This is really more psychology than it is philosophy, but...

**su-chan** · 01-13-2004 05:22 AM

I'm just curious to see what everyone thinks of peoples' obsession with ambulance chasing, and why we all gawk at car accidents. I saw one earlier this evening, so I started wondering, and this is what I think... I'm a bit lazy to re-type the whole thing out, so I'll just directly copy-paste what I posted in my journal earlier this evening, which will explain why I entertained the thought, etc:
I went out with the intent of shopping. I ended up getting nothing done, having run into an acquaintance from high school as I went into the office store to pick up some school supplies (which I ended up not getting; I just wandered around aimlessly pondering why I hadn't called any friends from high school after graduation, or something). I went to the grocery store to pick up pineapple chunks and some carmel cream candies that mom likes that she wanted me to get, and they didn't have the candy... So I drove up, back past the house, and went to the Rite-Aid because I knew they had them.
Car crash.
Front end of the car looked like it had been played like an accordion... And here I am driving down the street with a photo-book from Borders of car crashes and "other tragedies". So I parked, went in, got the stuff, and walked a ways down the sidewalk, just watching, completely detached from it and yet fascinated for reasons previously unknown... and I figured out where my actual fascination with car crashes lay. The fascination is in peoples' willingness to climb into a metal box that can become a death cage... and yet the phobia of crawling into an airplane, which is many, many times safer than a car.
I suppose there's an element of illogical fear at the loss of control that causes it; you can drive your own car until you die, but climbing in an airplane and strapping yourself in requires trust in someone else's knowledge, trust that they can control something that you likely know almost nothing about... we know that statistically, airplanes are safer; we think, subconsciously, that we're immortal and car crashes only happen to 'other people'. We all think we're the best drivers in the world. We all speed and say we won't. We all cut people off. We all try to take shortcuts and we all run red lights.
It has to do with the loss of convenience coupled with this subconscious belief that we're immoratal and the best drivers in the world. Not getting in a plane means arranging other means of long-distance travel; not getting in a car means public transit or walking. The former generally has little influence on daily life; the latter means no job. So we ignore the fact that cars are more fatal by far than other means of transportation - we swallow it, and take the car keys despite the fact that, inevitably, someone will be taking those keys from the hand of death, getting in the car, driving away, and ending up at the morgue instead of work or a friend's house or the store.

Having realized this, I will just as readily fish my keys from my purse and drive fifteen or twenty over the speed limit to get to work tomorrow - but I will now know why I stare at car accidents with a detached fascination I've never understood before.

**Serinanth** · 01-13-2004 09:18 AM

VERY interesting... I would have to agree... thats a very good assesment.. It is kinda nerve wracking getting on a plane, I love flying.. i mean i love it, its the closes I am to home so far, but you are relying on another person, and its hard to trust them when you dont even know what they look like and half the time and they are only a disembodied voice over the loudspeaker.

but you are forgetting one thing... morbid as it is... Carlin was right...

LETS GO SEE THE BODIES!!!!

No one wants to see a bunch of cars go in a big loop for hours on end we want to see twisted metal and fire and explosions and some dumb redkneck jumping out of his car totaly aflame beating his head with his own fists trying to put the fire out.

**YULAW** · 01-13-2004 09:54 AM

Yep I don't mind flying myself but I'd rather drive. And I do think Im the best driver around.

Its this confidence that kept me defensive and not once have I ever had an accident of been involved in one. Yeah it is statiscally true that you are far more likely to die in a car crash but I rather die in a head on collision then to watch the pain on hundreds of peoples faces for minutes as a plane plunges to the ground.

**Seeker** · 01-14-2004 05:55 PM

People always hunt out novel experiences. Look into your mind and catalog all the emotions you feel when you come up on an accident.
1. Curiosity
2. Unbelief
3. Horror
4. Revulsion
5. Pity
6. Relief (that it wasn't you)

That is a lot of strong emotions in the span of a few seconds. Your body responds by pumping in a big load of adrenaline! Your pulse rate and blood pressure increase. And also some endorphins, which explains the kind of upbeat feeling you get when leaving an accident.

I've just got one friendly request. I am a trained first responder. Please don't chase ambulances or in anyway hinder the EMTs at their job. It could be you next time.

I am thinking of an incident that happened at work last month. We had a lady fall and hit the back of her head on the desk. Not a major injury, just a lot of blood. I had the worst time with bystanders.
They ranged from the helpful ones that wouldn't let me do my job to the ones that were telling her she was bleeding to death.
Not to mention contaminating the whole area by tracking blood and on paper towels. Luckily she didn't have Hep. B or AIDS.

So please, as a favor to me....

**su-chan** · 01-14-2004 06:22 PM

Originally posted by Seeker
People always hunt out novel experiences. Look into your mind and catalog all the emotions you feel when you come up on an accident.
1. Curiosity
2. Unbelief
3. Horror
4. Revulsion
5. Pity
6. Relief (that it wasn't you)

That is a lot of strong emotions in the span of a few seconds. Your body responds by pumping in a big load of adrenaline! Your pulse rate and blood pressure increase. And also some endorphins, which explains the kind of upbeat feeling you get when leaving an accident.

I've just got one friendly request. I am a trained first responder. Please don't chase ambulances or in anyway hinder the EMTs at their job. It could be you next time.

I am thinking of an incident that happened at work last month. We had a lady fall and hit the back of her head on the desk. Not a major injury, just a lot of blood. I had the worst time with bystanders.
They ranged from the helpful ones that wouldn't let me do my job to the ones that were telling her she was bleeding to death.
Not to mention contaminating the whole area by tracking blood and on paper towels. Luckily she didn't have Hep. B or AIDS.

So please, as a favor to me....

Funny, I don't get upbeat feelings when leaving an accident... it's mostly silent shock or awe. Never do I think "That could've been me", though I know that. It goes without thinking. I really only feel the curiosity. No unbelief, no horror or revulsion. Sympathy, but not pity... and no relief.

(I never chase to THAT degree, no. I never get close enough to even be part of the scene... just close enough to look on. Interfering = bad. I mean, if I was right there when it happened before the EMTs got there, I'd help (I used to be CPR-certified, and I think my first aid certification is still valid... in either case, I still remember some). I don't really follow them to their location, it just happened that when I parked where I needed to be, it was a little bit away... they were finishing up as it was. And I've actually wanted to be an EMT...)

**WerBurN** · 01-20-2004 12:01 PM

upbeat? hrmm...i can recall a couple times if sustained injuries, and thought it was the neatest feeling (shock)...then the next day rolled around, and it wasnt so neat anymore lol

**su-chan** · 01-20-2004 06:39 PM

Originally posted by WerBurN
upbeat? hrmm...i can recall a couple times if sustained injuries, and thought it was the neatest feeling (shock)...then the next day rolled around, and it wasnt so neat anymore lol

... you are so weird.

and wtf is with your new avatar lol. XD It sure does look like you, anyway...

**grim_reaper** · 08-11-2004 08:49 PM

Originally posted by Seeker
People always hunt out novel experiences. Look into your mind and catalog all the emotions you feel when you come up on an accident.
1. Curiosity
2. Unbelief
3. Horror
4. Revulsion
5. Pity
6. Relief (that it wasn't you)

Call me weird, but when I see an accident (and I saw quite a few), I'm completely unaffected... somehow it doesn't even cause any thoughts and/or emotions in me...

**Neil** · 08-11-2004 08:57 PM

Great discussion topic!

A few months ago I was jogging around town and I saw the aftermath of a car accident. There was a guy on the road who was very badly injured. He was unconscious and there were policemen around. I was fascinated but i was very shaken too.

I cycle alot through my city centre and I don't wear a helmet. I travel very fast. But I really enjoy it. Danger makes me feel alive. That's why I like ski-ing too.

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