Article: Why the Pointless NYC Subway Shutdown Was Worse Than You Realize

[AceWheeler]

5. The reason for shutting down the subway...

...was not just because it was at risk. It was to keep people home. And that was a good thing, given the potential above-ground dangers.

And to assume New Yorkers' psyches are that fragile is rather extreme.

Finally, "crying wolf" is irrelevant. Look at this for further clarification: http://www.reality-check-online.org/cried-wolf.htm. The key is the notion of a full risk analysis. Based on the risk analysis, one has to decide which error, Type I (false positive) or Type II (false negative), one is most willing to make.

Of course, one might disagree with someone else's risk analysis, but it is important to recognize the risk being addressed. In this case it was as much the risk involved in people being out and about, if not more, than the risk of subway failure.