Hacker News Reader

Comment by DamnInteresting | Hacker News Reader

We humans are not very good at risk assessment. Realistically, flying in a 737 MAX is nowhere near as dangerous as making a left turn in a car (in the USA). Yet many of us do that every day without a second thought.

That being said, one underrated health risk is stress. If it alleviates your stress to avoid a particular air frame, you may be preserving your health by eliminating a burdensome worry.

View on HN

I agree. Personally, I would happily fly on a 737 MAX, flying is something that never caused me stress, and objectively the risks of injury or death are extremely low. I was once on a plane that caught fire over the Atlantic (!), but it was contained and we landed perfectly safely.

However, I do get stressed out by other things, which are objectively speaking not so bad, and which don't bother much other people. That's human nature, that you will be afraid of some things and not others.

OP, if you were already taking psych meds to alleviate your panic, then in your shoes I would probably find a routing with a different aircraft. Whether or not your fears are "rational", they are real, and it is certainly rational and reasonable to look out for your own mental health.

As Delta says on their flights "We know you have a choice in flying..."

Yes! And I can choose to fly on a plane with a better maintenance/crash record than the 737 Max!

You're comparing apples and oranges. But the customers are comparing apples to apples.

I think this is an excellent point. Don't do things that cause you anxiety, whether or not the worries are grounded in reality.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com