Thoughts and Prayers!!!

I beg you, especially those in red states or who have GOP representatives to take 5 minutes to make these calls today.  It's so easy to leave a vm and there is a script provided if you want to have a reference.   https://5calls.org

 
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How is what Neil said stupid? It's just facts. He didn't even give you context or the reason he posted it. Maybe he's saying that we shouldn't let it scare us from living our lives. There are any number of ways we could die each day.

 
ZRod said:
How is what Neil said stupid? It's just facts. He didn't even give you context or the reason he posted it. Maybe he's saying that we shouldn't let it scare us from living our lives. There are any number of ways we could die each day.
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It's stupid because its whataboutism. I know we have lost alot of lives but what about all the other lives we lose. The fact that Neil is leaving out is we can be upset about all of these things and take steps to prevent them. The other fact it leaves out is 34 deaths in isolated incidents is alot more alarming than people dying for various reasons across the entire population. I'd venture to guess those other deaths are far less concentrated on a map when compared to the mass shooting. That makes a difference. 

Providing no context is almost worse. Its insulting and insinuating that the shootings aren't really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

 
Nebfanatic said:
It's stupid because its whataboutism. I know we have lost alot of lives but what about all the other lives we lose. The fact that Neil is leaving out is we can be upset about all of these things and take steps to prevent them. The other fact it leaves out is 34 deaths in isolated incidents is alot more alarming than people dying for various reasons across the entire population. I'd venture to guess those other deaths are far less concentrated on a map when compared to the mass shooting. That makes a difference. 

Providing no context is almost worse. Its insulting and insinuating that the shootings aren't really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
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I'm not disagreeing that those numbers and the 2 incidents this weekend are drastically different. But you don't even know what his intention was with the post, yet you're jumping to your own conclusion.

Here's his statement about his tweet and the backlash.

https://m.facebook.com/notes/neil-degrasse-tyson/tweetstorm/10157492889446613/

TweetStorm


4 HOURS AGO · PUBLIC



TweetStorm - August 5, 2019​

Yesterday, a Tweet I posted in reaction to the horrific mass shootings in America over the previous 48 hours, killing 34 people, spawned mixed and highly critical responses.​

If you missed it, I offered a short list of largely preventable causes of death, along with their average two-day death toll in the United States. They significantly exceeded the death toll from the two days of mass shootings, including the number of people (40) who on average die from handgun homicides every two days.​

I then noted that we tend to react emotionally to spectacular incidences of death, with the implication that more common causes of death trigger milder responses within us.​

My intent was to offer objectively true information that might help shape conversations and reactions to preventable ways we die. Where I miscalculated was that I genuinely believed the Tweet would be helpful to anyone trying to save lives in America. What I learned from the range of reactions is that for many people, some information –-my Tweet in particular -- can be true but unhelpful, especially at a time when many people are either still in shock, or trying to heal – or both.​

So if you are one of those people, I apologize for not knowing in advance what effect my Tweet could have on you. I am therefore thankful for the candor and depth of critical reactions shared in my Twitter feed. As an educator, I personally value knowing with precision and accuracy what reaction anything that I say (or write) will instill in my audience, and I got this one wrong.​

Respectfully Submitted
Neil deGrasse Tyson​
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