They are raising the Terror Threat Level AGAIN

'How is raising the terror alert going to prevent anything? I don't get the 'I would rather cry wolf than cry over the death of innocent lives'. Do you honestly NOT do certain things when they raise the terror alert? It is a system designed to scare average citizens and make us re-elect Bush.
The gov't does not tell us any REAL info.'

I believe I said that I feel it's better to cry wolf and open peoples eyes that may have previously been PASSIVE about situations they see on a train, on the platform, on a bus, or anywhere else. It was passiveness that let 18 men (some of whom weren't even allowed in the country) videotape different angles of the WTC and take FLIGHT LESSONS in a US flight school only to use them to kill us! I don't really understand where this system being used as a scare tactic would WORK towards re-electing Bush, but if you feel that way.....

I don't believe I said AT ANY TIME that I CHANGE anything I do because of these alerts. Please don't put words in my mouth. The alert level went up, and I'm still going to get on a plane and go on my honeymoon in two weeks!

I do not beleive that the alerts are raised for the average citizen to do anything. Its the media that is reporting that to everyone.

The alerts are raised to have the agencies and police forces on extra guard and yes they do do things differently with each alert.

The government will never tell us the whole truth because I don't think any administration ever really knows the whole truth regardless if it is a democrat or a republican in office.

Misty- I never put ANY words into your mouth or anyone elses? All I did was ASK a question 'Do you change anything'. I didn't answer the question for you.

A few weeks ago a guy got on the train with a HUGE black garbage bag. I only noticed really because,like so many wonder NYers, he thought his bag needed a seat to make the long trip. Honestly, anything could have been in that bag. Heck, a dead body could have been in that bag. No one stopped him or told him to open it or get off the train. That is why I don't think the terror alert makes anyone do anything really different. It just a)scares us b)makes us feel like our gov't KNOWS special info. I think there is a guy with a button who just picks a pretty color for the day when the media needs something to talk about.

Sorry Michele, than I read it wrong....

I was on the debate team for a while, it's my instinct. lol.

On the other side of the coin from your story Michele, FH and I were driving across the Verazanno this weekend, and a small car with 3 people was riding in front of us with NY plates and a video camera being held out the rear passenger window, filming the entire length of the bridge. I took the license plate, FH remembered the make/model...and we avoided EZ pass so that we could tell a toll taker, who alerted someone to it....

There are those that will do, and those that won't...if the alerts get people to do, than I'm fine with it!

And I do completely agree with you that the media sensationalizes EVERYTHING.

Unfortunately there are not enough police officers or national guards around to check everything that we think is suspisious. Yes that is a problem but one that I don't think can be corrected easily. Thats why I do think another smaller attack will happen.

On a larger scale the agencies around the city do respond to what they deem credible threats and tips. How they deem something credible I don't know. There has been much training on how to evacuate buildings and mock evacuations have been done and mock bio-terriorism raids have been done to educate service people.

I do not think things are perfect but I do think they are moving in the right direction.

Misty - I agree with you on 'some will alret the authorities and some won't bother', it all depends on the person. I take the heightened alerts simply as a reminder to just stay more alert. If I see something I feel is suspicous (sp), it would be my decision to call it to someone's attention.

It's the same as the Amber Alert for missing kids. It will only help if people respond to it.

edited to add: KarenK well said

After 9/11 I became very paranoid for a long time. I was so freaked that one day I was on the 4 train going downtown and a middle eastern man asked me if the train went to Wall Street. I too became guilty of discrimination. I saw a middle eastern man asking me if the train goes to Wall Street and all I kept thinking was OMG Wall Street, that is blocks from ground zero, the stock exchange, OMG and I told the man I dont know when in fact I did know. My fear something was going to happen to our stock exchange, his face being plastared all over the news and I be the one who told him where it was.

Now I just have to accept that their are bad men out there and the only way to protect myself and others is to be cautious, observant and to speak up.