Anonymous wrote:I also think there's a bit of cognitive dissonance needed/at play. This is my first hurricane I'm about to experience. In the past, I've been sort of a "hurricane junkie" and I watch every bit of news coverage. I can't do that here, and initially I seriously downplayed the effect it might have. The projections have changed so many times and you're up, then down, then up, then scared. You just can't be on such high alert for so long. No one is equipped to withstand that internally. So it's not hypocrisy. It's self-preservation so you're not under massive internal stress until you absolutely have to be.

You suck OP.

agree

Wow. They are human and this is how some humans deal with things. Make light of it to deal with the uncertainty and then only stress when it is close. Hurricanes turn all the time, so it was not real before. Why do you even care? How does this impact you?

I also think there's a bit of cognitive dissonance needed/at play. This is my first hurricane I'm about to experience. In the past, I've been sort of a "hurricane junkie" and I watch every bit of news coverage. I can't do that here, and initially I seriously downplayed the effect it might have. The projections have changed so many times and you're up, then down, then up, then scared. You just can't be on such high alert for so long. No one is equipped to withstand that internally. So it's not hypocrisy. It's self-preservation so you're not under massive internal stress until you absolutely have to be.

You suck OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family all week:

Hurricane? We aren’t scared. Business as usual. Haha! Of course we aren’t leaving! HURRICANE PARTY!!! Trust us, we can handle a little hurricane. Dorian, we are laughing in your face! Are you scared when it snows? Well, we aren’t scared when there is a hurricane either. Crazy Yanks. No biggie.

Family today:

It’s coming straight for us! Pray! We love where You vacation but it’s not always a vacation! Turn, Dorian, TURN! Really worried about this hurricane. Pray for us.

Why the cockiness? Y’all know you’re scared.

How is this hypocritical?

That word doesn't mean what OP thinks it means.

As someone who now lives in a hurricane zone, I'd say it's more like "I'm not going to panic unless there is something to panic about." My joke is that it's always good to be ground zero on the very first models of any hurricane, because that is never where it goes. When it gets to be 3 days out, and its coming your way, you start to really pay attention and make sure your house is all buttoned up and supplies are stocked.

One thing people who haven't been through this seem to miss is that powerful hurricanes are very destructive, but generally only to a limited area immediately surrounding the eye. We've been less than 100 miles from a large category 4 hurricane that completely flattened the area in the eye and we ever even got rain. We had lots of friends calling to ask if we were leaving. The authorities don't want people to evacuate unless they are right in the target area and occupying the low ground, because if everyone leaves, those that really do need to get to higher ground can't get through the traffic. These areas have zones designated, and the authorities announce which ones should be leaving. If you're not in an evacuation zone, you're actually discouraged from leaving. This is why you may not get the response you're looking for when you call your relatives to say that they are crazy to be staying. So, the answer may be that they're not crazy, they just know more about what's going on than you do.

Maybe your relatives are tired of the media incessantly hyping the hurricanes. The media is like the boy who cried wolf with these hurricanes. It’s always: Danger!!! Massive destruction!!! [Ratings Ratings Ratings]”

I'm from Texas and I totally get it. So many cocky people until something actually happens. What really bothers me is when say, California will have forest fires and such and some dumbasses will be like "that's God's way of punishing them" or some bs.

I’m from Florida and have been through several major hurricanes. Floridians don’t pay much attention to forecast models days out. We have learned that meteorologists are never right about where the hurricane will make landfall until it’s much closer. If we worried about every hurricane, we would be perpetually on edge. We start getting serious when forecasts become more reliable. Usually about 24-48 hours before landfall. Those of us who live in coastal communities or flood prone areas are prepared at the start of the hurricane season. We know our evacuation zones and routes. We have supplies. We’ll decide whether to stay or go. We gas up all the cars immediately. If we stay, we will make a run to Publix for extra water, snacks, and beer. We’ll trim trees and bring in outdoor furniture. Then, we’ll have a hurricane party and grill all the meat in the freezers.

No one ignores the possibility of a major hurricane. We just choose not to live in fear. We know when to start getting concerned. That said, I’m in Ponte Vedra (just south of Jax). I’m getting concerned. We are in the first evacuation zone. University of North Florida just cancelled classes. This definitely has our attention.

Wow, OP, you are a beyotch. Are you aware that hurricanes occur in states other than Florida, where your stupid relatives live? You know, the relatives you are mocking in your post.

And btw, not everyone in Florida is on the East Coast, or any coast. I'm in the Tampa Bay area and I hung my laundry outside today as the weather was fine.

And as someone who used to live where it snowed-you laugh at a regular storm, but you prepare for a blizzard. Is that stupid too, OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get too worried when I'm on a highway where everyone is driving 70 MPH, until one of them is headed straight for me.

This.

Dorian is hammering the Bahamas. Hopefully it will turn out to sea and spare Florida and the Carolinas.

But the hurricane was always a threat and always had the possibility of turning. So why be cocky?

If you want to keep using that analogy, it’s more like saying a car is headed your way and it’s a mile out, but it might exit before it gets to you.

I live in Florida. Some of that cockiness is just bluster. Some of it is a way of dealing with the stress when you don't actually know what the hurricane is going to do. It is extremely stressful in the weeks/days leading up to a storm, when everyone is scrambling to stock up on water and supplies, and to track the storm minute by minute to see if it's likely to hit you. Some of it is (I think) a sort of magical power of words kind of thing - like praying You think if you say the right words, you can protect yourself from being hurt by the hurricane.

And some of it is probability. It is extremely unlikely that any of us will be hit by a cat 4 or cat 5 storm. The news makes it seem as if we're all going to be blown off the earth. We like to counter that by reassuring people that we're fine. Then the storm path changes and seems more dire, and your feelings about it - and the way you talk about it - changes, too.

Anyway, show some fcking empathy.

Makes sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family all week:

Hurricane? We aren’t scared. Business as usual. Haha! Of course we aren’t leaving! HURRICANE PARTY!!! Trust us, we can handle a little hurricane. Dorian, we are laughing in your face! Are you scared when it snows? Well, we aren’t scared when there is a hurricane either. Crazy Yanks. No biggie.

Family today:

It’s coming straight for us! Pray! We love where You vacation but it’s not always a vacation! Turn, Dorian, TURN! Really worried about this hurricane. Pray for us.

Why the cockiness? Y’all know you’re scared.

How is this hypocritical?

Because OP feels smug that she lives outside of Florida and her relatives live in Florida, and obviously Florida is a stupid place to live - so whenever her relatives are punished for living in Florida OP feels a little better about herself. I think she finds it hypocritical that generally they like living in Florida and aren't scared of hurricanes until the forecasts show a good likelihood of being hit very badly by one.

OP is a jerk.

That's not hypocrisy tho
It's inconsistent but not hypocritical

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get too worried when I'm on a highway where everyone is driving 70 MPH, until one of them is headed straight for me.

This.

Dorian is hammering the Bahamas. Hopefully it will turn out to sea and spare Florida and the Carolinas.

But the hurricane was always a threat and always had the possibility of turning. So why be cocky?

If you want to keep using that analogy, it’s more like saying a car is headed your way and it’s a mile out, but it might exit before it gets to you.

I live in Florida. Some of that cockiness is just bluster. Some of it is a way of dealing with the stress when you don't actually know what the hurricane is going to do. It is extremely stressful in the weeks/days leading up to a storm, when everyone is scrambling to stock up on water and supplies, and to track the storm minute by minute to see if it's likely to hit you. Some of it is (I think) a sort of magical power of words kind of thing - like praying You think if you say the right words, you can protect yourself from being hurt by the hurricane.

And some of it is probability. It is extremely unlikely that any of us will be hit by a cat 4 or cat 5 storm. The news makes it seem as if we're all going to be blown off the earth. We like to counter that by reassuring people that we're fine. Then the storm path changes and seems more dire, and your feelings about it - and the way you talk about it - changes, too.

Anyway, show some fcking empathy.

Plus 1, (from another Floridian)

Hurricanes can do pretty significant damage even a 3 hour drive in from the coasts.

Florida, Georgia, SC and NC all have coastal residents of brown, black, Asian and white skin. I'm not sure why skin color is even a thing when it comes to your fellow man kind
in a natural disaster. A lot of poor folks live along the coasts of FL, GA, SC and NC. Have some empathy.

I just think those in Florida who think the media is “fake news” should stay put.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family all week:

Hurricane? We aren’t scared. Business as usual. Haha! Of course we aren’t leaving! HURRICANE PARTY!!! Trust us, we can handle a little hurricane. Dorian, we are laughing in your face! Are you scared when it snows? Well, we aren’t scared when there is a hurricane either. Crazy Yanks. No biggie.

Family today:

It’s coming straight for us! Pray! We love where You vacation but it’s not always a vacation! Turn, Dorian, TURN! Really worried about this hurricane. Pray for us.

Why the cockiness? Y’all know you’re scared.

How is this hypocritical?

Because OP feels smug that she lives outside of Florida and her relatives live in Florida, and obviously Florida is a stupid place to live - so whenever her relatives are punished for living in Florida OP feels a little better about herself. I think she finds it hypocritical that generally they like living in Florida and aren't scared of hurricanes until the forecasts show a good likelihood of being hit very badly by one.

OP is a jerk.

Anonymous wrote:My family all week:

Hurricane? We aren’t scared. Business as usual. Haha! Of course we aren’t leaving! HURRICANE PARTY!!! Trust us, we can handle a little hurricane. Dorian, we are laughing in your face! Are you scared when it snows? Well, we aren’t scared when there is a hurricane either. Crazy Yanks. No biggie.

Family today:

It’s coming straight for us! Pray! We love where You vacation but it’s not always a vacation! Turn, Dorian, TURN! Really worried about this hurricane. Pray for us.

Why the cockiness? Y’all know you’re scared.

How is this hypocritical?

It’s amazing that people don’t understand humor is always a great way to get through situations like this.