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)
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.