There is an old saying that fear is a poor substitute for understanding.

Lately, I've been thinking about that as communities across Colorado debate everything from Flock license plate reader cameras to the possibility of attracting data centers. In both cases, the public conversation often follows a similar script: a new technology emerges, worst-case scenarios dominate social media, and emotional arguments quickly overshadow thoughtful discussion.

That doesn't mean public concerns are invalid. Privacy matters. Water usage matters. Energy demand matters. Government transparency and process matters.

However, neither fear nor skepticism absolves us from the responsibility to understand what we're talking about.

The recent vandalism of Flock cameras in Avon illustrates the point. Rather than simply criticizing the technology or the choice to install the cameras, some people celebrated their destruction online. Yet the vandalism cost taxpayers thousands of dollars while eliminating a tool that law enforcement says has helped recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, and investigate crimes. Whether one supports Flock or opposes it, cheering the destruction of public property isn't civic engagement. It's replacing debate with outrage.

The irony is that many people have stronger opinions about Flock cameras than they do about the smartphone in their pocket. Despite, as Avon Police Chief Greg Daly said, “I can’t have a police officer out on every corner, 24 hours a day. Using technology, at different levels, assists us in making up for the lack of police officers we have on the street at any point in time.”

Every day, most of us voluntarily allow technology companies to know where we shop, what we search for, who we communicate with, and where we travel. We routinely exchange personal information for convenience. Yet a municipal camera designed for public safety often generates far greater anxiety than the devices we willingly carry everywhere.

That doesn't invalidate privacy concerns. It simply reminds us that our emotional reactions aren't always proportional to the facts.

The same dynamic is unfolding with data centers.

Mention one at a public meeting and concerns about water consumption, electricity demand, and industrial development quickly dominate the conversation. Those are legitimate questions every community should ask.

What is often missing is the other half of the story.

Modern data centers generate substantial property tax revenue, support hundreds of construction jobs, create high-paying technical careers, strengthen digital infrastructure, and increasingly seek locations powered by renewable energy. They can broaden the tax base that funds schools, roads, public safety, and other essential services.

Does that mean every proposed data center deserves approval?

Of course not.

Every project should be evaluated on its own merits, weighing environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, community compatibility, and economic return. Likewise, every public safety technology deserves transparent policies, meaningful oversight, and appropriate safeguards.

The point isn't that cameras are always good, or that data centers are always beneficial. The point is that neither should be judged solely by the emotional fear response they inevitably evoke.

Eagle County (and the state of Colorado) has long succeeded by being pragmatic. Our strongest communities don't automatically embrace every new idea, nor do they reflexively oppose change. They ask difficult questions, demand honest answers, weigh competing interests, and let evidence, not emotion, guide the outcome.

Whether we're talking about cameras, data centers, artificial intelligence, or whatever innovation comes next, we don't have to agree on every answer. But we should insist on understanding the question and having a rational public dialogue before rushing to judgment.

The future should not be built by the loudest voices. It should be built by individuals and communities willing to replace fear with facts.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com