Derf, I think your post is ambiguous, and perhaps that is the basis for a misunderstanding. You sort of used a scattergun and called everybody nutty, so please let me have my say, and correct me if I've not properly understood your post.
You said "Sheesh, do you people say a prayer before crossing at every corner?" Well, I don't, but I do look both ways first, and often twice.
Re fire safety, if you have been in a burning building, as I have, you'll be more senstive to knowing where the exits are. It is not different than looking before crossing the street. If you get a hotel room, there is an exit map on the back of your door. It is there for a reason.
I'll grant you the odds of getting caught in a fire are remote, but just knowing the exits gives you a lot better odds of escaping a fire when most people have not bothered to look around when entering a room. It really takes no more time.
I've been through a dorm fire and two hotel fires. What are the odds of that from someone who travels infrequently? I carry a fire extinguisher in my car. I've never had my own car fire, but I've extinguished a motorcycle fire, a car fire, and a small yard fire.
Because I stock my car with a first aid kit, an extinguisher, flashlight, flares, water and a tow rope am I paranoid? After all, I belong to the auto club. But I have had occasion to use each of these items for other people. Seems like cheap insurance to me.
What are the odds of your house burning down? But you carry fire insurance, right?
You make it almost sound like you believe in predestination -- if you do, then you don't have to look before crossing the street, or be reasonably prepared for emergencies.
I don't know that you were really talking about grief, or sorrow, or history in the post I'm responding to, but to say that people who are prepared a bit are "nutty" will, and should, get you flamed. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but I'll bet you wouldn't take it well if someone called you "nutty" and they were not joking.
Are you in a tornado or hurricane area? Have you not make provisions although the odds are remote? I've been through three big earthquakes when I was in California. Not being prepared the first time taught me a lesson. When the big one hit I couldn't get to the kids, but they were underneath a desk with heavy blankets around them. The odds? remote. Teaching the kids what to do? Prudent.
Susie is right about counting doors. In a bad hotel fire you won't be able to see anything. The part she left out is that you should crawl out, because that's where the air is. Little bits of knowledge like that can save your life. If you don't care, why badger everyone else?
JMO
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