To be genuinely scared of the world we live in

[pinklite]

Apologies if there has already been a similar thread today but just wanted to air my feelings.

Today's attack in Southport is just horrific and keeps playing on my mind. A very similar incident occurred in my home town a few years ago on a park where a little girl was stabbed and killed.

I'm genuinely scared for my two young sons to grow up in this world where there are complete maniacs who want to harm young children. I'm a naturally anxious person anyway and have been since childhood, so anytime we go anywhere I'm on high alert of the people around us and our surroundings.

I know we can't live in fear, but how can we not when things like this seem to be a regular occurrence?

100 years ago many children died from diseases we now vaccinate against. Less that 100 years ago we send our young lads off in their hundreds of thousands to the front line never to return.

The U.K. is a far safer place now, despite the horrors of today.

I can’t stop thinking about them. I locked the front door tonight after the kids were in bed and said to my husband that a family were locking their door tonight without their child in their house. They were there this morning and tonight just gone. They’re expected to continue on their life now after this. It’s just devastating beyond words!

When I first heard about it this afternoon and some reports were saying it was a nursery, my immediate reaction was that I wanted to move abroad as my child is nursery age. Obviously it turns out it wasn’t but since thinking that myself I’ve seen so many tweets and videos tonight from people saying the same thing. I do think thousand’s of brits will take a more serious look at leaving the country if it starts to become an unsafe place to bring up a family

I feel shocked and quite shaken by the evil acts of that 17 year old today. I cried thinking of the parents and victims. The news has been full or crime lately. I am on the fence about having kids and it might seem dramatic but I thought bloody hell what world would I be bringing them into. I understand why you feel the way you do.

Going to take a detox from socials and news though. I seen an XL bully yesterday and nearly injured myself as I leapt into my car away from it. I know that's a total reaction to the media's perception of them and although I don't trust them, I was shaking with fear because all the stories I've read on social media and news. Maybe you could take a break too, it might help. ❤️

A terrible event. But always always look for the good. The brave people who helped plus paramedics, police, doctors, surgeons, nurses etc

I went back recently and in a way it helped. Other than the fact it looked a complete mess with rubbish everywhere (typical Bolton...) but there were families just like us having fun on the park and it honestly made me feel a bit calmer about things. Like awful things happen but it can still be ok.

What a weird post

This isn’t really the point of the thread though is it? As a society we should hope and expect to make medical progress, and to hope for less war. The state of increasing violence and aggressive crime though feels like a huge step backwards.

Well yes it is the point. We still live in a statistically very safe country.

Sorry, what I meant is that the context of the OP’s discussion is about violence, on a scale we’d hope not to encounter in a modern and developed society. Not about health and disease - areas in which we have developed and have made massive medical progress.

Was mass violent crime against children prevalent centuries ago?

I remember crying through 9/11, holding my newborn wondering what the actual fuck world I'd brought them into. It's a completely normal response. I had a very interesting conversation with my 4 now adult children this weekend where they were all saying they won't allow their kids to have a smart phone until they're at least in HS (ie 14 and above) and that they believe the internet is the most dangerous thing in our lives now.

I should add, none of them actually have children! So, there's that...

My daughter said the same thing last week about her 4 year old - no phone until high school and then just an old brick with no access to the internet. Wise, I think.

The UK is no more dangerous than anywhere else!

You are seriously overreacting.

A lot safer, in fact.

I could have written your post in respect of the worry about my children. The trouble is, I am from Southport and this incident literally hits too close to home. I don’t know how I’ll ever have this not play on my mind. Those poor people. I am devastated.

You must feel even more connected and devastated. Take care of yourself x

You've already got kids there's no point worrying about it now. I thought of all this stuff before I had any and decided not to. Can't say I regret my decision. You'll never be able to make this place into a safe world, it's full of humans.

@Apolloneuro Thank you x I really do - I know a family involved, it’s much too real. This thread has provided some comfort though, thank you to the pragmatists.

Obviously what happened in Southport earlier was horrendous. It’s not unreasonable to feel uneasy and anxious and sad for the world.

However, life is way too short to live in fear. There is so much shit in the world, but there are way more good things in the world.

Attacks like this are incredibly rare. It’s not a common or daily occurrence. Most victims of murder are known to their attacker.

I work on Hart St and one of my co-workers was stabbed trying to help. They are in hospital awaiting surgery.

I feel awful to feel relieved I was working from home today and my mind has been spinning all day with what ifs. Mostly I’m just devastated for the children, the parents, the people who tried to help and the community who have to live with the aftermath of one individuals awful actions.

Oh @BeyondShocked bless you.

I don’t think many people are sleeping well tonight and you must feel so shocked.

I am a relatively thick skinned person - I'm a journalist (don't worry, I don't come here to pinch stories on slow news days - I mainly work in PR and copywriting now) and whilst I wouldn't say I'm desensitised, years of training and work does help to have a line between 'work' and 'home', a bit of self preservation so to speak.

I can't even explain how badly this has affected me - I have a 7 year old daughter and cried as soon as I'd put her to bed. I looked how tiny she is, how totally and utterly innocent she is, and it absolutely destroyed me. I then walked to the next bedroom and done exactly the same with my 8 year old son. Southport is somewhere we go on days out - it's very normal for us. I just cannot wrap my mind around it and I've seen some things over the years.

I have never believed in the death penalty until today. No amount of 'reason' that anyone puts behind this will ever convince me that this thing is nothing short of evil.

I've seen pictures in comment sections that I can't get out of my head - the people taking them should be ashamed of themselves and the people sharing and resharing should be even more so ashamed.

My heart is with every single person who has been affected by this. What an unbelievably dark and sad day. Devastated.

I had a rehearsal today (adult group) in a leisure centre and we walked past a hall space with the fire doors wide open (boiling hot today). There were around 60 children in there, huge dance class. An adult came over and slammed the doors shut as we walked past. I thought she was rude or that we were being much noisier that I thought we were. I hadn't seen the news. Makes horrible sense now.

I get how you feel, OP. Logically, YABU, the chances of anything like that happening to anyone you know let alone anyone close to you are tiny. But fear isn't rational.

Thank you, it’s horrible isn’t it

My injured colleague has been named in a few articles now and is quoted as saying that they are very upset they couldn’t help more. My heart breaks for them and everyone involved. Just awful

I think it helps to concentrate on the community you live in and not the wider world. 90% of your life is what happens on your doorstep- and it's what you can influence most easily too - so spend at least 90% of your time and energy near to home.