Earthquake safety tips

PS: I’m a different Rob.

“An earthquake is a specific type of natural disaster”

No, an earthquake is a specific type of seismic activity which is occurring, basically, CONSTANTLY and ALL THE TIME around the world. A “disaster” from an earthquake causing a great loss of life occurs, otoh, extremely rarely.

Japan lost almost 6,000 in the Kobe quake in ’95 – http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/world_deaths.php

Japan had 8,300 deaths from traffic fatalities in 2002 ALONE, which is apparently the fewest since the 60s – http://web-japan.org/trends01/article/030318soc.html

Which means cars kill more than the Kobe quake EVERY YEAR, yet newsfolks aren’t out asking people if they’re afraid of cars.

Given the stats and the fact that earthquakes massive enough to cause great loss of life are extremely uncommon, it’s perfectly valid to ask “Why are you so scared of earthquakes?”

All this clip did for me was perpetuate the stereotype that the Japanese culture has a tendency to be panicky, worried and afraid when there’s not any real cause for it.

“I think you are making the mistake in assuming that Japanese people should interpret the word “omoshiroi” to mean what you or other speakers of Japanese as a second language imagine it should mean in this context.”

No, I’m telling you what Japanese people have explained to me it can mean in many contexts. Given that, the fact you think that “native Japanese speakers” would most likely interpret it as “earthquakes are great fun!” speaks more to you than anything else.

“Asking somebody “What do you think of cars?” is in no way similar to the question “What do you think of earthquakes?””

No, but given the rate of deaths caused by cars compared to deaths caused by earthquakes, it makes far less sense to ask “Earthquakes aren’t scary/you aren’t scared?” – like IN THE CLIP – than it would to ask “Cars aren’t scary?” They’re both absurd questions, but only one would be asked. And not the one that kills more people.

Earthquakes don’t kill you, the accidents that result from the man made things falling on you kills you. Cars don’t kill you, the accidents that result from driving millions of cars in close proximity kills you.

The only reasons people don’t consider these 2000lb hulks of metal flying by at high rates of speed, often causing death and destruction, “scary” is because of the powers of denial, the familiarity/social acceptability of it all and the illusion of control they think they have when they drive.

But I understand. Clearly we should all be as worried and tremulous as the Japanese about things that hardly ever happen and are clearly beyond our control. Otherwise it’s douchey. Sign me up.