Comments on: Is the Recession Keeping You from Being Eaten by a Shark?

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:36:03 +0000

Ah, good ol’ LiveScience. The headline that finally turned me off the site for good was something along the lines of ‘Five Children Killed by Lightning.’ The victims were two 16-year-olds, two people in their twenties and one in their thirties, all killed in four separate incidents over a single weekend. Tragic enough to be newsworthy without the hyperbole.

By: Ris

Ris — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:18:41 +0000

I don’t think recession’s what’s bringing down the number of people dying from shark attacks. The difference is probably just due to chance.

By: Ris

Ris — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:14:39 +0000

Sharks don’t even normally feed on humans. In fact, a worldwide recession may mean good news for the sharks, because demand for shark fin ,an expensive delicacy, is likely to fall.
This article only applies to a tiny portion of urban societies (what proportion will even visit shark-infested beaches?). It applies even less (almost negligibly) to the human population when we take into account that urban population makes up only 50% of the world’s population, and that urban population includes poor people.
Does this article take into account fishermen, or simply people who live near beaaches (it’s free for them anyway)?

As for vehicle accidents, perhaps it would mean we’re a teeny bit safer, but only if and because the careless pedestrians and drivers visit the roads less often (if driving for purposes of leisure even made a huge proportion of their drivnig time anyway).

By: Mariano

Mariano — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:11:31 +0000

No, no, no, can’t you see it?
The recesion is caused by the decline in shark attacks!
People, rub some tuna on yourselves and get into the water, the world economy will revive!

By: riohotelcasinovegas

riohotelcasinovegas — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:01:38 +0000

lol, I agree with you

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:43:10 +0000

i think it is imperative that we get this economy back on its feet so that all those poor sharks won’t be going hungry.

By: pound360

pound360 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:30:03 +0000

Okay, it’s not the headline, but an op-ed at the NY Times did use, in bold text, “A recession could save your life” (click on my name above to see more on that). Funny piece, by the way, Ms. Lafsky. Extra points for linking to the CNN story on night lights and near-sightedness!

By: jpt

jpt — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:52:56 +0000

Or…less money, less consumption, less cholesterol, less heart attcks, less deaths.
Or…less money, less pathetic chasing around and a better calmer life, maybe.
There will probably be some good comes out of it all.
We couldn’t carry on as we were.