On the one hand, I get this, what’s unexpected is more interesting and newsworthy, but at the same time I do see how it creates problems. Airplane travel is much safer than cars, but people feel unsafe in planes. Part of it is because you aren’t personally in control, sure, but a lot of it is definitely the availability hueristic*. Especially following things like the September 11th attacks and Malaysian Airlines planes going missing.
But a major issue with it is that it leads to us viewing things like car accidents (and heart disease and cancer) as inevitable and a mere fact of life we can’t do anything about. Meanwhile whenever there is an airplane crash it’s very thoroughly investigated and will likely lead to changes in regulations.
On the one hand, I get this, what’s unexpected is more interesting and newsworthy, but at the same time I do see how it creates problems. Airplane travel is much safer than cars, but people feel unsafe in planes. Part of it is because you aren’t personally in control, sure, but a lot of it is definitely the availability hueristic*. Especially following things like the September 11th attacks and Malaysian Airlines planes going missing.
But a major issue with it is that it leads to us viewing things like car accidents (and heart disease and cancer) as inevitable and a mere fact of life we can’t do anything about. Meanwhile whenever there is an airplane crash it’s very thoroughly investigated and will likely lead to changes in regulations.
*: I may be getting the name wrong.