaves you open to manipulation by those that will use fear to control you.

There were 2 bomb threats on my school and one loyalist killing right outside the school gates and i still feel pretty safe. The odds of anything happening to me personally are very slim so I dont think about them all that much. Personally I also disagree with your thoughts that trouble in northern ireland will get out of hand again but thats just my personal opinion

Its not my thoughts. I was listening to BBC Five live and the local reporter (who was just hit on the head by a brick in Catholic area of Belfast, during a Protestant march) was saying that usually if things start to get out of hand, Gerry Adams and co try to calm things down, and people listen. But the younger people in Belfast carry on and don't listen, which,says the reporter, is a worring trend.

Safe from what -terrorist activity? Then pretty safe. I live in a medium sized city in a country that is not No1 on the list of terror activity. But I also felt safe when I lived in first Manchester then London and the IRA decided to make some noise.

After all, the chances to be a victim in a terrorist attack in Europe are so minute compared to other risks (car accident ...) that it's not worth losing sleep over it. Unfortunately this doesn't help those poor people who got caught on the wrong side of statistics.

I feel perfectly safe. But then again I have that naive feeling of invincibility that comes with being a teenager. But the question wasn't whether I think my feelings are justified, so, yes.

Its very interesting that only a handfull of you said that you don't feel safe. Altogh I said that I am not so sure if I feel safe, i think on the whole that I do. I was on a train on Sunday, and I though about 15 mins into the journey,"oh I'm on a train" but then thought nothing more about it. But as I said, the controlled explosions in Luton brought home the fact that it could happen anywhere. But I say NO I will NOT be scared. That IS what the maniacs want. (talk about thinking as I am typing!!)

I'm in the US. We have Homeland Security and The Patriot Act. How much safer can we get?

ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

oh man... that was great.

At least ... I'm hoping that was sarcasm...

Between terrorists, random acts of nature, killer viruses from China and the fact that just about everything gives you cancer, I'm surprised I'm not dead already.

I feel safe, or at least I do for the moment. I live in one of the least considered big nations in the world. When it comes to the time to plan a terrorist attack or a war, the aggressors will think of the USA, Canada, Australia, Western Europe, Russia, China, Japan etc. but who will think of Brazil? Come on, footballers and bikinis, that is what we are famous for. Hardly a military or imperialistic threat to anyone.

What might change this is if we get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but even then I doubt it.

Its not my thoughts. I was listening to BBC Five live and the local reporter (who was just hit on the head by a brick in Catholic area of Belfast, during a Protestant march) was saying that usually if things start to get out of hand, Gerry Adams and co try to calm things down, and people listen. But the younger people in Belfast carry on and don't listen, which,says the reporter, is a worring trend.

I think the main worry is due to rumours of a loyalist feud and Gerry Adams would have no power in that situation anyway.

I feel quite safe. Odds are that I won't be a victim of a terrorist attack, and if I am, life (at least for everyone else) goes on. It's not the end of the world.

I'm not afraid of criminals because I'm not a typical victim and if a criminal does come after me I'm armed and know how to take care of myself.

There's really not all that much to worry about.

I feel very safe in Hong Kong!

Except the last time I nearly got run over by a very fast car...or the other time when I got pushed onto the train platform...and the deadly SARS virus all around me some years back...not to mention some phony terrorist threats...

Apart from that, I feel pretty safe! :p

N.B.: Some of the incidents mentioned are jokes.

I feel safe, or at least I do for the moment. I live in one of the least considered big nations in the world. When it comes to the time to plan a terrorist attack or a war, the aggressors will think of the USA, Canada, Australia, Western Europe, Russia, China, Japan etc. but who will think of Brazil? Come on, footballers and bikinis, that is what we are famous for. Hardly a military or imperialistic threat to anyone.

What might change this is if we get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but even then I doubt it.
Except maybe to the Argentines :D

Except maybe to the Argentines :D

Only in football (and other less important matters like the economy :p ), and they can eat our shorts at the moment.

Only in football (and other less important matters like the economy :p ), and they can eat our shorts at the moment.
Ach, come on. Whenever Argentina or Brazil buys a couple fighter planes or tanks, the other responds.

The only thing worth blowing up around here is nothing. Add that to the fact that the last major crime, a resturant burglary where no one was hurt, was over a year ago, I feel safe from terrorists and criminals. But not from bad drivers. They swarm to here, and yet no one ever gets in crashes. It's amazing.

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?

Im not afraid of terrorist attacks but I do not feel 100% safe. I live in a high crime area where breakins, shootings, and kidnapping is a common everyday occurance. So in that sense, no I do not feel safe.

I feel very safe, nothing to complain about
(even though right-wing politicians are constantly trying to convince me of the opposite).
Ah, what a blessing Swiss neutrality is
;)

I'm in the US. We have Homeland Security and The Patriot Act. How much safer can we get?

Wow any terrorist actually been caught using the Ermächtigungsgesetz opps sorry meant Patriot Act (not like you Yanks would think about using one of Hitlers fine laws ;) ) rather then laws and procedures that existed before the The Patriot Act.

Ach, come on. Whenever Argentina or Brazil buys a couple fighter planes or tanks, the other responds.

The only time that Argentina and Brazil were at war, they were on the same side (against Paraguay). It does not work quirte the way you are implying. Yes we hate each other, but the victories and losses are to be symbolic, not real. We actually depend on each other to a great extent, and as such political pragmatism removes any direct conflict. Just don't mention the copa de Libertadores to the Argentines at the moment.

The only time that Argentina and Brazil were at war, they were on the same side (against Paraguay). It does not work quirte the way you are implying. Yes we hate each other, but the victories and losses are to be symbolic, not real. We actually depend on each other to a great extent, and as such political pragmatism removes any direct conflict. Just don't mention the copa de Libertadores to the Argentines at the moment.
Direct conflict, yes, its more of a regional balance of power as I've been told. Pity the Argentines are so nit-picky about it though. That rubs off on the SC reform and hinders Germany from getting a permanent seat...

Aye, I feel pretty safe. My neck of the woods hasn't been important politically or militarily since the 500s, and we haven't been threatened in any way since WW2. ^_^

With my 1911 in the nightstand and my 870 and SMLE in the closet, I sleep well.

I feel pretty damn safe. I think statistically there may be a better chance that I'm going to get kicked to death by a donkey than die in a terrorist attack. :rolleyes:

If you feel incredibly unsafe, then you've assisted the terrorists in reaching their objective-- to terrorize you.

The only thing worth blowing up around here is nothing. Add that to the fact that the last major crime, a resturant burglary where no one was hurt, was over a year ago, I feel safe from terrorists and criminals. But not from bad drivers. They swarm to here, and yet no one ever gets in crashes. It's amazing.

That reminds me of a story I heard in Gibraltar. One of the party asked a hotel manager about crime in Gibraltar and he said something like "ah yes there was a murder about five years ago". And the biggest crime is alcohol smuggling, aparently. Now THAT is safe!!

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?
Yes, I feel safe. the fact that your officers are checking everything now, (including that abandoned (?) car) means they are doing their job and trying hard to make you safe.

I know that they cannot be 100% in catching every terrorist or bomb, but the fact that they are out there doing their job is enough for me.

Yes.. Safe. Though I live in a muslim nation.

I'm more worried getting knocked down by a car or a stupid motorcycle than being blown up while taking the train or bus.

I feel pretty safe when I'm in Hamilton, On. The city has this nice feeling to it, you see the elderly and young couples alike out walking late at night, people are friendly and generally it doesn't feel like anything bad will happen.

When I go home to Brampton, I don't feel so safe. Lots of bad shit happens there.

In terms of terrorist activity, I don't really feel threatened by it at all. No one would attack Brampton, it's a useless city, and if anyone were to attack Hamilton, it would probably either be the downtown area or perhaps the industrial area... but even then, I don't think it's likely to get attacked by terrorists any time soon.

I live in Rockville, MD, like 20 min out of DC. I feel safe even when walking through Capital Heights or SouthWest in the dead of night. I have faith in God, and my own abilities, and fear doesn't do anything for you, so I'm cool.

One such instance: Me and a friend of mine were comming home on the metro, and she lives in a not-so-nice area, nothing too bad, it's still technically the suburbs, but there is sometimes some gangs violence, the like. It was very late and we were walking down a dark resedential street. There were some shady people about, and my friend was scared, a bit. We passed a group of obviously drunk people, with one of them screaming, "I'm 21! You wish you were 20!" The people around here were all sporting gang colors. My friend started walking faster, but, I turned around and yelled "whooo! congradulations!" the group shouted back happy shouts, and we were all one big happy celebrating group untill we were out of earshot.
Instead of respending with fear, I responded positively, and the "big bad" gangsters did the same.

Also, I haven't the least fear of terrorist attack. I'm not sure why, I just don't worry about it.

I live in London and I feel perfectly safe. I wouldn't feel safe if I lived in Iraq or Afghanistan where my troops are supposed to have brought freedom. Until the middle of the last century any nation was in danger of foreign attack, then came MAD which threatened to obliterate us all. It's all relative.

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?

I guess I feel safe, not invincible but safe...

Honestly, I don't think little old Adelaide's going to have too much trouble, and I don't even live in Adelaide so I'm probably not in much danger from terrorist attacks... of course just being safe from terrorist attacks doesn't make me altogether safe, but that's what you were asking about so, yeah, there's my answer :D

The moment you start thinking 'Am I Safe?" is the moment you start thinking "No I'm Not".

Just live. If death happens, you won't be alive to worry.

I reside in Australia's Canada, that country hasn't attracted terrorist attention.

I live about six blocks east of Yonge Street along the Toronto waterfront. I feel about as safe as I used to back in the cold war.

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?
"Safety" is an illusion. Nothing alive is ever truly safe. In most of Western society we have lived in a relative period of calm; few earthquakes, volcanoes, violent climatic changes, few wars, etc. The reality is that every single one of us lives one heartbeat away from oblivion ( or eternity, take your pick ). The best we can do is enjoy each moment to the best of our ability, choose to be happy, and be as kind as possible to other living things in acknowledgement of our common weakness.

amen

If something catastrophic happens involving you, chances are that you'll die before realizing anything is wrong. If things happen, things will happen. Worrying over a nuclear bomb is certainly not productive.

If something catastrophic happens involving you, chances are that you'll die before realizing anything is wrong. If things happen, things will happen. Worrying over a nuclear bomb is certainly not productive.
but it's so fun! :(

http://www.ready.gov/nuclear_visual.html
^^funny/scary in it's own way^^

http://www.terrorready.net/index.asp
^^funny^^

I feel safe because I'm pretty sure noone is going to bomb El Segundo when they can bomb LAX which is right next door (not to my house but to the city)

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

Well, considering that none of us will get out of this alive - not really.

I feel totally safe, even though I live in the most likely place to be invovled in a terrorist incedent in Canada, Vancouver (at least according to the local news). The main reason is we only did a half-assed job in the war on terror, which IMO is doing more to piss off the terrorist than anything else. So if there are going to be more terror attacks, it will likely happen in a country that is playing a major role in the war on terror, like the US or the UK. Which is a bear more likely to attrack, a kid who tripped between it and its cubs (Canada) or the person that is poking its cub with a stick (the US & UK)?

Which is a bear more likely to attrack, a kid who tripped between it and its cubs (Canada) or the person that is poking its cub with a stick (the US & UK)?

Uh... the bear would... uh...

Who's the bear supposed to be again?

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

The reason for this post, is that yesterday a car was found near to Luton railway station in England (about 1 mile form where I am sitting now!!) that Police though may be linked to the Lonson bombings. Also on the radio there was reports of attacks on Muslims in Leeds, and the posibility that the troubles in Northen Ireland could get out of hand, as not even Sinn Fein can stop them.

I can remember being very worried about Nuclear bombs falling on my head in the 80's, but after the Cold War ended, I felt safe. Now I am not so sure. What do you think?

The only time I've ever felt threatened was on 9/11 when a low flying plane went over my house. I have never felt more abused by the media.

Nonetheless if the news stopped asking me to be worried and "Can we ever feel safe again?" And saying "The London bombings...how does it affect you?" I doubt I would feel any insecurity. The fact is, like death in general, terrorism is unpredictable, I can't say "I won't go on a plane cause it'll be hi-jacked just like you can't get in a car and say you won't crash. The fact is, it's not worth fearing because terrorism isn't ever going to be defeated because it always existed. Just because some American made up a word for it and now it's thrown around like salt on yesterdays meat doesn't mean I should have to be thinking about it every two seconds.

Uh... the bear would... uh...

Who's the bear supposed to be again?
The bear would be the terrorists. Although the kid with the stick probably has a gun (being American), and would win.

No, I don't feel safe, but it's more to do with chavs than terrorists. (Though their goals of terror are strikingly similar.)

Something as random as a terrorist attack can't be avoided and any amount of preparation can't predict the possible forms an attack could take. It's like worrying about pianos falling from tall buildings. With a relatively random event like that, you just have to let go and decide that you're number's up when it's up and save your worrying for things that you can control.

I live in israel. radical settelers with muslim terrorists are against the countrey. my friend is in the army, there is more than 500 killed in road accidents per year, and iran is close to nukes.
it is obvious that I feel safe.

How many people have been killed by terrorists in the Europe within the last years? Some hundred? And you know how many people have died in car accidents in Germany in 2003 alone? more that 6000! (http://www.baua.de/info/statistik/unfall.htm )
That is how afraid I am of terrorists.

I feel safe, simply because i live in an affluent area of Cambridgeshire (as if there was any other kind of area)...its far too boring here for anyone to want to blow anything up.

Anyone feel that governments are bing a little bit silly with the whole "be scared there might be bombs" thing? No single person I have talked to has said theyre "scared" or even feel Unsafe, and neither do they want much more of Blair's mad legislation especailly rushing through anti-terror laws which will do practically nothing.

With everything that is going on in the world, (London Bombings etc) do you feel safe either in your local area or globally?

To be frank, I thought that the reactions of people in the US after the terrorist attack on 9/11 were a little strange (which is relevant because their reaction is similar to yours in that they began to question if they were really safe). First, being killed in a terrorist attack is very unikely even in a heavily populated area of political significance. Second, there are so many possible ways that we could die very soon that it would futile to try to secure yourself against all of them. Third, I grew up in a place where I had a fairly short life expectancy, so the idea of my dying or being injured isn't exactly all that provocative to me, and this probably skews my perspective a bit.

So no, I never feel safe, but I don't worry myself excessively over it. If I die, so be it. If I don't, that's cool too.