Are we going too far?

[Yvonne Belisle]

In an effort to keep ourselves safe from germ warfare have we become too paranoid???


WASHINGTON - When a somewhat deranged man ran into a Washing-
ton Metro Transit car and began spraying a liquid into the
air, the passengers, already keyed up due to the U.S. bombing
in Afghanistan, began to panic. Police subdued the man with
pepper spray and immediately quarantined the car for fear
of a possible chemical or biological threat. Many passengers
began to complain of dry mouth and nausea, but a full decon-
tamination procedure showed the substance was only a common
household cleaner.

[Swanspirit]

That we are on high alert........ even though at this time the ability of the terrorists to actually carry out germ or bio warfare seems mininal ....... and not very effective......
I think we are becoming more aware..... of how vulnerable we can be..... and some people are definitely overreacting...... but in a professional capacity the law enforcement officers and firemen and medical personell have no choice but to take the precautions they are required to take..........
I think it is a horrible shame that some people who are already unstable mentally emotionally and yes even spiritually are going to be really acting out due to increase levels of stress.......and causing the remainder of the population who are keeping it together even more stress............but I dont see how to avoid it.......
We cant control every contingency ......
but what we can do is keep a level head and think on our feet ........... and DE-STRESS when we can ............let me find that stress test and post it ........
Love and Light
Swannie

[Yvonne Belisle]

Someone already posted a stress test.

[Swanspirit]

There are different kinds.........
one of my favorites is one you can do at home...... measure how deeply you daydream about having ..... a giant decadent marble tiled bathroom with a spa tub filled with steaming prefumed water and bubbles ... waiting for you at home
if you can actually PICTURE your face reflected in the bubbles ...........hehehe run yourself a bubble bath .......... you need it ......
Love and Lightly floating bubbles ...... to carry away your stress........
Swannie

[Myst]

I think in this case there's no such thing as "going too far" in being careful - one just has to look into the effects of anthrax and other biological and chemical agents.. tho if I'd already been sprayed by that guy I would think I'd take him out with a shoe or something :)

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I don't think it's going too far. We need to be prepared incase a situation like this ever arises.

However, the media is spreading unnecessary paranoia. ANTHRAX ANTHRAX ANTHRAX is all we hear when we turn on the news. The media is hurting more than it's helping with this biological terrorism issue.

[Yvonne Belisle]

My thoughts on this is that if people are frightened by this and attempt to take safty precausions such as a disinfectant that we attack them. How much further can we expect people to go?

[Xander67]

well I think anyone who sprays pepper spray on a subway, should not be allowed to be in society to begin with, especcially knowing that the american people are already looking over thier shoulders...

there are certian things that we should be watchfull for...and then again...we should not let the threat of Anthrax cause us to hide in our homes and be afraid of opeing our mail...

should we call the police if we get something suspicous,,YES...the fbi has asked that we notify the police in certain cases....
SUSPICIOUS activity etc....but we need to use our judgement...

case in point...My mom got a letter in the mail, no return adress and when she opened it , it was a lil smiley face, saying "I thought you should ahve this smile " it was most likely someone from her church who sent it to her...but becuase of the anthrax scare...she called the police and asked them if she should be concerned.....they came and picked up the letter and took it for testing ...

if it was the lady from my Mom's church, she should not have sent annonomys mail during an anthrax scare:)

so the point is, we should also be careful not to contribute to the paranoia as well...............................

BESIDES>>>>>>>>>ANTHRAX aint nothing.................................
at least they can treat it.......... there are far more serious threats that we should be concerned with... and the news hasnt even told us, why? becasue they havent happened yet? hmmmmm and yet they spend hours talking about a stupid envelope...LOL

[Semele]

Small pox is a much more serious concern of mine and it has been studied for years as a biochemical weapon and it is HIGHLY contagious. In fact I just read a statement from the epidimologist from my hospital listing it as a possible problem. One case in the United States would be considered a national emergency.

hhhhmmmm...are we going too far? Well lets just hope so and that nothing ever comes of this, but I fear otherwise.

[Margie]

I feel in this instance it wasn't going to far. It was a GOOD thing that it was only household cleaner...but WHO COULD KNOW that's all it was until precautions were taken. What if it was something else? You couldn't know and if the proper precautions weren't taken and it was something, all h#|| would've broken loose...I think it was better to be safe than sorry.