3 ms·

Since when is being risk-aware the same thing as being afraid? Pilots for example are quite aware of most of the risks in flying and follow an insane amount of

Since when is being risk-aware the same thing as being afraid? Pilots for example are quite aware of most of the risks in flying and follow an insane amount of procedure to mitigate them. But you won’t see them quivering day in and day out because of the massive amount of fear; on contrary, they are some of the best performers under pressure you will find. The notion of being afraid scarcely ever even enters their minds.

parineum 5y ago
The people who are quivering are the ones who have an inflated sense of the risk and never get on the plane. Taking procedures against the dangers of flying is a symptom of (rational) fear. If the risks of flying were overestimated, you might see something like half olane capacity to carry parachutes for all individuals on board and emergency escape hatches to allow in flight egress. Surely less people would die if they did that and that would be "better". Your example of pilots is a great example of my point. Pilots are likely much more informed about the actual dangers of flying and the safety precautions involved. Imagine if they overestimated the danger by 2x, 10x or 100x. Being a pilot would be much more stressful and I bet plenty would find a new job.
- ironmagma 5y ago
  > parachutes for all individuals on board Those have definitely been considered, but a plane crash happens so quickly and uncontrolled that an emergency skydiving lesson is not going to make things safer for you. You’ll almost certainly be safer in the brace position inside a metal tube that’s at least partly designed to be able to keep you safe in such a situation. I would not be so quick to assume that pilots don’t overestimate risks. You probably want them to, so they’re careful when it comes to walkarounds and inspections. It would be interesting to see a comparison of pilots’ estimated risks for all the parts of a plane breaking versus those from the actuaries, engineers, and maintenance techs.

parineum 5y ago

The people who are quivering are the ones who have an inflated sense of the risk and never get on the plane. Taking procedures against the dangers of flying is a symptom of (rational) fear. If the risks of flying were overestimated, you might see something like half olane capacity to carry parachutes for all individuals on board and emergency escape hatches to allow in flight egress. Surely less people would die if they did that and that would be "better". Your example of pilots is a great example of my point. Pilots are likely much more informed about the actual dangers of flying and the safety precautions involved. Imagine if they overestimated the danger by 2x, 10x or 100x. Being a pilot would be much more stressful and I bet plenty would find a new job.

ironmagma 5y ago
> parachutes for all individuals on board Those have definitely been considered, but a plane crash happens so quickly and uncontrolled that an emergency skydiving lesson is not going to make things safer for you. You’ll almost certainly be safer in the brace position inside a metal tube that’s at least partly designed to be able to keep you safe in such a situation. I would not be so quick to assume that pilots don’t overestimate risks. You probably want them to, so they’re careful when it comes to walkarounds and inspections. It would be interesting to see a comparison of pilots’ estimated risks for all the parts of a plane breaking versus those from the actuaries, engineers, and maintenance techs.