“We concern the superior predatory perfection of the nice white shark, and have made the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” “the longest-running cable tv programming occasion in historical past.”
This appears considerably disproportionate, provided that 10 folks a 12 months die from shark assaults — out of greater than 7 billion folks. If you wish to concern a dwelling creature, than logic suggests it’s the mosquito — they kill extra human beings than another animal on the planet. Man, be it by means of wars or homicide or wanton disregard or easy benign neglect, is available in a distant second.”
–Bloomberg, October 22, 2014
It’s inescapable: Heading into the July 4th weekend, native media are stuffed with accounts of shark sightings. It’s SOP this time of 12 months, however then add within the fiftieth anniversary of the film Jaws, and it’s even worse than regular. It’s true on Lengthy Island, and it’s doubtless the case up and down the East Coast. It’s merely a perform of dwelling close to an ocean and having a media panorama that’s determined for eyeballs and clicks.
Sure, there are fish within the ocean. Mammals, too. We see sharks and dolphins and all method of sea-based wild life.
I burn a couple of chapters in “How To not Make investments” explaining why the deal with sharks is a manifestation of two particular psychological points. The primary is solely emotional: Sharks are huge and scary; the considered being eaten alive is terrifying.
Second, shark assaults – like terrorism and market crashes – are uncommon occasions which might be usually mentioned out of context. These are very low-probability occurrences in comparison with each day human experiences; we steadily lack a correct body of reference for understanding simply how unlikely these occasions are. (See extra on Denominator Blindness right here)
In 2024, there have been 28 “unprovoked” shark assaults in the US — and one fatality. (Globally, there have been 47 shark bites)
Extra folks died driving to the seaside than have been performed in by sharks.
The close by chart, through Gates Notes, reveals simply how misplaced our fears are. Regardless, it’s best to plan to benefit from the lengthy vacation weekend, with minimal fear in regards to the ocean’s predatory perfection…
See additionally:
Why concern is an investor’s worst enemy (Morningstar, Sep 25, 2017)
How NOT To Make investments: Views From The Escarpment (Escarpment Advisory, April 29, 2025)
Beforehand:
What Kills You and Your Investments (Might 21, 2014)
You Are Worrying Concerning the Incorrect Issues (October 22, 2014)
Crashes & Terrorists & Sharks – Oh, My! (November 9, 2015)
Shark vs. Mosquito Deaths (April 26, 2018)
Shark Assaults Illustrate an Investing Downside (January 28, 2019)
Denominator Blindness, Shark Assault version (February 5, 2019)
Your Possibilities of Dying (July 25, 2019)
