You could go see them instead.

That's shitty, OP. I'm sorry. Im a little sympathetic when family members live in more remote places and are overwhelmed by cities on a good day -- but if they're coming from a major european city??? Weird. Seems like BS to me. I wouldn't feel bad about giving them a hard time about it.

OP here.

Thanks for the support!

My father has always been VERY cautious all his life. He never borrowed money, never does anything that he isn't sure will be successful. He's not reacting in a traditional emotional sense, but definitely in a calculating-risks sort of way.

But he's wrong. I told him all hyper-protected major venues would probably be fine, and that terrorists would try to hit unguarded "soft targets" like in Paris (secondary concert halls, suburban transports, etc). And that therefore we can't change our lifestyle or habits, since there are a dozen soft targets we go to every week!

Hopefully I can change his mind.

They sound weak and pitiful. Your children will be better without their influence.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so it's OK for your family to get blown to bits, but Heaven forbid they put themselves out?!!

This is my reaction as well.

Honestly it sounds like they wanted an out and found one.

This reminds me of, after 9/11, my college roommate changed plans and told me she was afraid to meet me for a Notre Dame football game. Because, you know, terrorists. I was like, "I am coming from WASHINGTON, DC, and you are afraid they will hit a NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAME?!?!?!?"

And full disclosure: I *did* go to Notre Dame, too, so yeah, I get it, but, come on, I don't really think they were on Al Qaeda's hit list.

People are so reactionary.

The threat has always been there. Do we honestly think it is that much more of a threat today vs. 5 days ago?

People need to get a damn grip

If my child was going to be in a terrorist attack, god forbid, I think I'd want to be with her.

Anonymous wrote:If your parents are genuinely frightened, try to have some empathy.

This.

If your parents are genuinely frightened, try to have some empathy.

"Well at least when Larlo, the kids, and I are wiped out, you'll be able to continue your celebrations unaffected."

Oh, so it's OK for your family to get blown to bits, but Heaven forbid they put themselves out?!!

Anonymous wrote:Tell the, "WELL GEE THANKS FOR LETTING THE TERRORISTS WIN!"

+1

Seriously? Stupid.

Tell the, "WELL GEE THANKS FOR LETTING THE TERRORISTS WIN!"

How annoying. My stick-in-the-mud parents, who live across the pond in a city that has had terrorist attacks in the past, are now about to cancel their plans to come here for Christmas, because ISIS is targeting Washington DC. I had already told my kids, who were overjoyed, because it's been years since we celebrated Christmas together, and in this country. I had made a schedule of all the nice things we were going to do with the grandparents. Grrr.