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Do Americans feel safe in their country anymore?

I’m genuinely curious.

Zaphod42 · 46-50, M

I've never not felt safe. The only reason things seem so much more dangerous now than they did 30 years ago is that everyone has a camera now and things that would never have gotten reported back then are blown way out of proportion now. For that reason I've stopped watching the news, and life is all groovy ;-)

Recluse · 46-50, M

@Zaphod42 it's so true. Awesome rebuttal, the shit that you see on tv has always happened. You just never heard of it so quick or live lol.

Tminus6453 · M

lol...of course i do... you need to quit watching the over sensationalized news

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Mamapolo2016 · F

@Tminus6453 It's a propaganda campaign. I really don't know what's driving it - but I'm persuaded that's what it is.

SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M

@Mamapolo2016 It pleases me that more and more people are seeing this everyday.....

Mamapolo2016 · F

@SumKindaMunster A combination of propaganda and Schadenfreude.

hunkalove · 61-69, M

I think Americans are afraid of everything. That's why they have so many guns and a fascist in the White House.

Mamapolo2016 · F

Here is a graph showing how violent crime has DECREASED since the 1990's.

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CopperCicada · M

@Mamapolo2016 The question was an affective one. Do you "feel safe". There is more to that than violent crime statistics.

An example...

A few years back we got a death threat. The police were scheduled to come out and take a statement. They apologized for being late.

Why were they late? They had spent the whole morning taking reports of threats. Students on students. Students on staff. Staff on staff.

Are people being mowed down, beaten up, maimed? No.

But such shenanigans impact the affective sense of safety.

Mamapolo2016 · F

@CopperCicada It just seemed to me (I should have known better) that offering some facts might change the perception. However, if a child is convinced there's a monster in the closet, showing them there isn't has no effect.

CopperCicada · M

@Mamapolo2016 I don't think I'm disagreeing with you.

I said I don't particularly worry about violent crime. And that's despite having experienced it. Why? Precisely because of what you show above.

I did say I have concern about being harmed by people in my circle. Some in my circle do give me pause for concern. And that is just prudence and caution. I don't think that's "seeing a monster in a closet".

If a violent drunk doesn't give me pause for concern-- I'm not taking personal responsibility. Same for a spouse abuser. Guy who is just reckless with guns or tools. And so on.

SW-User

Well of course we do. I wouldn't wanna live anywhere else.

monte3 · 70-79, M

Absolutely. I am privileged enough to live an area with a low crime rate. That is the key.
Also as an old white guy I am confused why so many other o.d white guys see. So afraid.

Ynotisay · M

@monte3 Fear is a powerful tool. Some people really connect to it and are more open to being told they should be afraid. I kind of feel sorry for them.

Mamapolo2016 · F

I feel safe. I've traveled most of this country alone, had car trouble, was helped by strangers. I've been lost in places considered dangerous and while I felt uneasy sometimes, had only one briefly scary moment but it wasn't even a close call.

If I was in any country on earth I would try to exercise common sense, but no more here than anywhere else - indeed I feel safer here than I would many places.

We are being duped by 24/7 news outlets - when it bleeds, it leads, who do their best to scare us to death. It's nonsense.

Ynotisay · M

I live in a huge city and have only felt unsafe, or at least more aware, in high-crime areas. No worries.

BlueRain · F

Safer than in others

smileylovesgaming · 31-35, F

I feel safe

Insomniac100

Yeah. Unless if I go into the Deep South like Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, or any of those weird ass states, I’ll be fine I think.

CopperCicada · M

@Insomniac100 why do you say that?

SW-User

@Insomniac100 wtf is weird about the South

CopperCicada · M

I guess it depends on what you call "safe".

Don't worry about crime much. Don't worry about war or a tyrannical government.

I worry that somebody in my circle will harm me.

SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M

Yes. The only time I worry about being physically harmed is while driving. There are some crazed dangerous lunatics on the road.

Recluse · 46-50, M

@SumKindaMunster absolutely agree. And now that driving is the last thing people are doing when they are. IE cell phones, makeup, eating
Its become more of a survival task.