A few questions (honest short answers please)

[Gwenick]

1. Do you think that its' human nature to find natural events (sudden weather changes, earthquakes, avalanches, storms, tsunami's, volcanoes) exciting?

2. Do you you think that when such things happen AND loss of life occurs it's wrong to admit how amazing nature can be?

3. Do you think it's wrong for somebody to write about the 'otherside' of people's feelings following a natural disaster - ie not focussing on the death and desctruction but focussing on people's amazement at nature

4. If you could stop ALL natural events such as - earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, avalanches, floods, droughts, landslides or tidal waves (even those where no loss of life occurs) would you?


My answers.

1. Yes I do - the things this planet can do without human intervention is simply incredible

2. No I don't. I think NOT talking about it is simply trying to hide the truth

3. No.

4. No I wouldn't, nature has always done this to our planet, if you stopped all of those things it wouldn't be our planet anymore!

[brusselbeansprouts]

I'm as amazed at the next person at nature, but it's not really the point at the moment. And yes, I would stop them if it would save lives and prevent what we have just seen.

[Gwenick]

Brussel - I took this off the other thread as people asked me too.

I asked 4 questions - I only want simple answers. There's no need to try and drag other threads into this one. If you don't like it - don't read it!

[brusselbeansprouts]

I know you want simple answers, but I still don't agree with the article which is what this thread is about. And yes, I would still stop these things happening. Please don't tell me I don't like something and to not read it just because we don't agree!

[tillykins]

Gwenick, I think you have misunderstood what Brussel has said

[PaRumPumPumScum]

I think you may find that some people feel this is not the best time to be asking these questions. Free speech is great but timing can be important too, IME.

[tamum]

I'm staggered that anyone could answer no to question 4 at any time to be honest, let alone now.

[brusselbeansprouts]

Totally agree with RaPum. Shall we leave this one now?

[Blossomhill]

This is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Totally inappropriate after what has just happpened .
I am actually lost for words that this is one here

[Blossomhill]

on here even

[Gwenick]

These responses are exactly what I'm on about!!! It's not acceptable for someone to say something becuase YOU don't agree with it.

If none of those things occured on this planet - planet earth would be nothing like we know it to be. Nature has FORMED this planet into what it is. The continents (well America and the UK certainly) have been pushed further apart because of volcanoes, once upon a time there were volcanoes in the UK - hence you have such magnificant features as Edinburgh castle perched high up on its rock.

Simple things like - will it snow on Christmas day - would no longer be a suprise - as the weather would be 100% predictable. Many of the classic movies that many of us probably love would never have been made - as natural events occur in them - or nature causes things to happen.

These types of events happen EVERY day - just that most of them don't affect the human population of the planet. There will never be an 'approriate' time to discuss this type of thing. And I don't like people telling me when - or how - these things should be discussed. I came to this website via BW because I thought the people on it were more 'open' - but I guess not.

[MrsBigDrumsADrumming]

I do agree it's extremely bad timing for these questions as a lot of people will be 'raw' because of the current events.

However, as for 4. the answer would have to be 'No' though, as stopping all these events would cause a cataclysmic event as they are part of the planets cycle which in itself would most likely cost lives.

[Fran1]

1 - Yes

2 - No

3 - Ok to write about it, timing and sensitivity should be used, considering who is going to be reading it.

4 - Don't want to stop all natural events, but would be nice to have an ability to prevent people being harmed from it, advance warning maybe?

[tillykins]

Gwenick, I do understand what you mean and I am quite happy for people to say things that I don't agree with, thats not a problem at all.
I haven't read your previous thread that you refer to - and I don't know what BW is (???)
but I think the problem is not the nature of your questions, nor your own answers to them - everyone is entitled to an opinion - but that a week after thousands of people have died a sudden and terrible death, this is not the time to discuss it
Please don't think I am criticising you for what you think and say, I'm not - whats that quote thing - "I disagree with what you say but I would defend to the death your right to say it" or something like that? This is - or should be - a forum where you are free to state your opinion on whatever subject, but like in real life, if someone tells you that right now, that opinion is distressing, then you should consider other peoples feelings

[Blossomhill]

This site is open but thousands of lives have been lost Gwenick. How on earth can you expect me to answer these questions feeling how sad I do. Reading that thousands of families lives have been torn apart.
I have a heart and do not feel comfortable even thinking about these sorts of things now. It just seems in very bad taste and extremely bad timing.

[brusselbeansprouts]

Whether or not we can stop the weather (!) and how that would change things is hypothetical and I personally don't think it is a useful subject to discuss at the moment, given that a natural occurence has created the most incredible amount of destruction and misery. It's not about freedom of speech or open mindedness, just tact. I know some very funny jokes but I don't tell them at funerals. For me it is the same thing.

[Gwenick]

Tillykins - on the main Asia disaster thread there's a link to an article in the Times. I think he's correct to right about it as that's how some people feel - and to pretend that no-one has those feelings is wrong! I don't agree with EVERYTHING he says - but I do think he makes some interesting points.

Especially about the public/media obsession with numbers....

[tillykins]

Thanks Gwenick but I don't think I will be reading it at the moment - I'm all for freedom of the press and freedom of speech, but right now, I am still dealing with the disaster itself

[Gwenick]

Look - some of you posting on this thread asked me to move it elsewhere because you no longer wanted to read about it - so WHY are you still reading this thread now you now what it's about???

BW - is Babyworld (where strangely enough I was banned for a short while for voicing my opinions).

As I've pointed out there will NEVER been a right time to discuss these things, yes I have cried over this, I've donated money, I feel immensely sorry for what has happened (as does the author of the article) BUT at the same time the awesome power of nature can't be denied and not to acknowledge that is foolish in my opinion

[KateandtheElves]

1. Yes

2. It's not wrong, but it's extremely untactful and tasteless IMO.

3. Same as #2.

4. Tricky one, and of course it's entirely hypothetical. I honestly don't know what my answer would be.

[Gwenick]

Lockets you don't need links - just go to the BBC website or switch on ANY of the news channels - it's somehow ok for them to show us the same horrifying footage over and over again is it? To 'compare' this disaster to others in the past, to repeatedly tell us how many people could still die.........but no-one is allowed to talk about the power of nature ???

[Blossomhill]

A very well like mumsnetter is in Thailand as we speak. Try to consider that point before you continue posting about this.

[tillykins]

Gwenick, please don't get so cross and upset. No-one is disputing the power of nature, just saying that this is not the time to be discussing the areas you raise, thats all
And of course people are reading it, its an open website and people are entitled to give their opinion as much as you are entitled to give yours