Opinion

Put It in Perspective...

By SCOTT T. HARDS

It seems like there's been quite a bit of alarmist and sensational news recently, that is, news that makes a much bigger issue out of things than is necessary. Sure, frightening or shocking stories draw more readers or viewers, but it seems like we've had more than our share lately.

Since the bankruptcy of Hokkaido Takushoku Bank and Yamaichi Securities, the media have been filled with reports titled "Is Your Money Safe?" or "Secret List of the Next Banks to Fail." But is there really any risk? No depositor, even at a failed bank, has ever lost money, thanks to unwavering government support.

Reports in December and January of the new "chicken flu" in Hong Kong suggested that if the strain made it to Japan, "thousands could die," and urged the Ministry of Health to take urgent steps. As it turns out, the disease is not nearly as bad as reported, and only a handful of people have died, even in Hong Kong.

For the last 18 to 24 months, reports of O-157 food poisoning have terrorized Japan, with some schools cutting off hot lunch service, worried parents switching over to box lunches, and very costly changes being made in the way food is handled. Still, the number of people killed by the bacteria remains fewer than 20, and those were generally individuals in relatively poor health to begin with.

An even bigger story, globally, has been the presence of "mad cow" disease. Public panic in the United States and Britain over the safety of beef sent meat sales plummeting. Well-known U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey is being sued by cattle farmers over comments she made on the air about beef safety

Import restrictions on beef remain in place in many countries. But around the world, fewer than 10 people have even been diagnosed with the disease.

More recently, two knife attacks, one fatal, by junior high school students grabbed headlines here in Japan for several days. Reports covered how some municipalities were considering bans on sales of knives to minors and how school administrators were wrestling with the decision of whether to search students' personal belongings, as if school yards around Japan had suddenly turned into blade-filled war zones

What most reports missed is that while the so-called butterfly knife may be relatively new, boys (myself included!) have carried around knives for ages in countries all over the world. Schoolboys' fascination with weapons is nothing new at all.

So what am I trying to say? Not that the issues described above are not worthy of concern, but that when you watch the news, you should put things into perspective before you panic. Ask yourself if the situation being reported is really putting you at risk personally or is a threat to society

For comparison's sake, keep in mind that the number of people killed every day in traffic accidents here in Japan is roughly the same as the number of people who have died from all of the diseases mentioned above. But when was the last time you saw a panicky report about traffic deaths? Perhaps the news media need to refocus their priorities if they genuinely hope to help society.

Shukan ST: Feb. 20, 1998

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