It's not so much paranoia as a very human inability to recognise how much risk a threat truly poses.
Americans seem very very concerned with terrorism. Terrorism hasn't actually killed many Americans. The chance that you'll die from a terrorist attack are incredibly low, far lower than say heart disease or a traffic accident. Yet still you have these crazy privacy invasions, stupid security theatre at airports, wars in the middle east etcetera, etcetera.
As an Australian, after moving to America I had a similar feeling about guns, especially at first. I'd moved from a world where the risk of being shot was lower than being struck by lighting, into a world where shootings actually happened. It was a brand new threat that I didn't understand and basically all of my knowledge came from movies. Do the homeless people on the streets of SF have guns? Were those loud pops on the 4th of July fireworks or people celebrating by firing bullets in the air? Is the news I see about police shooting people online hype or a real risk?
Similarly, it feels wonderful to go to a place where I have less worries. When I'm in Australia, I don't have to worry about getting shot, being bankrupted by medical bills, ending up homeless ever, tipping or a variety of other problems. There's just nothing like feeling a bunch of burdens evaporate, even if, when I think about them, they're very minor.
> Americans seem very very concerned with terrorism
American government seems very concerned with terrorism. It also generates a lot of revenue which in turn produces political campaign contributions.
Do you really have less worries in Australia? I’d argue since it’s your homeland, you are simply used to the things that non-Australians would find worrisome. I don’t worry about medical bills (I have health insurance,) not concerned about ever being homeless, don’t consider tipping to be something worthy of worrying, etc.
And despite growing up in a rough neighborhood, I’ve never really worried about being shot.
> American government seems very concerned with terrorism.
I'm not sure, from what I hear they have a lot of support from the people, especially the conservatives.
> Do you really have less worries in Australia? I’d argue since it’s your homeland, you are simply used to the things that non-Australians would find worrisome. I don’t worry about medical bills (I have health insurance,) not concerned about ever being homeless, don’t consider tipping to be something worthy of worrying, etc.
I absolutely do have less worries in Australia. I think you need to turn that point about it being my homeland around. Just as there are things I might be used to as an Australian that worry foreigners (perhaps like the venomous native wildlife), the things you're used to are worriesome to me.
Also an Australian. I have a feeling this may not make much sense to Americans.
Bulletproof clothing only protects you against bullets (well it protects against knives too but you can buy less expensive slash/stab resistant clothing). In Australia there is virtually no gun violence. The only people who can shoot you are cops. They will only shoot you if you're doing something that justifies being shot at. Therefore, the only reason you'd need bulletproof armor is if you intend to do something that would justify the police shooting at you.
Encryption on the other hand has legitimate purposes. It's quite possible for someone to say steal all your money by intercepting your bank account login and it requires no special, heavily restricted equipment to do so.
Most bulletproofing that you would wear that isn’t actually armor is not stab proof.
Also, it’s trivial to make effective rifle armor out of AR500 steel, Rhino Liner (or other bed liner) as a spall guard and a nylon/Velcro plate carrier which will not tax a third year cosplayer in the least to sew.
