Generally speaking firearms doesn't stop people getting killed. It just means they'll be killed in a different way. At least that's what the '98 to '00 statistics seem to say.
But finding usable data on non-homicide crimes that (doesn't) involve guns is going to be even trickier.
Nitpick: The EU has 27 members. If you include statistics from the new members like Bulgaria and Romania who battle corruption and organized crime, then you can get to a "average" as high as the US.
However, if you compare the US to more similar countries like the UK, France or Germany, which had a similar economic development and enjoyed a similar time of prosperity and peace, you will find that the US has a homicide rate wich is FOUR TIMES that of Germany (4.55 vs 1.17) and three times that of Swizerland or Spain. And the homicide rates in France or the UK, the Benelux or Scandinavia are similar, and that is where the majority of EU citizens live. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate)
If you use numbers, please use them right. The conclusions you drew were wrong.
To me, there was always a difference in outlook and politics, too: Science Fiction considers possible scientific or social developments and examins how society or individuals cope and react to them. Its question "What will we do if it happens?" is inherently concerned with the well being of humans.
"Classic" Fantasy, on the other side, is rarely concerned with real humans, and in most cases reinforces chauvinist and sexist stereotypes. Which is one reason Terry Pratchett managed to tuirn a whole genre on its head so effortless. Harry Potter is again one hero high above the ordinary people.
Caveat: There has been progressive fantasy (Michael Moorcrock comes to mind) and pretty reactionary Science Fiction (A.E van Vogt, Heinlein), but still the basic premises of those two genres differ vastly.
"No, so many people that are into "Art" sound like pompous asses because of the increasingly divide between Art and the general public. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the biggest is a the loss of widely shared culture and iconography over the last century-and-some. See, now you sound like a pompous ass.
Dismissing popular culture and pop art of the past hundreds of years as "not art" is exactly what drives most people off bourgeoise classical arts. You think that Puccini's "Manon Lescault" takes more intellectual capabilities than listening to Napalm Death?
Slashdot Mirror
Generally speaking firearms doesn't stop people getting killed. It just means they'll be killed in a different way. At least that's what the '98 to '00 statistics seem to say.
But finding usable data on non-homicide crimes that (doesn't) involve guns is going to be even trickier.
Nitpick: The EU has 27 members.
If you include statistics from the new members like Bulgaria and Romania who battle corruption and organized crime, then you can get to a "average" as high as the US.
However, if you compare the US to more similar countries like the UK, France or Germany, which had a similar economic development and enjoyed a similar time of prosperity and peace, you will find that the US has a homicide rate wich is FOUR TIMES that of Germany (4.55 vs 1.17) and three times that of Swizerland or Spain. And the homicide rates in France or the UK, the Benelux or Scandinavia are similar, and that is where the majority of EU citizens live. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate)
If you use numbers, please use them right. The conclusions you drew were wrong.
http://xkcd.com/394/
Really, guys, why didn't anyone post this yet?
*hmz* That sounded funnier in my head
To me, there was always a difference in outlook and politics, too: Science Fiction considers possible scientific or social developments and examins how society or individuals cope and react to them. Its question "What will we do if it happens?" is inherently concerned with the well being of humans. "Classic" Fantasy, on the other side, is rarely concerned with real humans, and in most cases reinforces chauvinist and sexist stereotypes. Which is one reason Terry Pratchett managed to tuirn a whole genre on its head so effortless. Harry Potter is again one hero high above the ordinary people. Caveat: There has been progressive fantasy (Michael Moorcrock comes to mind) and pretty reactionary Science Fiction (A.E van Vogt, Heinlein), but still the basic premises of those two genres differ vastly.
Dismissing popular culture and pop art of the past hundreds of years as "not art" is exactly what drives most people off bourgeoise classical arts. You think that Puccini's "Manon Lescault" takes more intellectual capabilities than listening to Napalm Death?
Regards,
Nikolai