KRISTEN: No. Accidents happen. This was Southwest’s first crash in 35 years. The pilots were experienced, and it was a fluke. Events like this or say, the crash of Flight 427 outside Pittsburgh several years ago, are terrible, but they shouldn't’t keep people locked in their houses in fear. Airplane crashes make the international news because they are rare and large. We don’t hear the gory details of every fatal car crash on the national news, because they’re much more common. Airplanes remain the safest way to travel.
SERENA: Yes. Well, everything makes me not want to fly. I hate the lack of control you have in a plane. I have been flying since I was six, but I’ve never stopped freaking out when I have to take a flight. When I’m in the air the NOFX song “Falling in Love” broadcasts in my head, with the lyrics “Blast oxygen masks, smoke filled cabin depressurize, don't be afraid, hold onto me
we're going down, but not our love.” Of course I have this great mental image of the plane plummeting. I also think about the book Hatchet or the vodka I smelt on the pilots breath. This so-called fear doesn't’t stop me from flying, it just stresses me out. Kristen, the reason plane crashes are “less common” because most people take them less. We drive everyday, everywhere, which skews the statistics of planes being the safest if you ask me. I’ll take a car over a plane any day. I do want to go abroad, especially to Australia, so I’ll have to do the double digit hours in a plane and suck it up. Bring on the booze and Valium and I’m there.
JOHN: Not really. I flew for the first time this year and it wasn't’t as bad as I imagined. Free pretzels and pop — you can’t beat it. I don’t think the city bus hands out stuff like that. Also they give you blankets if you get cold, so if you do die, at least you’ll go comfortably. Like Kristen said, flying is the fastest way to travel. It took a few hours to fly to Florida, but if you drove, you’re looking at a fun-filled day of people griping about driving. Either way, as long as my plane doesn't’t crash I’All fly again.
ERICA: First of all, Serena I hear you on the fear of flying part. The lack of control irks me. Like you, I have to use some form of sedative. Whether it be pill form, patch form (don’t ask), liquid form, or John Mayer music. Big surprise there. Accidents happen and the media usually only report the tragic or out-of-routine occurrences, like a plane skidding across the runway and killing a little boy. Yes, it’s sad, but it’s also what sells. If we published every safe plane trip in a single day, no one would pay attention to it because that’s what is supposed to happen. Who wants to read that?
KRISTEN: I don’t want to be the book recommendation dork (see: last week) but check out The Culture of Fear: Why Americans are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner. It’s true, Erica, the American media seems to love terrifying the public. We’re all going to die either at the hands of the ubiquitous terrorists or from all the violence caused by playing video games. Run! After September 11th, no one flew. Every time there’s a plane crash, that airline’s stock goes down for a while. Just because it happens once doesn't’t mean it’ll happen to you. I actually just booked a Southwest flight to Chicago for January. I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine. But I wouldn't’t want to tempt fate, so cross your fingers, guys.
SERENA: It’s pretty safe to say I don’t have to many irrational media-induced fears. It has nothing to do with the media actually, as I stated earlier the lack of control is the problem. I realize that the media does choose what to publish by what is of interest and will be talked about. I always look for a crazy stories to post. Real life is just not good enough anymore. Unless someone is getting gutted alive on a plane, wake me when the ride is over.
JOHN: Flying really isn’t that bad, it’s just that most people make it out to be more than what it is. It’s just like being afraid of the boogey man. When you realize there is nothing to be afraid of, you feel silly because you can die anywhere.
ERICA: Ok, let me restate, I don’t have a big fear of flying, what will be will be. But I am of those nerds who gets airsick, thanks for that great gene, Dad. Theoretically, the fear of getting sick adds to my little fear of flying. The way I see it if people are scared to fly because of what’s portrayed in the media, then you can’t really live your own life. If you don’t like the media, don’t watch it. There are plenty of other means of transportation. For example, you can drive instead, but not in all cases. Trust me if I could drive to Hawaii, I would go without hesitation, but the thought of a long flight, eh it’s not THAT beautiful there. Being sick for 10 hours on plane — I’ll pass. Call me when they make a bridge.
