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Leaving aside the politics of whether we should care for the less-fortunate, I think this is only a problem of perspective and not of reality. In practice, ther
by lsy 6y ago
Leaving aside the politics of whether we should care for the less-fortunate, I think this is only a problem of perspective and not of reality. In practice, there is safety in numbers, so cities with more people walking, out and about, tend to be safer (and feel safer for residents). When everyone retreats to a car, the street becomes a place that you shield yourself from, and disengage from, thus making the street feel less safe, and encouraging more people to use cars. Encouraging walkability and transit improves the sense of safety on streets, but it takes the willpower to do it in the face of what is essentially a panic response.
- asdff 6y agoSafety in numbers doesn't apply today anymore. When someone goes batshit crazy on my train saying something racist or rapey, everyone else in the crowded car goes silent and tries not to make eye contact with the crazy person. We live in a world where anyone might be carrying a gun, drugs in their veins, or a bloodborne disease, so no one is intervening for anything unless it's their kin on the line. The street can be a scary place if you are one to be stalked by these sort of people. I've known several people who have been stalked to and from public transport and their house in this city. It's dangerous if you are a woman and walking alone, legitimately.
- lettergram 6y agoIdk where you live, but often places where carrying a gun is normal is far less like that. Women often carry weapons when possible (you probably just don’t know). You’re far less concerned about being stalked when you have protection. Personally, I’m far more willing to intervene or suggest someone to stop something when I am carrying a weapon. You can protect yourself so you’re willing to say “hey man, let’s not scream on the bus”
- ACow_Adonis 6y agook, idk where you live either, but I think we've got the reverse correlation in the world: those places in the world where people are likely to be caring guns are far less likely to have successful public transport systems, and the few they do have tend to be disproportionately used by the poor and destitute. the other obvious problem would be, presumably, that if it's genuine 'crazyness' that you're concerned with, as opposed to anti-social behaviour or drugs that tend to accompany the lack of social capital and safety nets in the US, then a gun wouldn't actually be a disincentive. on the other hand, I'm surprised how people don't vote road rage or idiots behind the wheel as arguments against car driving. For a tragically relevant example of genuine crazy behind the wheel: see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2017_Melbourne_car_attack https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2017_Melbourne_car_a... obviously then you've also got the downside of living in the area with guns. see gun death, murder, and car death/injury stats in US vs elsewhere, for example. disclaimer: I live in the green areas mentioned in article, don't own a car.
- wrs 6y agoYou’re going to pull your concealed weapon on somebody while you’re on a crowded bus? Now I have two things to worry about...
- anonfornoreason 6y agoI am the opposite. If I am carrying a weapon I am more likely to stay quiet - it's a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Intervention has a way of escalating, so I avoid anything close to stirring the pot when I am armed. Obviously I would (not with a weapon) step up in certain situations, but someone yelling shit on the bus? Definitely not going to engage that person, it's best to ignore and let it go. You might enjoy this book: https://www.amazon.com/When-Violence-Answer-Learning-Takes/dp/0316354643 https://www.amazon.com/When-Violence-Answer-Learning-Takes/d... "Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it's the only answer". Kinda ups your bar about what you will let slide vs address. Finally, shooting/stabbing/etc someone even if 100% justified has a way of wrecking your life. Your employer or coworkers find out about it? Have fun at work. Your family finds out about it? Have fun at family gatherings. Etc etc.
- lettergram 6y agoProbably a bad example about the bus, no I’d probably stay silent (and do). But if I saw something highly dangerous I would be more willing to step in. I’m sure everyone reading my comment in their head is imagining something different. I was imagining some one being assaulted, and wouldn’t have drawn a weapon - just spoke up. Frankly, I don’t think pulling a gun in a crowded place would almost ever be a good idea. Unless there was already an active shooter and even then, retreat if possible.
- munificent 6y ago> In practice, there is safety in numbers That is only true when the perpetrator is a rational actor. No sane person would start a fight with a group of, say, ten people. But a lot of the people causing problems in public spaces today are not in their right minds.