STV News

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I am watching STV news. A Scottish News programme popular in Scotland, the country where I live. Disturbingly and worryingly, there was a story about an attempted-murder with a machete. This isn't the first time there has been a similar news story in this country. And from overhearing people's conversations, (I don't deliberately try to listen-in but sometimes you can't help it). I also found this online - please see photo. Please can you let me know if you find Scotland a particularly violent and dangerous country?

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Some things to consider in your risk analysis:
1. Yes. There is a very tiny percentage (a tiny fraction of a percentage) of people that commit violence with a "blade". That's in-your-face and personal. That's someone who is either highly-motivated and the violence is personal, or someone has a serious mental condition. These are not people you meet in a typical day.
2. The reason it made the news cycle is that it was rare and unusual, or two, there is an agenda being pushed in the court of public opinion for new laws and restrictions.
3. As a US citizen visiting Scotland for the first time in May of 2024, touring for 2 weeks, walking the streets, meeting people, etc. I never felt so safe. Overall, some of the nicest people with a wonderful sense of history and humor.

 

[Nervous Rex]

I heard a security expert share wonderful perspective on scary news articles like this:

"You should never worry about something that is reported in the news, because if it's in the news, it's rare enough to be considered news."

That is, you don't hear news reports about fender benders and heart attacks, because those are so common that they're not news. It's only when an event is rare and unusual that it makes the news.