Asteroid danger in 2014 downplayed: BBC

[Ivan Seeking]

Astronomers monitoring near-Earth objects are playing down the chances of a newly discovered asteroid hitting Earth in 2014

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3200019.stm

[Artman]

I think downplaying the possiblity until the actual level of threat can be determined, is responsible reporting.

[Ivan Seeking]

Kevin Yates could not foresee the global media circus and public anxiety he would fuel last week with a routine Web posting about a potentially dangerous asteroid.

http://space.com/scienceastronomy/asteroid_scares_030909.html

[kleinma]

why are people so scared of the world being destroyed by some outside force??? they don't like competition??? [g)]