Dangerous World

There have always been wars and dangerous conflicts somewhere in the world, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Europe.
But, what seems to have become worse is safety, or the lack of it, as it is now in most parts of urban North America and Europe. There is no longer sense of community as it used to be, there is more fear and phobias among people. Children don't go out and play any longer on their own.
People are affraid of paedofiles, terrorists (at home and in the world), HIV and diabetes, genetically modified food and obesity, raising fuel prices and global warming,
Are those real dangers or is it only a media stuff?

Or is it us? Common knowledge would tell us that older persons are more fearful of new, strange experiences and youth is more fearless, more adventuresome. I (we) have been in some unusual, possibly dangerous situations but the world seems worse now and getting worse. I wouldn't spend much time in a Muslim country now although we did spend a week in Istanbul last year. Was in Afganistan in '72 and it was a dangerous place but not like now. On the same trip we went through Iran but now I'm not so sure. There are more Muslim's in India than there are in Pakistan. Used to spend a lot of time in Morocco - - no more. This seems to be good sense to me but I'm not so sure. I am also afraid that world wide impoverishment might lead to agressive action on the part of desperate people. We are poor by western standards but not third world standards. Seemingly safe places seem too boring for us.

danger at home or at travel has much to do with the attitude oneself has about the surrounding.
Take the same precausion as at home and you might be safe abroad
of course there are hotspots on this planet, which at least i would not travel to
But i think much of the fears came as the communication gets better, now you read and hear abuot more crimes then in the old days without internet and cell phone.
While travelling try to be an open minded visitor, especially look for yourself and do not get caught up in politics, and prejudice
injoy the people, the culture and the food and behave as a guest who likes to be where he is

Yes I agree, things just dont seem to be the same nowdays, however I do agree with #3, these things probably still happened when we were young, but we didnt hear about them due to lack of media in those days. Still wont stop us from travelling, but will definatley be more careful now.

I don't think so at all and being older and having less time to spend I don't intend spending it in fear. Being an old man with a beard I get on well with Muslems and have a deep respect for Islam. I was treated well at 18 on my first long journey and have never forgotten that.

People are affraid of paedofiles, terrorists (at home and in the world), HIV and diabetes, genetically modified food and obesity, raising fuel prices and global warming,

No. My concern when picking up a todler from the middle of a busy road was being identified as such. Should have let him be squashed and saved myself the bother. Terrorists - I live in London and we had the IRA before and various other people over the years who did not wish us well. HIV - take precautions - even if you get it - it is now a mangeable condition. Diabetes and obesity - lose some weigh do some exercise.

People today confuse threat with risk. I have no reservations about travelling almost anywhere in the world that's not a war zone.

While the US government may not have a good reputation overseas I don't believe that translates to Americans in general. As always, discussing politics when in a foreign country is a bad idea (ours or theirs).

Perhaps an open mind and being a nice person will minimize overseas trouble; nevertheless I have no illusions that in many quarters I would be seen as an old, rich American white guy. I am also concerned about worldwide economic depression and the resultant desperation by the poor some of whom may be pushed over the edge. Been hearing about food shortages, high inflation and high gasoline prices which could lead to social unrest. Perhaps I am being alarmist - - that is my question. Will probably leave in a few months for SE Asia and India but I am watching the internet news. I remember the phrase "ugly American" but the American government and public has elevated this problem to another much higher level. My older brother many, many years ago advised me on my first trip to Europe in '69 to put an American flag on my backpack so we could get rides easier and meet the friendly locals - - what a joke today. US and Europe are too expensive and uninteresting. We shall see what happens.

Travel has always come with certain risks, but I'm not at all sure it has become more dangerous.

What has happened, though, is that incidents involving tourists (especially English-speaking tourists now often appear to be crime waves of tsunami proportion, largely because of the Internet and the way it is used by both the public and news gatherers.

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians vacation every year in Mexico, for instance, but it would be easy to conclude that your chances of being murdered there are very high, because of a few very highly publicized and repeatedly referenced incidents in the past couple of years.

Every time some drunk Canadian kid falls off a balcony at a Mexican resort and dies, the immediate assumption these days is that he was murdered and there was a coverup by Mexican authorities.

It doesn't help that the Mexican law enforcement system can be less than transparent to an outsider, and that comments by Mexican law enforcement officials can seem defensive or even ludicrous to non-Mexicans.

But considering how many tourists treat all-inclusive package holidays as opportunities to get shitfaced night and day, I'm actually surprised that there are so few deaths, accidental or otherwise, abroad.

Travelled independently through SEA last winter for 3 months and had no concerns. The week after coming home I drove down to Seattle and found myself in a situation in a suburban mall that had all my danger antennae on alert.

I find the USA to be a very dangerous place - that great economic divide is turning into a chasm and young people are losing hope. That makes them desperate for what you have. Nowhere is that MORE apparent than in the big cities of U.S.

As to what happened on that Greyhound bus in Manitoba? Well, a Greyhound bus in Manitoba is one of the places in the world I would have felt completely safe. Go figure.