I’m not sure when it started. Maybe it was COVID. Maybe it is a post-Biden-era thing. People are drunk on chaos. The media knows it, and it gives the people what they want. The weather in NYC this winter has exemplified the phenomenon. Yeah, we had a couple of snowstorms in NYC… like we used to all of the time. Except now for some reason, instead of “better get your shovels out, hehe” the talking heads are shouting “be afraid! Be very, very afraid to go outside in the snow.”
Despite the dire media warnings of the carnage, death and destruction that would instantly occur by doing so, I decided to wander outside and make my way into the office on the morning of Feb 23 (with a camera tow), while we were getting the brunt of big winter storm #2 of 2026. Shockingly, there were no dead bodies protruding from the snow banks. The trains were running a bit slower than normal. But honestly (similar to snowstorms of yore) anyone with a pair of proper boots and sense of adventure would have been able to get around just fine. Other than those clearing snow and walking dogs, I didn’t see many other people out and about. If anything, it was one of the more mellow commutes that I have experienced during a Monday morning rush hour. So yeah, stay home ;).
Some snaps-
