Originally Posted by stimpy
You tell me. In case you didn't get the point, most all the murders in the US don't make the papers until they get to writing up the year-end statistics in each city. Then everyone is appalled by the thousands of murders that happened that year. My point is the US is far more dangerous if you go by statistics.
WADR this is simply bull$hit compounded by ignorance. Using the number of murders in any city as a proxy for the average risk a local (or tourist) takes is simply laughable in addition to bad statistics. Every city of size has certain areas with extremely high crime rates and other areas with extremely low rates. Most people I know tend to avoid the problem areas and for some strange reason these areas tend not to show up in guidebooks under "have to see".
Regarding the ME area, Egypt has a record of repeated attacks on tourist groups, both in the Sinai and in the country proper. That pattern has not repeated itself in other ME countries (yet). Clearly by now anyone should recognize that the resorts at Dahab, Sharm, Nueiba, etc., are not secured, and there is risk associated with these areas. That does not mean don't travel to Egypt or Sinai, but being oblivious or choosing to believe the risk doesn't exist seems a bit stupid.