Boston Marathon Bombing

[Hyena Dandy]

No, no, I'm just... This is just one of the very upsetting things for me. Every time there's a tragedy, I have to put up with being surrounded by people listing every other bad thing and saying "Why aren't you upset about this? And this? You're trying to be respectful on 9/11? But what about the holocaust and Hiroshima and Nagasaki?"

Why does there have to be this thing every time people are mourning that's "Oh, well, THIS WAS WORSE, so you can't be upset."

That whole attitude is very triggering for me, and combine that with the fact that (unlike Pearl Harbor Day and 9/11) I wasn't able to anticipate it, and the fact that I had a very stressful day, I'm just kind of blowing up about it.

[Seifer]

NO! IT'S NOT!

THAT'S WHY I'M NOT UPSET! THAT'S WHY I DON'T FUCKING CARE THAT I SPENT TIME SUPPRESSING A MAJOR PANIC ATTACK AND TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE!

I can't be bothered by things that happen around me, because I am, as we all know, only capable of being bothered by ONE THING AT A TIME, and NO MORE, so being upset is just showing how out of touch I am.

When did anyone in this topic say it wasn't okay for people to feel panic or fear about what happened? When did anyone say that a person can "only care about one thing at a time?" No one here is personally attacking you for feeling the way you did and still do.

The entire point of the debate here is whether some people in America (NOT EVERYONE) are so out of touch with the world and unsympathetic to the plight of others that they consider American tragedies as somehow more devastating than others around the world. According to the OP, some news sources are calling what happened in Boston a "global tragedy." While we can all agree that it was a tragedy, I don't think everyone here would consider it a global one. Therin lays the entire point of this debate.

[Gravekeeper]

The other alarming problem is how fast it turned into "Find a brown person to blame". It took all of like 5 hours for some asshole Fox News contributer to literally call for death to all Muslims. On Twitter no less. Never mind the NY Post immediately insisting there's some secret Saudi suspect in custody.

Now the super right wingers are already claiming this is a government false flag operation to blame them so they can take their guns and round them up into FEMA camps or some other crazy bullshit.

[Hyena Dandy]

Of course they consider them more devastating. That's a natural effect of human nature. We're tribalistic. Things that happen to the tribe always feel more devastating than things that happen outside of the tribe. I don't see this as a particularly American or First World problem.

And while I haven't seen the casualty list, I think 'global tragedy' might have been an accurate description due to the international nature of the event. People come from around the world for the Marathon, after all. It's not just a local event.

[Jaden]

If I may hopefully try and add some clarity without overstating the obvious...

I understand what Hyena_Dandy is upset about. The Boston Marathon bombing happened, and the first topic posted about it here is something to the effect of "Yeah, this sucked, but what about all of the other things happening in the world? Why is America so short-sighted?" Or it could be read that way, at least.

There is some validity to this point, I certainly admit. However, it's only human to be more shell-shocked by something that happens close to home than by something that happens far away. Is it a shame that that's the case? Maybe, but on the other hand it might be the only thing keeping those of us who tend towards empathy from becoming bawling shells of human beings who spend our lives huddled in a corner in the fetal position.

Objectively, all tragedies deserve the same weight - or rather, the worse tragedy should obviously be given greater acknowledgment. But realistically, it's the things that happen close to us that are going to affect us the most.

I am certainly not saying that we shouldn't care about these other things. We should. We should extend our thoughts and prayers and efforts to victims of everything, if we can. I'm merely saying that I think that the issue of Americans being more shaken and affected by tragedies that happen in America is being over-philosophized. Anybody, anywhere, would be more affected by something that happens close to them than by something happening far away.

[Gravekeeper]

And while I haven't seen the casualty list, I think 'global tragedy' might have been an accurate description due to the international nature of the event. People come from around the world for the Marathon, after all. It's not just a local event.

All things pragmatically considered, the actual death toll is low and there is no real information on the nationalities of the injured so far. Global tragedy is definitely a bit on the overdramatic side.

[Hyena Dandy]

A bit dramatic, yes. But not entirely unjustifiable.

[Seifer]

Of course they consider them more devastating. That's a natural effect of human nature. We're tribalistic. Things that happen to the tribe always feel more devastating than things that happen outside of the tribe. I don't see this as a particularly American or First World problem.

And while I haven't seen the casualty list, I think 'global tragedy' might have been an accurate description due to the international nature of the event. People come from around the world for the Marathon, after all. It's not just a local event.

Like I said, I can understand someone reacting strongly to something that happened in their backyard. The attitude I'm referring to is one I've sadly seen a lot lately, and that attitude is "Fuck em, they don't matter."

These are those hardcore "patriots" who lack the ability to empathize with anyone outside of their little bubble. These are the same people who would rather leave an illegal immigrant to die on the side of the road than let them "drain our healthcare system" by going to a hospital. These are the people who literally have this sense of "the only thing that matters is what happens to me and mine."

Is that an extreme case of ego-centric behavior? Yes. Is such behavior strictly found among Americans? No. Some other First World countries have the same problem with empathizing with the plight of others, but America is at the forefront of most people's lists for "most ego-centric countries." I hate that label, but I can see where it's coming from by merely glancing at my Facebook feed.

The best way to go about things is to reach a happy medium - care about what happens both inside and outside of one's personal bubble.

[Gravekeeper]

Anybody, anywhere, would be more affected by something that happens close to them than by something happening far away.

True. The problem is more...how do I put it? I guess attention span might be the right term. If something happens on American soil it will be in in the news cycle for months and months. Whereas the tragedies of other nations, especially ones that America is directly involved in, are barely a blip in the nation's consciousness.

The Iraq War is a solid example. The level of civilian casualties and treatment of POWs should rightfully sicken the stomach of any given person. But the American news cycle and thus national consciousness essentially grew tired/bored of it once Bush landed on an aircraft carrier.

[Gravekeeper]

A bit dramatic, yes. But not entirely unjustifiable.

Normally, I would agree, but the US media's tendency to over sensationalize the ever living shit out of everything for ratings makes me kinda grimace at the term.

[Hyena Dandy]

Normally, I would agree, but the US media's tendency to over sensationalize the ever living shit out of everything for ratings makes me kinda grimace at the term.

So it might not be wrong, but Americans said it, so it's bad.

It's not acceptable to think Americans are inherently better than everyone else, but it's totally fine to think Americans are worse than everyone else.

[Gravekeeper]

So it might not be wrong, but Americans said it, so it's bad.

It's not acceptable to think Americans are inherently better than everyone else, but it's totally fine to think Americans are worse than everyone else.

I said "US Media". Stop looking for something to be angry about.

[Andara Bledin]

Other countries aren't so lucky, and lose citizens daily due to violence.

Um, we lose citizens here every day to violence. Nearly 50 people are murdered every day in the US.

Considering I live in the ghetto, I'm rather more inclined to care about those people than I am those at the marathon or those in those other countries you're holding up as more worthy that I, honestly, don't have the resources to really care about.

Normally, I would agree, but the US media's tendency to over sensationalize the ever living shit out of everything for ratings makes me kinda grimace at the term.

So... You're saying that the US media shouldn't focus on events that the people they're serving care most about, then?

[Gravekeeper]

So... You're saying that the US media shouldn't focus on events that the people they're serving care most about, then?

No, I obviously didn't say that either. Are you both done putting words in my mouth yet?

[Andara Bledin]

No, I obviously didn't say that either. Are you both done putting words in my mouth yet?

Last I checked, that was a question - you know, an invitation to either agree or to explain how it's not correct.

And obviously it's not as obvious as you think it is.