Isn't that a little simplistic. After all many of the revered "Greatest Generation" came back to America to lynch black people and stand in school doorways with axes, and many former hippies went on to successful careers in government, business and academia.

I believe that you're trying to cram this issue into a partisan political framework that pleases you. It might interest you to know that many--though not all--of the most narcissistic, I'm too precious to risk flying people that I've talked to are middle-class, suburban Republicans.

In the world of high speed internet, video cams, video conferencing, webex's, there just haven't been as much desire to travel when telecommuting gets the job done almost as well.

I've saved myself several trips to Europe thanks to virtual video conferences.

SAVED YOURSELF several trips to Europe?!

Yup. I'm very very travel weary.

I have temporarily postponed my trip to Hong Kong, but it definitely had nothing to do with the war. I was, however, concerned about that virus that's going around over there - especially knowing that they are pulling people off airplanes and throwing them into quarrantine. Other than that, I will still fly whenever I feel the need and I refuse to let some extremist get the best of me!

- cheapo

Jailer's very accurate observation is similar to my theory about crime and local news. If there are 100 violent crimes on a given day in New York City, the 3 or 4 most serious or significant get on the news during the 10 minutes or so (usually the first 10 minutes) devoted to local crime news. Then if, over time, violent crime decreases by 90%, 3 or 4 of the 10 or so crimes left still make the news. The result is that people, who are not very interested in statistics, still for the most part think the City is a very dangerous place, if their perspective is the "evil box" . If their perspective is personal knowledge of victims, let's say that 15 years ago I might have known personally 1 person per year who was a victim of a mugging, and now I know zero. What does that reasonably tell anyone about the risk of violent crime?> Absolutely nothing! The sample is far too small to be meaningful, yet most people base their perceptions either on personal experience or their view of the world through the Box. Neither is particularly useful.

The plain fact is that my neighborhood in Manhattan has about the same crime rate as Peoria. I doubt that many people living outside of New York City understand that.

agreed.

A friend who is a travel agent stated that she has cancelled 20% of her "spring break" trips.