Are you scared of planes now?

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:37 PM

Oh, because you're a racist and an anti-Semite? OK.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:35 PM

Self-evident LR surely?

Murray

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:33 PM

Murray: Uh, why?

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:32 PM

No. In fact, if I had to die in either a plane crash or a car crash, I'd go for the plane.

In a car, I'd probably end up on the road in some undignified position, with people gawking and taking photos to send to rotten.com. Plus, I'd be more likely to survive for a while, which would suck.

But on a plane, I'd probably die quickly, and my family couldn't do an open-casket thing against my wishes. And with a high-profile death like that, people would send lots money to my survivors.

Of course, dying either way would be awful.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:26 PM

I work a stone's throw from Miami International Airport, and I have always really enjoyed seeing the big 747's landing and taking off, sometimes so low overhead it seemed like you could almost touch them.

It was like a ghost town last week while the flight embargo was in effect, and it is so good to see things (almost) back to normal.

As a enthusiastic amateur of statistics, I have no problem with flying. Apart from the fact that I actively enjoy the experience, statistics does show that flying is unquestionably the safest mode of transport. I have no qualms either about my two sons coming out here, always assuming BA haven't gone bankrupt before then.

However if my luck does run out and I am ever on an aircraft which has been hijacked for a suicide mission, you better believe my last cellphone message before we crash will be to the FBI and the posthumous text will read "We've been hijacked by Islamic fundamentalists, THEY'RE DRUNK OUT OF THEIR SKULLS AND THEY'RE RAPING ALL THE WOMEN"

Murray

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: JedMarum
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:16 PM

I'm flying tomorrow (Dallas to Boston). Never was scaredof flying, and still am not - but have made sure all the wills, insurance, docs etc are in order for the kids ... just in case.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: kendall
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 04:23 PM

Midchuck, I also prefer trains to planes. The hell of it is, they dont go to England.

I have never been a comfortable flyer, and this has not increased my desire to fly. However, I will not let my reptilian brain keep me from that trip to the UK next month. Two of the airlines have sent me messages to tell me about security. There will be armed Sky Marshals aboard, and, I doubt that anyone can get a knife past the security now. My reason says go. I'll go.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Troll
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 04:12 PM

I'm not afraid of flying but I really prefer to have my pocket knife in my pocket than not.

troll

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 04:08 PM

I'm not scared of planes as such - I'm terrified of crashing to my death.However, it's apparently quicker than going into hospital for 'tests' and some other methods....... My 2 cents

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 04:01 PM

From Downtown NY, No. Like the buzz bombs, in the hours after the attack, when I heard a plane go overhead (airforce jets, as it turned out) and there where rumors that there was still highjacked airplanes out there, in New York I saw no panic, only concern that others may be in danger. For the most part, I saw a lot of sad, concerned, brave folks. Larry

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Amos
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 03:20 PM

I don't think this trauma was caused by airplanes, exactly!

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Jenny the T
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:19 PM

Afraid to fly? Nah.

I don't enjoy riding on the airlines, though--didn't before, and won't now. I much prefer Flying is only really pleasurable for me if I'm in the cockpit, driving.

I do think the recent tragedy highlighted the folly of relying primarily on one form of long-distance transportation. With the airlines shut down, the Postal Service was in a frenzy, trying to figure out how to move the mail. Business travellers were stranded. Even baby chicks (usually shipped, one day old, via air to the growers) died by the thousands, stranded in airport warehouses.

We need a viable rail system in this country. Not as a replacement for the airlines (though I'd sure love to travel by train), but as a companion to them. Putting all your transportation eggs in one basket is no recipe for success.

JtT

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:03 PM

I'm not afraid of planes, I'm afraid of landings, and have been for years. Now, I don't think I'd be afraid to fly, I just can't imagine it would be worth the trouble for anything under about a thousand miles... I had been planning on flying into Boston for my reunion next Spring, and I'm already thinking I'll drive instead, even though the last time took me days, and then the boys were still in diapers and I didn't have to stop for them to pee... I hear on NPR that the trade show industry is taking a huge hit as vendors, exhibitors and participants alike are staying home in droves... wonder if they'll ask us to take a train to New Orleans for our next one? I've got a song about that, at least!

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:52 PM

I will fly with no fear at all. The only difference - If I am involved in a hijacking I will assume the worst. In the past, I just figured it was a way to earn frequent flyer miles. I had a friend on one of those hijacked planes that flew all over Europe in the 70s. She put in for the extra miles but I don't know if she ever got them. It is somewhat comforting to hear and see planes taking off and landing at La Guardia. Another "normal" thing.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:43 PM

I always was scared of planes. Nevertheless, I do take them when there's a good reason to. I don't see that changing.

- LH

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:42 PM

No.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:41 PM

For quite a few years, I worked a job that required me flying a lot......Like 4-5 flights every week. I enjoyed flying and the only thing that bothered me then (and now) was the deteriorating condition of the planes themselves. The FAA has had a long term problem in promoting aviation and not safety.

If I had the same job today, I'd still fly. Right now especially, things are probably safer than in the past 30 years. But I tell ya' what.......I will never look at a plane again without seeing that second plane crashing into the WTC.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:20 PM

I love trains. I don't know about the high speed ones, though.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Midchuck
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:16 PM

We could have had a really efficient high-speed passenger train system by now, with electronic interlocks to keep from getting two trains on the same track or go around a curve too fast...you'd still have a few wrecks, but I bet you could make it a good deal safer than either cars or planes. And it couldn't be either stolen or hijacked. And no more airport parking.

But I guess everyone thought trains were old fashioned.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 12:07 PM

Bill D, I'm afraid of cars, too. Pretty pathetic, isn't it? However, I have a good reason to be afraid of cars. I've been in five car accidents. I don't enjoy that sudden impact feeling at all.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 12:06 PM

The safest form of transport...

Ya... but if a car crashes, they ask, "Was anybody hurt?"

If a plan crashes, they ask, "Was anybody identifiable??"

---George Carlin--

I have always prefered flying after a few pints and a couple of whiskies... I'd much rather drive, if at all possible...

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:58 AM

Sure, I'd get on a plane. I've been on a plane many times before and I really have no qualm about getting on a plane again. The last time I flew was just after the awful ValuJet crash, and while I was on the trip, the TWA flight went down! So I have flown with the full knowledge that disaster could happen. I figure if it comes my time to leave this Earth there ain't gonna be no way for me to avoid it nohow.

That being said, however, unless we're talking overseas travel, I prefer to drive. I like being able to stop whenever I want, wherever I want, look at the scenery, take pictures, eat something besides Diet Coke and peanuts, etc. Plus nowadays I don't think they're going to let me on an aircraft with my knitting.

I talked to a guy last night who had flown into Nashville from Colorado Springs yesterday. He said they didn't open his guitar case. Go figure.

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:57 AM

automobiles run into each other in traffic every day....are you 'freaked' when you you drive? There is not enough time in the world to live in constant fear of everything dangerous. If you have taken all the reasonable precautions YOU can take, don't dwell on it.

There ARE people who choose to live in seclusion away from everything....but they don't have doctors nearby in case of emergencies. You either control your mind, or it controls you.....

not very soothing am I? sorry...I don't know what else to say

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:53 AM

No, I am not scared of planes, they are still the safest form of transport,

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: GUEST,Penny S. at work
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:52 AM

Last weekend, after a gap of a few days, the Heathrow planes started overflying South London again, on a slightly different line, and seemingly rather lower than before. And everyone in the street I was in (not many) was looking up rather surreptiously, and then commenting shamefacedly about doing so.

Penny

Subject: RE: Are you scared of planes now?
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:51 AM

I was afraid of planes before. Now I simply feel vindicated. (Confirmed airplaneophobe)

Subject: Are you scared of planes now?
From: GUEST,prefer to be anonymous (that's allowed?)
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:38 AM

I'm not too scared to travel, and would be happy to jump in a plane today (as long as it was going somewhere nice)

However, living near an airport (Manchester, UK) I find myself completely freaked as I watch the planes flying over my house, coming in to land.

It's not that I think they'll hit me, but it just reminds me of last week too much.

Interested to know what others here think.

Anon.