People tend to fear the wrong things.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:33 am

Reading about sharks.

Not really sure why; I just like sharks. They are fascinating. They are a very old form of life; sharks swam alongside plesiosaurs.

People are terrified of sharks, and when a shark attack does occur, there is always a feeding frenzy...a media feeding frenzy, as the reporters fall all over each other trying to get their story to their editor.

Anyway, woke up feeling a bit green around the gills, and while surfing around waiting for my stomach to settle, I read this article, saw this fact, and had to share.

Sharks bite fewer people each year than New Yorkers do, according to health department records.

By the way, if you're from New York, no offense intended. Please don't bite me.

--James

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:31 am

First coconuts, now this.

As a side note, on a vacation we went snorkeling and found out we missed the hammer head mating season by a week or two. My wife and I were both kind of sad by that news.

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:46 am

It's easy to feel more trepidation about the idea of sharks...or anything lurking obscurely in water when all you really want is to be merrily at play.

Heck, I like the idea of grizzly bears too, but I do not like the idea of encountering one at the next bend in the trail.

As for New Yorkers, well, in general you can see 'em coming and steer clear of the ones which look sketchy to you.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:39 am

Personally, I think if more people would swim like this:

the number of shark attacks would dwindle even further.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:47 am

peeplj wrote:I read this article, saw this fact, and had to share.

Sharks bite fewer people each year than New Yorkers do, according to health department records.
By the way, if you're from New York, no offense intended. Please don't bite me.

Which causes the greater harm? The shark bite or the New Yorker bite?

rh · Post by rh » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:21 am

sbfluter · Post by **sbfluter** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:33 am

Swimming in those high-heeled shoes scares me.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:47 am

second line of defense

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:48 am

oh, yeah....sharks!

More people are killed each year by pigs than by sharks.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:50 am

ah, one more thing....

Brave man, unafraid of sharks....

is in Arkansas

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:55 am

being barefoot and stepping on a slug. that's something real to fear.

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:59 am

Some folks can remember when the movie "Jaws" came out. It shows the power of Hollywood movies. Humans sometimes are easily persuaded by slick production values, harping on primitive fears.

Certain subjects get slammed and have a similar irrational effect. Sometimes they result in what seem to some as irrational political decisions that do real damage instead of just being afraid of going into the ocean. No, I don't want to turn this into a rubber room discussion, but the power of a well made movie can be far reaching.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:58 am

rh wrote:which is more scary?

The red X.

djm · Post by **djm** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:39 am

Mmmmud Sh - sh - sha-a-a-ark!!!

djm

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:46 am

Chiff and Fipple Forums

People tend to fear the wrong things.

People tend to fear the wrong things.

Re: People tend to fear the wrong things.