Folks,

As people we like to think we're better than the lemmings, but for the most part it just isn't true. Specifically I'm talking about the human response to possible tragedy.

For instance; today Ladyfriend Sarah and I got to the Davis T station and as we descended the escalator (yes, we're lazy) we started to smell smoke. As we got closer to the platform we realized there was some sort of fire and that the station was actually full of mildly acrid smoke. However, no one seemed to be freaking out and the trains were still running, so we paid our money and went to wait for the train.

That was stupid. How many times have you heard the news story that begins "18 people died today in a subway fire that started when...." Somewhere along the line as people we've lost our survival instinct. I guarantee if you took a dog into the station he'd be like "dude, woof woof, let's get the hell outta here woof."

But as much as we've blinded ourselves to danger in the name of not rocking the boat, we've also become a nation of ridiculous revisionist lemmings. All you ever hear after a big tragedy is, for example, "I never woulda died in 9/11, man. Once the first plane hit I woulda been outta there so fast..." No, no you wouldn't have. 99% of us would have done as we were told, which was to stay at our desks and wait for emergency instructions.

So I propose you join my movement, MNIJWAIEYTJAYOSCITIOSPS, or the "My Name is Joe Welsh and I Encourage You To Jump at Your Own Shadow Club in the Interest of Self Preservation Society". As a group we will run like little scared kittens from every possible danger including, but not limited to, speeding cars, smoky rooms and Brendo Frendo.