Why are Americans so paranoid of crime

[DABANSHEE]

I was browsing arround on a site that Shuxclams linked, & just came across this article about the drug war.

Well it got me wondering, why are so many Americans paranoid about being victims of crime. Especially after perusing threads like this here at OT & this one at HardOCP.

Because to be quite honest I don't think I've ever met an Aussie or a European that has even thought about such issues. Really the only people you hear about here in Oz that have armed intruders storming into their homes are Asian businessmen & drug dealers. People just don't consider the possibility that they'l ever be in such a situation. Whereas on those threads you could obviously tell that those people were paranoid that they'l have intruders storming in, well concerned enough to obvious contemplate the issue. Or is it an ego thing like the soldier who trains for war wanting to put that training into practice.

Really, when you consider the average scrote who breaks into houses is just after your VCR & any loose change or jewellry lying arround to flog for drugs, all you'd have to do is turn on your bedside light & they'l be out the door & running down the street as far as their abused bodies can take them.

Sure crime rates are higher in the US, but really, the average middleclass American is not that much more likely to be a victim of a violent crime than the average Aussie or (Western) European.

I noticed this fear of crime when I was in the states myself. I had relatives for instance in the Bay area that kept guns under their pillows even though none of them had been any closer to being a victim of violent crime than my relatives in Oz or Europe. Then my Aunty in Danville got shocked when I went to take her dog for a walk one night. She was so paranoid that I'd be abducted or killed in some drive by shooting but nothing happened & I took her dog for a walk everynight I was there.

It really seemed the fear of crime was more predominent than crime itself.

Does this paranoia about crime come from watching to much Fox TV or something?

 

[Crimson]

I think the question is, whats YOUR problem with Americans? Is EVERY post you are going to make be anti-American?

 

[StageLeft]

Probabaly because of media and tv Americans are more aware of it...

 

[SmiZ]

Dabanshee,

I would say a major reason is all the news coverage any type of criminal attack receives. You mention fox TV, which is a perfect example. Many people love shows like cops where they can watch "exciting action" involving crime. These relatively rare events are so hyped by the news media as to make it appear like it happens all the time everywhere.

While I don't think america is as safe as it used to be, I generally don't go to bed at night afraid.

 

[Czar]

I agree debanshee, when I´v been traveling around Europe I´v hardly ever met a person that is worried about being robbed. And then when you read posts here posted by USians here on the forums then I start to get the idea that about 4/5 of them are realy worried of being robbed. This is the same as I´v read on the net. Seems that the average American is way to paranoid about his own security.

 

[DABANSHEE]

"I think the question is, whats YOUR problem with Americans? Is EVERY post you are going to make be anti-American?"

Well I just did a username search on myself & of the 20 threads on the 1st page only 2 had anything specifically pertenent to do with America, that's a ratio of just 10%. So obviously you don't no what you're talking about or you are just paranoid about anti-American foreigners..

The simple fact is that this is a predominently American forum & if I was posting stuff about Oz related issues no one would no what I was talking about. Like that Aussie who posted that 'Holdens verses Falcons' thread & got no responses.

BTW, I don't really see what's so anti-American about my thread. To anyone who's traveled across Australia, the US & Europe, its pretty obvious that on average Americans are more paranoid of crime than other westerners. What's so 'anti-American' in asking why?

 

[StageLeft]

Its true dabanshee, this is one of those few cases where you bring up the topic and it isn't anti-american

 

[Demon-Xanth]

KEEP YOUR FREAKING MITTS OFF MY BEANS! --Gabe

When every politician starts using FUD tactics people follow.

 

[TheDennis]

Well if anybody is like me they aren't worried about a burgular doing anything to them. Of course they are just after what they can grab and get away with no worries. But I wanna gun under my pilow because if somebody breaks into my house I don't want him running away with just a couple of my things. He is either getting shot or he is going to stay there until the police get there.

 

[d0ofy]

Come here to Brooklyn and you'll see why we're all paranoid about crime.

 

[shifrbv]

I think more Americans are being exposed to crime than ever before. For instance, last year in the apartment complex I was living in, some guy robbed the bank branch at the grocery store next door. This robber then fled the scene and went to the apartments trying to break into any of them that he could. The first, which was in the building next to mine, a couple of judo experts kicked the sh!t out of him and he fled to another apartment where he was finally aprehended by police. This is in a decent part of the city and was something that maybe 5 to 10 years ago I would never think would happen. But now adays, anything is possible. I turn on my local news every night to see that people are being murdered in the small town where I grew up, people are taking hostages at the local restaurants, carjackings, etc. I went to my local high school to get some school records a few years back and saw an armed guard walking the halls. I couldn't believe it. There was a news story that some kids had brought guns to that school as well. I believe America IS a much more violent place than it used to be and it's not all hype on the TV.

 

[BoberFett]

I'm not paranoid of crime; I rarely think about it. Why generalize Americans, Dabanshee? Should I ask you about your adventures wrestling crocs and boxing wallabys?

 

[hammer01]

Yeah and don't forget what we Americans are taught about Aussie's and their sheep, I just took it as stereotyping but I could be wrong. It was also my understanding that there were no indigineous white people in the Down Under and if not how did they originally get there? hmmm questions for the ages.

 

[Capn]

Why are they paranoid? Well I don't think everyone is as paranoid as you'd think. Being safe is always smart, maybe you're confusing this with paranoia. Anyways the media has a lot to do with it. In general people feel that the world is a lot more dangerous place than it is. Maybe you have a different style of news down in Oz, but here the news shows are a lot about crime and everything else bad pretty much (shootings, accidents, fires, etc.) Regardless of how often these things happen, the average person is still overwhelmed by the amount that they see, so much that they think it's a lot more common than it truly is. For example, in some study it was found that people who watch a lot of soap operas think that there is a whole lot more marital infidelity and affairs that go on than there truly is. I think the same sort of theory can be transcended to a national scale and the american fear of crime.

 

[Hecubus2000]

I not worried about crime but, I think it's sad when a pizza delivery person gets to your house faster than the police during an emergency.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

TheDennis: It sounds like if the robber was running away from you he'd have a couple of small cylindrical lead objects that belong to you.

 

[Crimson]

Well Debanshee, Since you are the only person I know from "Oz".. could you explain to me why it seems like 100% of the people from "Oz" seem to be so interested in American's? Your generalization about Americans is just stupid..

 

[Doggiedog]

Look at what happened to Ben Johnson when he wasn't thinking about crime in Italy.

Some gypsy robbed his @ss and ran off with his money!

The funny thing is he didn't catch the robber! Only the accomplice.

 

[DABANSHEE]

Mnn, looks like I got a reaction out of Crimson. I wonder why? Ooooh, Have I hit a softspot? Why, did what I say make it feel like I was having a go at you? Afterall you did accuse me of being anti-American & you are American. Do you feel somehow insecure about what I said? Well something must explain your reaction? Why else would you care what a stupid foreigner has to say about his observations of some Americans (including my own relatives) compared with others?

BTW, why would one think my post is anti-American? Can you explain why you think my post is anti American? All I'm doing is stating the different atitudes between many of the Americans I've observed & other Westerners & asking why. I'm sure any one who's traveled across Europe, the US & Australia would agree with those observations too.

BTW, if you read my post again I said "Well it got me wondering, why are so many Americans paranoid about being victims of crime?" .

So, of course I'm not generalising about all Americans.

But Crimson, do you deny that more Americans on average, are more paranoid about crime, than average Australians or Europeans?

"could you explain to me why it seems like 100% of the people from "Oz" seem to be so interested in American's?"

Mnn, you trully are a fukwit. Do I have to repeat what I said before?

"Well I just did a username search on myself & of the 20 threads on the 1st page only 2 had anything specifically pertenent to do with America, that's a ratio of just 10%. So obviously you don't no what you're talking about or you are just paranoid about anti-American foreigners..

The simple fact is that this is a predominently American forum & if I was posting stuff about Oz related issues no one would no what I was talking about. Like that Aussie who posted that 'Holdens verses Falcons' thread & got no responses.

BTW, I don't really see what's so anti-American about my thread. To anyone who's traveled across Australia, the US & Europe, its pretty obvious that on average Americans are more paranoid of crime than other westerners. What's so 'anti-American' in asking why?".

It makes me absolutely flabergasted that someone could react as you did. You must be a very insecure fellow, Crimson.

 

[Corn]

On average, Aussies are more moronic than Americans are paranoid about crime.

 

[hammer01]

Man DAB and you have to struggle just be average, is suck to be you dude. (Please note the usage of is suck in the proper context)

 

[ltk007]

I don't care about crime. In fact, I am so apathetic about the issue of crime, I'll leave my doors unlocked and talk to the criminals as they steal my computer and other valuables (what other valuables?). Maybe you don't realize this DABANSHEE, but there are a lot more crimes (specifically violent crimes) in the US than OZ.

 

[DABANSHEE]

That's the point, the average middleclass American is actually not much more likey to be a victim of a crime than the average Australian or Western European.

 

[badpony]

That's quite true Itk007. Here's some ststs fresh off the United Nations Crime and Justice Information Network. In 1999 there were 5.7 murders per 1000 persons in the USA versus 1.8 per 1000 in Australia. There were 32.1 violent crimes per 1000 in the USA versus 8.0 per 1000 in Australia. Violent crimes included assult, sexual assult, armed robbery, etc. DABANSHEE, you are roughly 4 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime in the US than in Australia. Maybe that's why we're a bit more paranoid about it than most.

Mike S.

 

[burnedout]

Yep, you got it right badpony. The odds are much greater that someone in the USA will be a victim of violent crime versus someone in Europe or Australia.

I lived in Europe for 10 years and noted a considerable difference indeed.