5 ms·

This comment strikes me as unintentionally helpful in understanding the problem. "Gun violence" is of course factually a non-issue in America. Being scared of

This comment strikes me as unintentionally helpful in understanding the problem. "Gun violence" is of course factually a non-issue in America. Being scared of guns is like being scared of shark attacks or being struck by lightning- technically possible, but realistically such a small risk for the average person that it rounds to 0. But, if you follow certain news or get your social media algorithms tuned to show you certain content, it can seem like this big scary thing. I also can't really fathom what "repressive moral culture" someone is imagining in America today. There has never been a time of greater tolerance for diverse sexual expression, recreational drug use, religious freedoms or alternative lifestyles. In 2024 you can be a tattooed queer polyamorist pagan who goes to Burning Man for a week and then returns to your corporate finance job on Monday. But, all the "content for you" algorithms everywhere on the internet will have huge swaths of people afraid of their neighbor and society at large and believing they're under attack and marginalized.

harimau777 2y ago
I think this may depend on where in the US you live. In the South, a real consideration in interactions is "what if this person decides to shoot me" likewise behaving in a way that is perceived as immoral (read: queer) is a great way to lose your job or (if you are a minor) be thrown out of your home.
explodes 2y ago
Since guns are the leading causes of death for children in the US, I don't think gun violence is correctly considered a non-issue. Comparing it to lightning is laughable. Around 80 deaths per year, including adults and children, by lightning strikes. Versus 120 deaths by guns PER DAY, including adults and children. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/pdfs/mm7250-H.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/pdfs/mm7250-H.pdf https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html Additionally, when most of ones accessible news sources are full to the brim with polarizing topics, this leaves with limited options. I'd venture a guess that most people would like to hear what is going on in the world around them, even if the news is as negative as it is.

harimau777 2y ago

I think this may depend on where in the US you live. In the South, a real consideration in interactions is "what if this person decides to shoot me" likewise behaving in a way that is perceived as immoral (read: queer) is a great way to lose your job or (if you are a minor) be thrown out of your home.

explodes 2y ago

Since guns are the leading causes of death for children in the US, I don't think gun violence is correctly considered a non-issue. Comparing it to lightning is laughable. Around 80 deaths per year, including adults and children, by lightning strikes. Versus 120 deaths by guns PER DAY, including adults and children. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/pdfs/mm7250-H.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/pdfs/mm7250-H.pdf https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html Additionally, when most of ones accessible news sources are full to the brim with polarizing topics, this leaves with limited options. I'd venture a guess that most people would like to hear what is going on in the world around them, even if the news is as negative as it is.