Why trains put me off

[SeanMacGabhann]

I would say that it is LARGELY because the attack on the man happened some months ago and has been discussed several times and the only reason we are talking about it again is that someone has beleatedly read about it in the sort of paper that routinely recycles this sort of thing precisely to have the sort of affect it had on the person who brought it up again

(deep breath)

We care about people who get beaten up on trains

We care about a free press

But the reintroduction of the topic IS about political motivation of the paper in question

[AnotherPaul]

Ballast for the flight?

[AnotherPaul]

I don't think it's about politics Sean, it's about finance.

That it seems to be about politics is The Mail's big lie.

They would say anything about anyone, past, present or future if it sold papers.

ap

[Louisa]

Sean, all forms of media "reintroduce' stories for their own headline grabbing greed or political motivation, it happens every day of the week, all across the globe. The reason I raised this story as an issue was because so many people like to talk about how wonderfully safe the transport system is, and yet this is the forth story I have come across about local attacks on public transport. This is the first story I have come across of it's type in the Mail, and even though I admit they do tend to lead on old stories to create sensationalist headline grabbers, I am not raising this issue because it was in that or any other newspaper. A man was attacked, allegedly by the guy whos currently on trial, and I want to let everyone know why I believe I have a valid reason for not using the local network of trains and buses. If it can happen on a packed train at 7 in the evening, it can happen any time.

[mockney piers]

"The reason I raised this story as an issue was because so many people like to talk about how wonderfully safe the transport system is"

A ha, a deliberately sensationalist headline then?!

[SeanMacGabhann]

You are of course correct Louisa that no paper is innocent of such tactics.

But you never did answer my allegation that road rage incidents between drivers also account for injuries and fatalities. And as for the number of innocent bystanders killed by public transport versus those killed by errant drivers.... weeeeellllll

I never said public transports was wonderfully safe. Nor did anyone else I recall. They might have said it isn't as bad as some people make out and the horrific incident in question doesn't change that IN COMPARISON with other forms of transport

[AnotherPaul]

It seems that perspective might be the first casualty of reading The Mail.

[lozzyloz]

Louisa you seem to have become a victim of the kind of crap newspapers love to regurgitate in order to sell papers by lighting up our imaginations with a feeling of mass hysteria, be it on immigration, gun crime, bird flu or attacks on trains. The perception is far worse than the truth. The attack you describe is tragic but in the context of numbers of passengers multiplied by train journeys multiplied by days in the year it is incredibly rare. Pick up any paper, or even listen to the news and there are far more stories about car crashes, pile ups etc. This doesn't motivate you to start a thread about the dangers of driving and why you prefer to walk everywhere. But then again if you read the Daily Mail it's unlikely you'd survive a walk down to the CPT without being mugged, stabbed, shot and somehow crammed into a suitcase and set on fire!

[Louisa]

Cars are of course very dangerous and account for more fatalities than any other form of transport I believe? But lets remember that there are more cars on the road than any other type of vehicle, be that bus motorbike or bicycle. I have driven for years, in towns and on country lanes and motorways, I have luckily (touch wood) not witnessed or been involved in a single accident in that time. I could say that as a result cars are statisically more safe when I am driving! Just because you or no one else on here has been directly involved in an incident on public transport does not mean it is any safer to travel by it. Yes you are less likely to be involved in an accident, but equally you are more likely to be involved in a potentially uncomfortable and dangerous situation which you have no direct control over.

[AnotherPaul]

Louisa has shown me the light.

I'm staying in.

Forever.

[SeanMacGabhann]

one for Richard Dawkins at this point methinks

[ClareC]

Dont forgot to wrap yourself in cotton wool ;-)

[Louisa]

If anyone has a gene centred view of evolution it most certainly isnt me!

[mockney piers]

Motorbikes are far far more dangerous than cars statistically. And part of the reason why the years of decline in accident figures has recently started reversing, is the sheer numbers of mid-life crisis blokes getting themselves killed on powerful bikes they can afford, but haven't had an adult lifetime of progression from their first moped onwards to know how to stay alive on the damn things.

Me, I'll go for one of these when the time comes.

[lozzyloz]

MP isn't that just a motorbike with 4 wheels? Wouldn't you prefer one of these Vvvvrrrrrrmmmmmm

[AnotherPaul]

Damn, I'd better get that motorbike out of my living room too.

And thanks ClareC, just ordered 1 tonne of Daily Hail approved cotton wool.

It's an amazing product, designed specifically to protect against cuts from broken shards of commemorative Diana plates.

Mockney, when what time comes?

[cdonline]

The endless stoking up of our fears must have a lot to do with way that crime is reported in the papers and on tv.

In 2005-2006, there were 56 gun-related murders in Britain. Ask most people and I'm sure they wouldn't guess so low.

[*Bob*]

Can anybody help?

My house is completely surrounded by paedophiles and I'm afraid to take the pushchair out?!

[Brendan]

I don?t see a problem with overreacting to crime if the result of said overreaction is a practical solution and less crime.

If the result is public hysteria to fuel newspaper sales or help politicians manipulate public opinion then there in lies the problem.

[Jeremy]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

> But you never did answer my allegation that road

> rage incidents between drivers also account for

> injuries and fatalities.

You can always just lock your car door or drive away if some nutter gets out of his car and starts screaming at you! And at least there won't be a group of 15 yr old wannabe gangstas sitting next to you, listening to bad music on their phones.

[cdonline]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Can anybody help?

> My house is completely surrounded by paedophiles

> and I'm afraid to take the pushchair out?!

Do you live in North Dulwich, perchance?

[mockney piers]

LozzyLoz, yep and yep, once I've won the lottery.

AnotherPaul, the day I've been forced back to Letchworth and my my spirit is crushed by life...around 45 i reckon ;)

*Bob* absolutely true, I gather there are some of those paediatricians* down Kings College Hospital, quick, get the torches and pitch forks.

*apologies to snorky who made this reference a while back

[Jah Lush]

*Bob*, have you been on the Paedo Grigio again?

[AnotherPaul]

Being forced off a train to Letchworth by life, now that's a Mail story if ever there was.

[lozzyloz]

Letchworth - Acclaimed throughout the world as the ?home? of town planning