Na alegna. Lawyers always have the last word. The first bill was $6,000 plus dollars.
Thank you kidspiration.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by mamakay
MT, I don't want to ruffle your feathers any further, but why couldn't you have posted the "How to survive" intellectual exercise in a way that didn't both directly and indirectly blame the citizens of NO for their horrifying deaths?
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The majority of people who responded to the thread interpretted what I said, and my clarifications in the spirit in which I intended them. I'm not going to re-justify or reclarify myself.
I'm not going to back off asking people if they are thinking properly.
I'd be the first to blame myself if lack of foresight was the reason for my death. Well, I wouldn't if I was dead, but you know what you mean.
It doesn't matter if you think, think, think and then get it wrong. Why?
Because everyone here knows that its people who totally panic, and get totally stressed out whose immune systems bomb. And people who totally panic and get stressed out are usually people who've done nothing about working out what they can do. There is always something people can do for myself, and I don't accept that there are people in the world who can't do that, either for themselves or their families. That is proven by the resourcefullness of those who did prepare and who have stayed in the city. They know the extra dangers they are facing from the toxic soup and whatever else will hapen, and its not totally predictable
In any scenario, it may not happen, in which case, someone will whinge the thinking wasn't worth it.
Or you might get it part right, and kick yourself for missing something blindingly obvious.
Or you just might get it right, which will bring new problems of its own.
In the paper today was an article about how shoot'em up computer games are so good for adolescents, because it gives them rare opportunities to think strategy, and to develop reflexes. Well
but I couldn't help thinking that there are a whole lot more productive ways to teach those things, not least of which is after the theory, putting kids into controlled situations and see how they cope.
And for those who think that's outrageous (I'm sure if I don't justify myself, someone will pick on me in the present climate...) here's one example of what we did.
We live in an earthquake prone country. I've been through several but the kids haven't yet. But at the age of three, we decided they were old enough to go into an earthquake simulator with us.
It's all explained before hand. They know its a dummy run, but they also know things will fall in the simulator. They are told what to expect. They are explained there will be a big frightening noise like a truck about to crash into the house. But no explanation replicates what it sounds like and feels like. You can't plan for the big end of your guts dropping out. But you can practice.
They are explained that there are different types of quakes. Shakes, rolling quakes and others. The simulator is designed to demonstrate all of them.
The first time, they sat on our laps and nearly shat themselves. They were wide-eyed, but they did not scream. The instructors talked to them about how they felt. And why certain things had to be done. Then we did a different sort of quake. I think there were about six altogether.
We re-did the simulator a few years later. And this time, we got the kids to take us around the house and show us the weak spots, the strong parts, and to write up an earthquake plan showing also where was best to store what, so if the house went like a pack of cards, which it shouldn't, we'd know where to start digging. It doesn't matter that we were homeschooling. Anyone can do this. Over the years, we've alway practiced escape routes for fires, where to put yourself in an earthquake. All of us, as a matter of routine have a bottle of water on the floor at the top of our beds. Usually I use it anyway,
being someone who doesn't need to go a place in the night. That doesn't mean to say we'll survive. Who knows what sort of earthquake it will be. But it means, we'll meet the challenge better prepared mentally, emotionally and intellectually.
Then, this sort of thinking becomes routine. Someone else mentioned this to me the other day by e-mail, and I couldn't help laughing because they had seen why my kids did. If you teach kids these things, films like the Titanic are just such a load of tripe. Go and watch that film. Look at the realities of it. Why were they sitting around playing instrument, when there was time enough to even make rafts that would readily float and get off the flipping ship before it sank. But no... we have to have a helpless soppy film. No lessons to be learned there in a practical sense. It ruined the film for them. They were saying "Geez Mum, those people are as useless as tits on a bull!"
Four years ago, with them being young adults, we pulled a swiftie on them. They are old enough. And it was time. We went to the museum and took them into a historical house. They didn't know this house was reinforced and an earthquake simulator. And as they were wandering around looking at things, the operators let it rip. The kids nearly wet themselves, but they went into autopilot and did what they were supposed to do.
I know a lot of parents who have never done that. Why? Because they haven't thought of it? It's been advertised enough. Or do they think its not necessary? It will never happen?
I'd rather my kids had a reasonable idea of it, so that IF.... IF... it happens to them, they won't lose the plot totally.
Now that applies in
[all scenarios, and I dont' believe its good enough as parents not to think through as many scenarios as are possible and even some you think are not.
I'm not interested in the whys and wherefores of why or whether people in NO were not prepared.
I am interested in whether or not you are prepared for whatever it is you might face. Have you thought about it?
We are a nuclear free country that doesn't allow even nuclear powered vessels in our waters. We don't have nuclear powered stations. Does that mean we shouldn't think about what to do if some idiot like President Bush who owns the largest nuclear arsenal of the face of this planet, stuffs up our little earthquake ridden paddock? I've thoroughly thought through what to do in a nuclear situation, and have done nothing to prepare for that. But I have the information I would need, should the need arise. I've located first and foremost a supply of potassium iodide. But I've done nothing primarily because I chose not to. THAT is my choice.
The issue of why you think I said what I said is a total red herring.
Any lapse of thinking on the part of any person is something people should be big enough to take responsibility for. This world isn't a nice place, and its time people realised that if they do what they can, and think through what they can, then they are better placed.
To be at the mercy of a government or FEMA wouldn't be my place of choice.
and its no good getting all idealistic and dissing messengers, god, or people who have or wish to have firearms, because when the crunch comes you have to deal with exactly what's on your plate. Not what you want to be on your plate.
THAT......
is the point.
Sorry if I let my emotions get the better of me on the other thread. I respect your opinions. Some buttons got pushed that made me feel uncomfortable..but that is what makes me THINK and makes me STRONGER.
Er well at least we're not not ready.
bears. 
Hmm..... closest I've come to them is reading alaskan story books.
