[chadillac83]

I tried explaining this to someone earlier... apparently it's not a numbers game because of assumed risk. There is little to no risk to watching a marathon, whereas living in Iraq or speeding on the highway there is implied risk.

I'm not trying to discredit what you're saying, just pointing out why people (my friend and probably a lot of others) go into hyper sensitive reactionary mode.

[RivieraKid]

I would say it's surprise factor combined with sensitivity to terrorist attacks.

[rayiner]

That and people aren't robots. A bombing in Boston means more to someone in New York than does one in Iraq, and purposeful taking of innocent life means more than accidental death.

[scarmig]

Well, the innocent people being blown up in Iraq certainly weren't accidentally being blown up. And we had a much bigger role in creating the situation in Iraq than we did the situation in Boston...

[rayiner]

A bombing in Boston hits home to people in New York, because people can relate to their countrymen better than they can to random people on the other side of the planet with a different culture and history. This is human nature.

[hallomac2013]

Honestly, humans ought to be better than this outdated and questionable nature.

[rayiner]

Right. That's why everyone here on HN cared as much about the black guys who get railroaded by overzealous prosecutors each year as they did about Aaron swartz and weev. Relating to people like yourself is a totally outmoded concept and doesn't serve any useful social purpose at all. That's why everyone is so happy that "world citizen" billionaires have overcome such trivialities like national loyalty and figured out how to export American prosperity all over the world. We totally love that.