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!

I haven't read all this thread and I've avoided the others on the same subject.

Call me an ostrich if you like but my view is this - I heard the devastating news - and thats enough for me thank you. Watching horrific news reels of people suffering will not change the events - nature is powerful and if we didn't know it before we sure do now.

Personally, I find it slightly voyeuristic to watch people in distress and suffering. It's a bit like rubber necking imo.

OH blossom

"Quite honestly if you are being how you are being on here tonight then I don't find it strange at all."

I hate to disappoint you but I was banned without about 4 or 5 other members for daring to criticise babyworld. I've since been allowed back on - I use the same username on all websites - so you can go and see if you wish.

Seen as though you all want to point the finger at using the 'wrong' time to talk about it (despite the fact that people probably felt like that on the day it happened) why is Roisin not having comment made about her for posting the link to the article in the first place?????

Perhaps MN should put a sign up when it's ok to talk about these things according to the law of the masses???

OH blossom

"Quite honestly if you are being how you are being on here tonight then I don't find it strange at all."

I hate to disappoint you but I was banned without about 4 or 5 other members for daring to criticise babyworld. I've since been allowed back on - I use the same username on all websites - so you can go and see if you wish.

Seen as though you all want to point the finger at using the 'wrong' time to talk about it (despite the fact that people probably felt like that on the day it happened) why is Roisin not having comment made about her for posting the link to the article in the first place?????

Perhaps MN should put a sign up when it's ok to talk about these things according to the law of the masses???

I think Roison linked the article to see what we all thought about it. I don't necessarily think she was agreeing with the author.

oops didn't mean to post twice!!!!

yes the footage is distressing but everybody can choose to watch it or not, like e.g. locket. I did watch some of it but tbh, I am now 'fed up' with this being the only thing covered on the news... it has been a terrible disaster and the high loss of life is a very sad thing, but there are other places on this planet where people die on a daily basis due to reasons probably more under human control than weather ... that's all I'm saying as otherwise I might digress into a completely other political direction...

my tone is brash is it?? Same could be said of others who disagree with me! I don't particularly like being told 'it's the wrong time' to talk about it that I shouldn't have brought this subject up yet.

Simple answer - don't post on the thread any more if you don't like it. I've read threads on MN that I've not wanted to get involved with - so I've stayed out of them!

I mearly asked 4 questions. Those that have answered without criticising the timing etc are, I guess, the ones that haven't read the other thread where this whole thing started.

It's interesting that at least one of those who said they didn't want to dicuss it - suddenly come on this thread and continue discussing it! THAT is hypocrisy.

p.s. 'weather' should really read 'natural disasters'
bowing out now before I get carried away

MrsBig - very true only today - my dh a police officer had a message about a local tragedy. A family out for a New Year's day walk at a local Country House park lost their 7 year old son when a tree fell on him - there seems to be nothing but bad news atm.

Gwenick -you ask "Why isn't now a time to discuss what human nature naturally makes people think?"

I think that maybe in a few months people will feel able to think about and discuss the awesome power of nature - but right now i personally feel to traumatised to do that

I sat this evening weeping as i watched ITVs news report about the Ache region of indonesia where probably over 100,000 people are dead - whole towns have been washed away

It is much too soon to analyse such questions and horribly insensitive

Gwenick, do you agree with HMB's statement: "It would be singularly inappropriate to go to a funeral and discuss how fascinating the disease was that killed the person"?

Personally, I think it is disgusting to talk like this while these poor peoples bodies still lie decaying where the water left them. Thankyou!

agree with seashells - gwenwick you should be ashamed. im guenuinely (sp?) shocked

Ok, i don't know what went on in other discussions about this subject, but ...

Can u not just allow Gwenick to ask the questions she wishes to ask, and to answer them if you choose or not?

Why does everybody have to jump on the bandwagon here? If you have been closely affected by the events in Asia there are far worse things going on on the news and in papers, than the innocent questions Gwenick is answering. And i agree it is a very British thing to skip around the subject. Those of you who are saying this is not the time to talk about it ... when is the right time? Our thoughts and conversations are triggered by current affairs, the disaster in Asia has triggered Gwenick to question peoples thoughts about nature's abilities.

Personally i don't see that she is being spiteful or harmful to anyone by asking these questions, and if it is affecting you that badly, you better switch off computer, tv and don't go out of the house for some time!!

Gwenick obviously enjoys stirring things up. I mean who honestly gets banned from a baby forum - please!
This is not the right topic to use to cause provocation Gwenick. Show a little bit of compassion here. As said before a very well like Mumsnet Moderator is in Thailand and this just isn't the time or the place.

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

Yes

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?

Not if it is sensitively handled.

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

It depends. I think that there needs to be reference to the impact on human life to acknowledge the human impact.

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?

I'm not sure. I would imagine that things like avalanches are of benefit to the localised environment when they ocur.

hmmm, i'm of the school of thought that nothing should be verboten in terms of discussion. however i can see that tone is v v important when things are as raw as they are at the moment. one thing that has occured to me tho reading this thread is the 'numbers' thing. it strikes me as ironic that we all sit up and pay attention to human sufferring if there are enough numbers involved to make it spectacular. but we all know somewhere inside us that down our street (probably) there are children being abused and on our planet there are people suffering intolerable situations: starvation, rape, torture for starters and that in some way we are all responsible as we all contribute to turning a blind eye to them, at least most of the time.

it's good when something jolts us out of our complacency, but it is also striking how very pervasive that complacency is most of the time, to me at least...

Pinkdiamond - I think it's because people are generally gobsmacked that this post is even on here. Yes people are entitled to there own point of view but I really don't see the purpose of this thread other then to upset people and stir up people's emotions. Which it obviously has done!

And Gwenick is trying to discuss this subject with relatives of those who have lost people in this disaster, she is talking generally on a UK board, yes there may unfortunately be some people here who have personally been affected, but that cannot be avoided.

If we have to consider every other persons feelings on this board, there may not be very much to discuss.

If someone has died of a disease, no you wouldn't discuss at the funeral how fascinating that disease was. But you are quite likely to discuss it with someone less close to the bereaved because it will be at the forefront of your mind.

sorry that is meant to read

Gwenick ISN'T trying to discuss.

oops!