"the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"

Our perceptions of risk is based heavily on our own understandings of what is considered dangerous and threatening and towards who (1). Risks are brought to our attention practically everyday of our lives. It seems like you can’t open a book or magazine without reading about some that is potentially or already is dangerous/threatening to you. The same applies to when you are walking down the street, turning on a television or browsing the web, all you see is loads of information telling you what you should and/or shouldn’t be doing.

It is understood that the job of the media is to inform people, however it is also understood that the media thrives off scaring the shit out of people. After the tragedy of 9/11, the entire US was in utter chaos over terrorism, anthrax, airport security, etc. and for good reason.  The media obviously devoured such a devastating incident and took it upon themselves to start instilling as much fear and anxiety into people as they ever could before. In fact, as many people know, there was actually a “Terror-Alert” chart designed to inform people of how unsafe they are, and ultimately make you feel even more insecure.

It appears that the media has been sustainable through its methods of spreading panic throughout the public. The “Terror-Alert” chart I mentioned before is somewhat proof. Though it has only been around for less than ten years it has still maintained its use as a key symbol for measuring and informing risk to the public. Nevertheless, I think that creating something like the “Terror-Alert” chart or a similar tool that informs you how afraid you should be is on the edge of being unethical. In the end, all it really boils down to is individual choice and whether or not you want to live in fear.

 

(1) Barbara Adam, Ulrich Beck and Joost Van Loon, eds.

The Risk Society and Beyond: Critical Issues for Social Theory 

(London: Sage Publications, 2000), 3.

Photo: http://www.terror-alert.com/