How has your life changed since 9-11?

[Thunder]

For the first few years after 9-11, I was terribly afraid of another terror attack. Of course the media was partly to blaim for this, with the damn "terror alerts" and hyping every rumor that existed.

But now, I don't really think about it at all...or very much.

Life in NYC is mostly back to normal. The exit ramp along the United Nations from the FDR Drive is back in business. You rarely see National Guard troops...except sometimes around Grand Central Station, Penn Station, and a Subway here or there.

But of course, every time I come back from Staten Island on the Verrazano Bridge, I still see that void over lower Manhattan.

Yet, as a New Yorker, I can still say, life has pretty much returned to normal, as much as it possibly could.

But I'll still always miss that view up East Broadway.

[NYCEMT86]

For the first few years after 9-11, I was terribly afraid of another terror attack. Of course the media was partly to blaim for this, with the damn "terror alerts" and hyping every rumor that existed.

But now, I don't really think about it at all...or very much.

Life in NYC is mostly back to normal. The exit ramp along the United Nations from the FDR Drive is back in business. You rarely see National Guard troops...except sometimes around Grand Central Station, Penn Station, and a Subway here or there.

But of course, every time I come back from Staten Island on the Verrazano Bridge, I still see that void over lower Manhattan.

Yet, as a New Yorker, I can still say, life has pretty much returned to normal, as much as it possibly could.

But I'll still always miss that view up East Broadway.


It is the reason why I am now an EMT for the city.

As we are on the eve of the anniversary, I saw a ton of the Hercules cops (NYPD Counter Terrorist team) and National Guard Troops at Grand Central.

Whenever I am down by the park or on Fulton street I always find that its quieter than it was before the attacks.

I was always partial of the view from the BQE heading into the Brooklyn battery tunnel.

As you have said, life really has returned to practically normal.

[madurobob]

Changed? Oh hell yes. I never really feared another attack, tho.

9/11 is the day my girlfriend left her apartment in NYC to move down to NC and into my house. She left the city about 8:00 that morning driving south, after telling me how she and her cousin had partied all the night before and joked about leaving "at sunrise with the city in flames behind them".

They were pretty freaked when I finally reached them on her cell phone to give them the news.

Of course, their leaving the city in flames statement was intended as a metaphor for having sucked all the fun out of it they could, after 40 years living in the city. But it took on a much darker symbolism a day later.

Anyway, my life changed for the better in a big way in the intervening years.

[slingblade]

I realized how willing so many people are to believe just about anything.
I realized there were a great many more of them than I thought.

Other than that, 9/11 didn't really change my life, per se.

[Olowkow]

For the first few years after 9-11, I was terribly afraid of another terror attack. Of course the media was partly to blaim for this, with the damn "terror alerts" and hyping every rumor that existed.

...
The terror alerts were the result of the Bush folks manipulating this disaster for political reasons. Check Tom Ridge's revelations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cKR7HbvKSc
I can't see how you can blame the "media".

[qayak]

I've wasted a lot more time in airport lineups but other than that . . . nothing.

[Quad4_72]

Sort of one of the reasons I joined the military, so yeah my life changed pretty significantly.

[Kevin_Lowe]

To echo qayak, the main effect on me personally is that air travel became more annoying.

[D'rok]

I have now been touched in my "no" place by an airport security screener. I hope it was good for him. (Rubber gloves were on, but so were my pants, thankfully).

[Wildy]

The September 11 attacks changed my life differently to other people. I've probably learned far more about topics that I probably would have never looked into had the attacks not occurred.

In the comparative religion section of RE I specifically chose Islam so I could learn about the religion, and possibly learn why people could do such a thing in the name of their god.

I also became far more skeptical because I was later on introduced to "truthers" (although this was a few years after the attacks). I started reading various websites and saw that the whole CT was stupid, and learned some things about engineering. I ended up finding my way here and was introduced to many different viewpoints about various different things. I've looked more into what skepticism is, and learned more about critical thinking.

I know that throughout life we are continuously learning, but 9/11 has ultimately ended up pointing me in a different direction then I suspect I would have gone had it not happened.

[Morrigan]

I now need a passport to cross the southern border, and airports are more annoying than ever :mad:

[TragicMonkey]

Well, I'll admit that I lost about 95% of my sympathy for the Palestinians over their reaction to it.

[Kestrel]

I now need a passport to cross the southern border, and airports are more annoying than ever :mad:

I didn't need a passport last time I crossed our northern border into Canada, but the US wouldn't let me come home without one. :confused:

You are also right about airport. A lot of security theater with only minor improvements in actual security.

[bokonon]

I've wasted a lot more time in airport lineups but other than that . . . nothing.
Ditto. Long, useless lines at the airports, and at the Mexican border, where you now have to carry a passport. Other than that, no change at all.

[Marquis de Carabas]

I can't watch Mazes & Monsters now without tearing up.

[slingblade]

I can't watch Mazes & Monsters now without tearing up.

Yeah, but that's not really a change, is it? I know it's always made me cry.

[Soapy Sam]

I have watched the word "Security" become a sacred mantra and been appalled by the cynicism of governments who would use terrorism as an excuse to weaken the rule of law while strengthening their own control systems.
Frankly, I'm starting to wonder what level of insecurity I'm willing to tolerate in order to avoid the increasing intrusion of government - and unelected NGOs into my private life.

I have seen my tax money used to bomb citizens of Iraq on grounds so false that some of the 9/11 CTs seem more truthful.

In short, I am increasingly starting to wonder who the real terrorists are.

[godless dave]

Mine hasn't changed at all.

[godless dave]

I have watched the word "Security" become a sacred mantra and been appalled by the cynicism of governments who would use terrorism as an excuse to weaken the rule of law while strengthening their own control systems.

While I am also appalled by this, I'm not the least bit surprised. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book.

[Cainkane1]

Like you I was was afraid to shop in malls and s worried about follow up attacks. I developed a paranoid fear and active dislike for muslims. I wanted to get even.


I got over it. I'm friends with an Iranian named Majid. I was being irrational. Muslims overall are good people and only want to live in peace.


I still hate the taliban and I think its cool when they get killed. When an Iraqi is killed or injured I feel sorry and compassionant. I hate the war there.

[NewtonTrino]

40,000 people a year die in car accidents. I worry way more about being safe on the road than I ever have about terrorism.

[godless dave]

Mine hasn't changed at all.

I take this back: the lines at airport security are much longer. I also am more likely to be patted down before getting on a plane, so I no longer fly with a few joints or a bag of weed in my pants pocket, which is how I used to transport it.

I also fly with those travel-sized liquid toiletries in a plastic bag.

[XLDS03]

Being a Young Earth creationist, I was also a Millennialist. I won't go through too much detail about how my beliefs were affected. But suffice it to say that when nothing happened, it took a chunk out of my faith in religion.

I was very disillusioned with LDS Church authorities. If we, as a Church, were the guiding light in the world and moral leaders for the coming era, why were we not organizing and speaking out for peace and justice? I understood this was the perfect opportunity for the government to spread paranoia. I was disappointed by that. But it's politics. I couldn't understand the need for these prophetic figures of my Church to take a back seat on the issue. Here was the Millennium fast approaching and all the Prophet could do was give a talk during a Conference.

Now I understand. Politics.

This was the perfect time for religion to shoot itself in the foot. At times like this radicals yank the pulpit away from moderates. So the LDS church hunkered down and rode out the storm. Soon enough American soldiers would give their lives for missionary work in Iraq.

I feel bad for even bringing this up. There is no way my life was affected here in Utah nearly as much as it would have been in NYC. But the sad truth is, for a lot of disparate people this tragedy was a Sign of the Times. Fortunately, I can't think of any better way to denounce religious garble than for prophecy to fail, wounds to heal, and life to move on in peace.

[GreNME]

Being a Young Earth creationist, I was also a Millennialist. I won't go through too much detail about how my beliefs were affected. But suffice it to say that when nothing happened, it took a chunk out of my faith in religion.

I was very disillusioned with LDS Church authorities. If we, as a Church, were the guiding light in the world and moral leaders for the coming era, why were we not organizing and speaking out for peace and justice? I understood this was the perfect opportunity for the government to spread paranoia. I was disappointed by that. But it's politics. I couldn't understand the need for these prophetic figures of my Church to take a back seat on the issue. Here was the Millennium fast approaching and all the Prophet could do was give a talk during a Conference.

Now I understand. Politics.

This was the perfect time for religion to shoot itself in the foot. At times like this radicals yank the pulpit away from moderates. So the LDS church hunkered down and rode out the storm. Soon enough American soldiers would give their lives for missionary work in Iraq.

I feel bad for even bringing this up. There is no way my life was affected here in Utah nearly as much as it would have been in NYC. But the sad truth is, for a lot of disparate people this tragedy was a Sign of the Times. Fortunately, I can't think of any better way to denounce religious garble than for prophecy to fail, wounds to heal, and life to move on in peace.

Well said. And, something I believe is a first for me: nominated.

[Quad4_72]

Like you I was was afraid to shop in malls and s worried about follow up attacks. I developed a paranoid fear and active dislike for muslims. I wanted to get even.


I got over it. I'm friends with an Iranian named Majid. I was being irrational. Muslims overall are good people and only want to live in peace.


I still hate the taliban and I think its cool when they get killed. When an Iraqi is killed or injured I feel sorry and compassionant. I hate the war there.

I personally never developed a hatred for muslims, just the radical ones who were willing to kill just so they could get their supposed virgins in the after life. And yes I feel bad when an innocent Iraqi is killed as well. Just keep in mind though, not all of them are innocent. AQ is operating in Iraq, and they are the ones who started this mess.