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alee_grrlI posted this as a note on my Facebook page in response to some of the comments I read regarding today's earthquake. Some of the reactions really bugged me. It is more of a plea for thoughtfulness than a rant, but I still felt this icon was appropriate.
I know West Coasters are familiar with earthquakes and don't blink at anything less than a 6.0. I would just like to remind people that new experiences, especially in the disaster range are startling and scary events. The areas affected today were not areas where earthquakes are common. Buildings are not built with this sort of disaster in mind. People are not drilled in what to do in case of an earthquake. This also happened near the capital, where first thoughts of shaking buildings are bombs and terrorist threats.
When you've been through the same sort of disaster but at a greater magnitude it can be easy to make light of the "lesser" disaster, but that doesn't mean that the "lesser" disaster is any less terrifying for those who are going through it. I've been through several types of disasters and lived in all kinds of different disaster zones. Unexpected phenomenon, be it natural or man-made, is a scary and sometimes traumatizing experience. Have a little sympathy for your fellow humans and don't knock them for having a perfectly natural reaction to an unexpected and unusual situation. Now is the time to help people prepare and understand what to do in these sorts of situations. That sort of guidance should be done with understanding and sympathy, not derision and patronization.
I know West Coasters are familiar with earthquakes and don't blink at anything less than a 6.0. I would just like to remind people that new experiences, especially in the disaster range are startling and scary events. The areas affected today were not areas where earthquakes are common. Buildings are not built with this sort of disaster in mind. People are not drilled in what to do in case of an earthquake. This also happened near the capital, where first thoughts of shaking buildings are bombs and terrorist threats.
When you've been through the same sort of disaster but at a greater magnitude it can be easy to make light of the "lesser" disaster, but that doesn't mean that the "lesser" disaster is any less terrifying for those who are going through it. I've been through several types of disasters and lived in all kinds of different disaster zones. Unexpected phenomenon, be it natural or man-made, is a scary and sometimes traumatizing experience. Have a little sympathy for your fellow humans and don't knock them for having a perfectly natural reaction to an unexpected and unusual situation. Now is the time to help people prepare and understand what to do in these sorts of situations. That sort of guidance should be done with understanding and sympathy, not derision and patronization.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 08:16 pm (UTC)To be honest, I have to admit that I laughed a bit a the reactions to the quake back there, until I remembered about the lack of quake-safe building standards. Then the laughter died pretty damn quick.
I'm glad to hear that you're all right and that all is well. Here's hoping they'll have the good sense to go in and retrofit some earthquake safety measures in all of the old buildings back there. They may not have quakes but once every century or so, but that doesn't mean they can't lose a lot of people due to a building collapse in the next quake, either.
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 09:09 pm (UTC)