[Melonious Thunk]

deleted by poster.

[Orik]

That's pretty sad. And I don't just mean the event itself.

[Melonious Thunk]

Well, the world is a pretty sad place. And thanks to media, we know about most of it all the time.

[omnivorette]

We see *some* things, filtered through the media, but I would never suggest that it is "most."

[Rail Paul]

Melonious Thunk, on Jul 19 2007, 02:24 PM, said:

Mumbai building collapse kills 11



...Correspondents say it is not uncommon for poorly maintained buildings to collapse during the monsoon rains in Mumbai.

A police officer told Reuters the local government had declared the building unfit.

"I believe the Mumbai Corporation had declared it unsafe and served them notice," he said.

The chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, said an inquiry into the cause of the collapse had been ordered.

He said his government regretted the incident and help would be given to the families of the victims.

According to one estimate, there are some 19,000 high-rise buildings in Mumbai that are "old and dilapidated".

Last month, more than 1,000 people were killed in record-breaking downpours in the city and its state of Maharashtra.

At what point do "not uncommon events" cease to engage the consciousness? People in Mumbai perceive the collapse of an apartment building and the deaths of many people as unfortunate, but regular events. The deaths of 1,000 people are an afterthought in this story.

People in the US see the deaths of 3,700 Americans in a far-off land as tragic and horrible, but the slaying of 15,000 Americans every year by drunk drivers as "not uncommon", and not worthy of a concentrated effort at prevention.

[mongo_jones]

Orik, on Jul 19 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

That's pretty sad. And I don't just mean the event itself.

yes. what is sad is it happens each year. a lot of sand mixed in with the cement, you see. no building codes or at least none enforced. plus it happens to the poor, and no one cares past the headlines.

[Abbylovi]

mongo_jones, on Jul 19 2007, 03:44 PM, said:

Orik, on Jul 19 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

That's pretty sad. And I don't just mean the event itself.

yes. what is sad is it happens each year. a lot of sand mixed in with the cement, you see. no building codes or at least none enforced. plus it happens to the poor, and no one cares past the headlines.

I think that Orik is making a comment about our behavior.

[yvonne johnson]

As far as I can see, the original post was in response to something earlier today. And that's the sad part.

[yvonne johnson]

Abbylovi, on Jul 19 2007, 03:49 PM, said:

mongo_jones, on Jul 19 2007, 03:44 PM, said:

Orik, on Jul 19 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

That's pretty sad. And I don't just mean the event itself.

yes. what is sad is it happens each year. a lot of sand mixed in with the cement, you see. no building codes or at least none enforced. plus it happens to the poor, and no one cares past the headlines.

I think that Orik is making a comment about our behavior.

Absolutely.

It's sick. [Edited by yj]

[mongo_jones]

is there a thread i should be reading to understand this one?

[yvonne johnson]

The NY explosion thread was deleted in part, so no more.

[Melonious Thunk]

Abbylovi, on Jul 19 2007, 03:49 PM, said:

mongo_jones, on Jul 19 2007, 03:44 PM, said:

Orik, on Jul 19 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

That's pretty sad. And I don't just mean the event itself.

yes. what is sad is it happens each year. a lot of sand mixed in with the cement, you see. no building codes or at least none enforced. plus it happens to the poor, and no one cares past the headlines.

I think that Orik is making a comment about our behavior.

Of course he was. I'm not that dense.
I care about what is going on the world and all the people being slaughtered and killed by man's inhumanity.
Does that make it better?

I didn't frame the discussion in any way other than the original event. So Mods can delete this entire thread too. I'll delete the original post.

[Rebecca]

mongo_jones, on Jul 19 2007, 12:53 PM, said:

is there a thread i should be reading to understand this one?

I'm waiting for you to comment as a representative of India and all that has happened tragically due to . . . improper planning and forethought. It's like someone wanting you to supply the tomato juice, maybe.
I am not being "flip" here. Metaphorically. And probably a little "you people" action, too. An unsound building collapses, people die, and more energy is spent trying to point fingers than solving the problem for the future.

[mongo_jones]

i was deposed in a bloodless coup and am no longer allowed to represent india.

[Melonious Thunk]

Did you hear about the LA gang pigeon who lost its place to live. It was known as a "coopless blood."