I always wondered about that phenomenon too. Growing up, we never would have thought to "stock up" before a snowstorm. Despite living about 5 miles from the nearest store, (grocery or convenience)we never had problems getting out when we needed to. Even during the great blizzard of 1978, my family was able to get out and the nearest store was open (it helped that the owner of the nearest convenience store lived above it.)
My family walked to the nearest neighbors house (about 1/4 mile away) to see if they needed anything, since they had a newborn and two toddlers in the house at the time, we figured they might run out of milk or something and since we were bored and going out anyway...
Then we walked the several miles pulling a sled since the street we lived on and the main road didn't see a plow until a week after the storm ended.
My father actually was able to get his truck out and got a special emergency vehicle permit to be on the roads, he had chains on his tires and was out running special errands for the police and fire departments and we didn't see him for days following the storm.
It's interesting how now if more than a dusting of snow is predicted, people go nuts stocking up. I wonder if it is a result of storms like the blizzard of 1978. Or maybe they are afraid that the trucks delivering the food wont be able to get through so they want to get it before the store runs out.
I don't know, but when someone complains about the snow up here in New England, I usually tell them "It's New England, It's February, It snows in New England in February."
I thought I'd noticed a greater skittishness toward snow here, too, but wasn't (am not) sure whether it's my imagination, a real cultural shift, my own getting less cocky as I age, or just my noticing the "grown up" perspective more over time. If it's a real cultural shift, then I wonder whether it really is a response to a traumatic storm or a symptom of some deeper shift in attitudes toward risk in our society. But that train of thought had been centered on decisions to cancel plans, avoid driving, etc., more than the stocking-up urge (which I think has been fairly constant down here, but I should ask folks older than myself about that).
It sounds like there is a distinct change up where you are; have there been a lot of people from less-snowy places moving to New England since your childhood? I could see the 1978 blizzard making people a little more careful, but I wouldn't expect more than a short term "go nuts" response ... But I am not a sociologist, so maybe someone in the field would find that less surprising?
I've got memes from the SUV/auto safety/perception of risk (http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html) article I read yesterday bouncing around my head and trying to attach to this train of thought, but I'm not sure how/whether they connect yet.
I wonder if it is that there are more immigrants mving to this area of the US that are unaccustomed to snow or bad weather in general.
I know that I grew up in a small town that didn't have any "People of color" until I was in high school when one black family moved in. It was a very Italian Catholic town, and those that weren't Italian were likely to be Irish Catholics (my French Canadian family was in the minority) Now the town is quite diverse. But that is just my small home town. I don't know what the demographics would have been for the Boston area thirty years ago as opposed to now. I'm inclined to beleive that it too has become more diverse.
I also think that people have just forgotten what a real New England winter can be. We have had some really mild winters for the last ten or so years. No serious major snowstorms that cripp
le the city the way the Blizzard of 1978 did. That also could be that we have better forecasting abilities now and are better prepared so they don't seem as bad and the road crews and such can get a jump on the storm.
Then again it could be a combination of all of the above.
I think my brain is starting to come back after being on vacation for a couple of days because of my headcold.
(no subject)
My family walked to the nearest neighbors house (about 1/4 mile away) to see if they needed anything, since they had a newborn and two toddlers in the house at the time, we figured they might run out of milk or something and since we were bored and going out anyway...
Then we walked the several miles pulling a sled since the street we lived on and the main road didn't see a plow until a week after the storm ended.
My father actually was able to get his truck out and got a special emergency vehicle permit to be on the roads, he had chains on his tires and was out running special errands for the police and fire departments and we didn't see him for days following the storm.
It's interesting how now if more than a dusting of snow is predicted, people go nuts stocking up. I wonder if it is a result of storms like the blizzard of 1978. Or maybe they are afraid that the trucks delivering the food wont be able to get through so they want to get it before the store runs out.
I don't know, but when someone complains about the snow up here in New England, I usually tell them "It's New England, It's February, It snows in New England in February."
(no subject)
It sounds like there is a distinct change up where you are; have there been a lot of people from less-snowy places moving to New England since your childhood? I could see the 1978 blizzard making people a little more careful, but I wouldn't expect more than a short term "go nuts" response ... But I am not a sociologist, so maybe someone in the field would find that less surprising?
I've got memes from the SUV/auto safety/perception of risk (http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html) article I read yesterday bouncing around my head and trying to attach to this train of thought, but I'm not sure how/whether they connect yet.
(no subject)
I know that I grew up in a small town that didn't have any "People of color" until I was in high school when one black family moved in. It was a very Italian Catholic town, and those that weren't Italian were likely to be Irish Catholics (my French Canadian family was in the minority) Now the town is quite diverse. But that is just my small home town. I don't know what the demographics would have been for the Boston area thirty years ago as opposed to now. I'm inclined to beleive that it too has become more diverse.
I also think that people have just forgotten what a real New England winter can be. We have had some really mild winters for the last ten or so years. No serious major snowstorms that cripp
le the city the way the Blizzard of 1978 did. That also could be that we have better forecasting abilities now and are better prepared so they don't seem as bad and the road crews and such can get a jump on the storm.
Then again it could be a combination of all of the above.
I think my brain is starting to come back after being on vacation for a couple of days because of my headcold.