1/3     Why do people call this tsunami, with est. 150k dead, the worst natural
        disaster in known human history?  The Tang San (sp?) earthquake in
        China killed 650k people.
        \_ the only differences is that this particular disaster, a lot of
           Europeans fell victim as well.  If this tsunami happened in
           the April, as cruel as it may sound, no one is going to give
           much thought.
        \_ i think soviet union uzbekistan have giant quake in 1966
           that leveled a city and killed several hundred thousand people
           too
        \_ I'm still waiting for some of you Christians to start talking about
           the Flood.
           \_ A plague of locusts in early December, snow in the UAE at Xmas;
              these are pretty clear signs. Another Flood, however, is right
              out, as G_d promised us the Fire Next Time.
        \_ The Black Plague killed 25 million people, is that not considered
           a natural disaster?
        \_ Criminy! Does it make a difference? Just cough up some dough to help
           the people out and worry about this crap when it's actually
           important.
        \_ I haven't heard worst. I've heard most expensive and I've
           heard really bad, but I haven't heard "worst."
        \_ Probably because they're ignorant.  I, BTW, have not heard
           anyone say that.  I heard one person ask and get told there was
           a typhoon that kill 250K, so this couldn't be the worst.
           \_ china has not exactly publisized the giant killer
              quake from the 70s.
              \_ It is publicized internally and the anniversary was
                 still remembered.  It was also well known internationally
                 (depending on whom you ask, of course) but no assistance
                 was requested or given.
              \_ Ummm.. Actually, I didn't know about the quake in China,
                 I was just pointing out that since there is at least one
                 worse disater in recorded history the tsunami couldn't
                 possibly be "the worst."  In general, I would consider it
                 ignorant for anyone to make a superlative statment like
                 "the worst in recorded history" without some serious
                 research to back it up.
                 \_ i think you're just splitting hairs and everyone
                    can agree the christmas day tsunami is going to be
                    is pretty bad.  you can be the annoying guy
                    at the party who points out that 1 million people
                    died from anti bacterial infections in ww1 if you want.
                    \_ Now you're just being stupid.  Yes, I probably
                       wouldn't bother correcting someone at a party.  Do
                       you just have no sense of context or something?
              \_ Are you Chinese?  Do you have any idea the effect of the
                 earthquake on China?
                 \_ You've obviously never served.
                       \_ you're an idiot.   -tom
                       \_ Stupid?!?  I know you are, but what am I?
              \_ well, i wouldn't expect joe six-pack to know about the
                 chinese quake.  i would expect a media newsreader to be
                 backed up by relatively complete research, rather/cbs
                 not withstanding.
                 \_ Then you're an idiot.
                    \_ apparently you don't understand what "expect" means.
                       i would say that i am an idealist if anything.
                       \_ If you expect anything remotely like fact checking
                          from any media figures, you haven't paid attention
                          over the last decade..
        \_ i've often heard people describe it as *one of* the worst.  at
           150k dead, i'm ok with that description.  i don't think i've heard
           it described as the unqualified "the worst", which would clearly
           be unjustified, as you pointed out.  that said, i've noticed
           that people tend to have a weak grasp of history and would protray
           their current calamities as unprecedented, when they might be even
           somewhat trivial in a historical context.
           \- in terms of deaths, this disaster is not even close to the
              worst in history. or even since 1900. however for "one day"
              events, it is pretty high [so, not include famines and other
              political disasters [collectivization], wars [verdun] and
              epidemics, and genocides [rwanda]. it is also very high in
              terms of non-death casaulties ... particularly, the number
              of people whose economic prospects are wiped out. --psb