13-09-10
Monday, September 13, 2010
Flying, lions and 4 weeks until I go
13-09-10
For a long time now, my deepest fear has been the one of my plane going down in the jungle and I survive, only to be eaten by a lion. Small chance I know, but in a way that only makes it worse, because if the scenario actually occurs, it will be even more horrifying from the shock of such long odds being realised.
If I try dissect this fear, I'm left with a common fear of flying. From a quick google-diagnosis, I can quite safely say that the media has instilled it in me. I never used to hate flying, but then I never used to expose myself to news like I do nowadays. Plane crashes always get reported on, by all the big outlets. A few months ago, after yet another big crash, it occurred to me that I'd lost count of how many plane crashes I've read about in the last couple of years. I wondered if it really was a lot, or if it just seemed like a lot because of how much attention I gave them. Not a problem, it turned out, as along with its coverage on this crash, CNN churned out an article chronically all the big ones of the decade. I think they missed some.
It's definitely the media's job to report on crashes – they are huge tragedies that capture people's attention - so I don't take issue with that, but I would prefer it if they could at least include a footnote with statistics about the planes that do land, day in, day out, at the bottom of crash pieces. It would be a nice gesture for people like me, on whom the logic of why penguins can't fly but planes can is lost. It would be token-ish, sure, but no different to having a life jacket under your seat.
I don't really know how to overcome my fear and it's big enough that I can't justify watching Doctor Retired Pilot or whoever on YouTube to try to fix it. If my plane was then to go down, my misery would be far worse, as I'd feel like I'd wasted my short life on YouTube. It's a tough spot to be in, but I expect by February next year, after fours months of travel around Africa, encompassing more than ten flights(1), in which time I'll be avoiding Safari fervently (I see enough lions when I go to sleep), I'll be cured.
Welcome to my blog: a home for my many anxieties and failures, between now and the end of my trip. I will post up stories, articles and the odd photograph as well. Thank you for visiting and I do hope that I get to write more!
For a long time now, my deepest fear has been the one of my plane going down in the jungle and I survive, only to be eaten by a lion. Small chance I know, but in a way that only makes it worse, because if the scenario actually occurs, it will be even more horrifying from the shock of such long odds being realised.
If I try dissect this fear, I'm left with a common fear of flying. From a quick google-diagnosis, I can quite safely say that the media has instilled it in me. I never used to hate flying, but then I never used to expose myself to news like I do nowadays. Plane crashes always get reported on, by all the big outlets. A few months ago, after yet another big crash, it occurred to me that I'd lost count of how many plane crashes I've read about in the last couple of years. I wondered if it really was a lot, or if it just seemed like a lot because of how much attention I gave them. Not a problem, it turned out, as along with its coverage on this crash, CNN churned out an article chronically all the big ones of the decade. I think they missed some.
It's definitely the media's job to report on crashes – they are huge tragedies that capture people's attention - so I don't take issue with that, but I would prefer it if they could at least include a footnote with statistics about the planes that do land, day in, day out, at the bottom of crash pieces. It would be a nice gesture for people like me, on whom the logic of why penguins can't fly but planes can is lost. It would be token-ish, sure, but no different to having a life jacket under your seat.
I don't really know how to overcome my fear and it's big enough that I can't justify watching Doctor Retired Pilot or whoever on YouTube to try to fix it. If my plane was then to go down, my misery would be far worse, as I'd feel like I'd wasted my short life on YouTube. It's a tough spot to be in, but I expect by February next year, after fours months of travel around Africa, encompassing more than ten flights(1), in which time I'll be avoiding Safari fervently (I see enough lions when I go to sleep), I'll be cured.
Welcome to my blog: a home for my many anxieties and failures, between now and the end of my trip. I will post up stories, articles and the odd photograph as well. Thank you for visiting and I do hope that I get to write more!
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