Why do people fear terrorism?

andrew

In general, terrorist attacks kill very few people. Even in the north only 1857 civilians were killed in a 30 year long 'war.' On Sept 11 just 2999 people were killed. These numbers are dwarfed by the death toll from road deaths, many different types of cancers and other much more common ways to 'blink for an excessivly long amount of time'. In spite of this, a crapload of attention is given to, and even more money is spent on, anti terrorism measures and it (appears to) scare a lot of people. Considering the odds are so low, why?!

philologos

People fear terrorism due to the lack of confidence in their governments to deal with it.

Ross_Mahon

It keeps people on their toes

I don't like terrorism, but at the same time when I download a copyrighted movie I'm fueling, so I'm torn.

andrew

Jakkass wrote: »

People fear terrorism due to the lack of confidence in their governments to deal with it.

What do you mean?

philologos

Well, if their government is able to tackle extremism etc people gain confidence in their police force, in their army and in their country to deal with terrorism they trust their government to actually deal with terrorists so the likelihood of a potential attack is lessened.

jeremyquinn

the war on terror is a hoax. Nothing more than an excuse to bring in a police state, look at how your rights have gone since 9/11.

For example, what is a terrorist????? Can anyone provide a definition.

I would call someone defending their family from US attacks in their own country as freedom protectors.

I have no fear of terrorism, I fear the police, the army, these security guards you see everywhere and more to the point, all these government inspectors that are crawling over eachother to hand out fines/threats to innocent people.

Conor108

Not that terrorists have been been up to scratch lately.

Around 6 months planning, Best idea? Crash a burning jeep into an airport

gandhi123

andrew wrote: »

only 1857 ........... just 2999 people were killed.

Thats still a lot of INNOCENT people to get killed... who's to say that those 4000+ would of died of cancer, road deaths ect. and that they couldnt of lived a long and happy life and contributed to the world...

Kold

I fear authoritarian governments a lot more because I believe they're far more capable of achieving their aims. The problem with terrorism is that it's a response to an enemy that they can't fight on equal terms. It's all escalation. America had 9/11 coming to them and whilst it's regrettable that so many civilians had to die, it's not a lot compared to the crimes committed in the middle east and Vietnam by them. America going on a decade long rampage in the middle east is not justified at all.


I'm not afraid of terrorism at all, I'm afraid of a whole lot of other things that can kill me. In fairness, what the f*ck is to be achieved in blowing up a plane at this stage? I think the increased security at airports is now to make people feel safe whilst being completely intruded upon and also a good way to make money. However, I'd be a tiny bit more wary living in a main American city (actually, I wouldn't at all, I might if I was one of those retards that watches FOX news..) and I'd be positively sh*tting myself living in Palestine.

phantom_lord

people are irrational creatures. any length of time spent reading ah should have taught you that!

jeremyquinn

Jakkass wrote: »

Well, if their government is able to tackle extremism etc people gain confidence in their police force, in their army and in their country to deal with terrorism they trust their government to actually deal with terrorists so the likelihood of a potential attack is lessened.

"Extremism", have you been watching too much sky news?

Look at the UK, there are armed police at all major transportation intersections, mobile metal detectors on the streets. You need to scare the sheep to justify such measures.

Tell me this, how terrorists have ever been caught at Dublin airport?????

Bottle_of_Smoke

andrew wrote: »

In general, terrorist attacks kill very few people. Even in the north only 1857 civilians were killed in a 30 year long 'war.' On Sept 11 just 2999 people were killed. These numbers are dwarfed by the death toll from road deaths, many different types of cancers and other much more common ways to 'blink for an excessivly long amount of time'. In spite of this, a crapload of attention is given to, and even more money is spent on, anti terrorism measures and it (appears to) scare a lot of people. Considering the odds are so low, why?!

over 3 thousand were killed in the troubles, what does it matter if they were civillians or not?

You're also ignoring the thousands injured/maimed. If you've been around during the troubles you wouldnt be using it as an example.

phantom_lord

gandhi123 wrote: »

Thats still a lot of INNOCENT people to get killed... who's to say that those 4000+ would of died of cancer, road deaths ect. and that they couldnt of lived a long and happy life and contributed to the world...

in the context of things, no it's not.

brianthebard

Jakkass wrote: »

Well, if their government is able to tackle extremism etc people gain confidence in their police force, in their army and in their country to deal with terrorism they trust their government to actually deal with terrorists so the likelihood of a potential attack is lessened.

The threat of terrorism is lessened by goodwill????

People fear the unknown.

Conor108

gandhi123 wrote: »

who's to say that those 4000+ would of died of cancer, road deaths ect. and that they couldnt of lived a long and happy life and contributed to the world...

They were American now

jeremyquinn

Conor108 wrote: »

, Best idea? Crash a burning jeep into an airport

I assume you refer to the glasgow debacle.

Sky news was playing up this joke. A car bomb they said, and yet you look at the jeep and not a panel out of shape. Pure scam, the sheep were seeing through the propaganda, this was merely a reminder that they are everywhere. Can you even trust your parents???? Report any anti government activities.

Trebor

they don't fear terrorism, they fear the unknown. before 9/11 people didn't think something like that was possible, nor how it would effect the markets etc. so it is what's next that they fear. the are wondering if they could do that what will they do next? and they are given lots of options as to what might be done by the media.

all the other deaths are tragic on their own yes but they do not have such a visual impact as having two buildings being engulfed and collapsing.

i personally don't fear it. if it happens then i'll most likely not be able to do anything to stop it even if i did expect it so why worry about something you can not change?

Fratton Fred

Terrorists target innocent people and soft targets. Look at the people killed in the July 7th London bombings, they were normal people going to work.

That's why people fear them, because you do nothing wrong and some scumbag wants to kill you to make a point.

there really is a lot of **** on this thread. Fortunately I wasn't on the tube the day of the bombing, but I travelled on it the following Monday and it was the strangest feeling I have ever had.

Shulgin

If you haven`t seen it before, check out "the power of nightmares" by Adam Curtis. Excellent 3 part program.

andrew

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

over 3 thousand were killed in the troubles, what does it matter if they were civillians or not?

You're also ignoring the thousands injured/maimed. If you've been around during the troubles you wouldnt be using it as an example.

Well, civilians don't do anything to put themselves in harms way. In the title, i mean civilians when i say 'people.' Anyway, it's all beside the point. The majority of people in the north were (statistically) never in danger from being killed/injured.

philologos

brianthebard wrote: »

The threat of terrorism is lessened by goodwill????

People fear the unknown.

The fear is lessened at least when the governments of nations are perceived to be dealing with the problem as opposed to being left wide open. That's my theory anyway.

Fratton Fred

andrew wrote: »

Well, civilians don't do anything to put themselves in harms way. In the title, i mean civilians when i say 'people.' Anyway, it's all beside the point. The majority of people in the north were (statistically) never in danger from being killed/injured.

so what are you saying? all those people who were killed or injured were just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

people were going arounf planting bombs and shooting people. People could not protect themselves, that's what they fear. Its the never knowing if you could be next.

andrew

Fratton Fred wrote: »

so what are you saying? all those people who were killed or injured were just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Well i'd say most of the civilians killed were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The non civilians, not so much. They put themselves in harms way.

people were going arounf planting bombs and shooting people. People could not protect themselves, that's what they fear. Its the never knowing if you could be next.

But chances are you won't be next, so why would you really care?!

Orizio

Not to seem flippant about a serious issue very damaging to many, but in the history of threats to humanity, terrorism doesn't match up against the plague, Stalin and aids.

Its hype really.

Run_to_da_hills

Some people like myself are more concerned about the totalitarian "Big Brother" style extremes taken by global governments to tackle terrorism. EG. Microchipped identity cards, the excessive use of CCTV, ANPR and FR cameras, and constant eroding of civil liberties through recording all personal data, mobile phone and computer records and of course the elimination of cash so that they can pinpoint every single move we make with smart cards and e passes.

I would be more concerned about the abuse of these powers than the terrorists themselves, but of course if one speaks out about these measures or dose not comply one is branded as an "obstruction to this fight against terrorism"

Could someone please explain to me why after almost 30 years of IRA bombings and terrorist activities Ireland and the UK have only now decided to introduce a water tight smart card border control system between the two countries?

brianthebard

Fratton Fred wrote: »

so what are you saying? all those people who were killed or injured were just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Well in the same way that people who die in car crashes are in the wrong place, I would say yes. Personally I'm much more afraid of being mown down crossing the road than I am of being blown up. The reason terrorism causes such an emotive response like the one you are showing, is that generally it leads to mass deaths at one time, rather than the drip feed of slaughter caused by cars for instance.

Poccington

jeremyquinn wrote: »

"Extremism", have you been watching too much sky news?

Look at the UK, there are armed police at all major transportation intersections, mobile metal detectors on the streets. You need to scare the sheep to justify such measures.

Tell me this, how terrorists have ever been caught at Dublin airport?????

How many visibly armed police officers do you see in Dublin Airport?

Poccington

andrew wrote: »

In general, terrorist attacks kill very few people. Even in the north only 1857 civilians were killed in a 30 year long 'war.' On Sept 11 just 2999 people were killed. These numbers are dwarfed by the death toll from road deaths, many different types of cancers and other much more common ways to 'blink for an excessivly long amount of time'. In spite of this, a crapload of attention is given to, and even more money is spent on, anti terrorism measures and it (appears to) scare a lot of people. Considering the odds are so low, why?!

Just 2999 people were killed :rolleyes:

andrew

Poccington wrote: »

Just 2999 people were killed :rolleyes:

Well, its a small enough number that it wouldn't give me a fear of being killed in a terrorist attack.

Poccington wrote: »

How many visibly armed police officers do you see in Dublin Airport?

I saw some on segways the other day. Nerds.

Black Swan

Is the US "Gitmo" prison in Cuba a form of state supported terrorism, or counter-terrorism (or both, depending upon whom is being terrorized)? Hundreds of people, mostly from Afghanistan, are held without legal representation in cages by the US military, and detained for years without any idea if or when they may receive a legal hearing, a trial, or be released (and water boarded every now and then, which the US Bush administration claims is not torture, but Amnesty International claims is torture).

If the American super power is leading by example, I would not want to be an American citizen caught by those people who do not like the US, especially if they follow the example set by the US in Gitmo! Now that would be a terror!:eek:

raah!

Sharks don't kill that many people either, but people are still afraid of them :P

Aodan83

Why are people afrai of terrorism? Because its terrifying. Hence the name. duh like

Capt'n Midnight

Governments kill far more than terrorists. Can't find the link but IIRC the US military has killed over 10,000,000 civilians since the end of world war 2 ,most in Korea and Vietnam.

That's an average of a 9/11 a week since 1945

The US has sponsored many governments like Pinochet - another 9/11 - 1973 who have killed many thousands of their citizens , far more than the number of US civilians killed by terrorists. Possibly more than died in road deaths - more research needed. The 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army arrived in Vietnam on 9/11 too.

The US also trained Ossama , and his family were on one of the few planes allowed to fly out of the US after 9/11. Oklahoma bombing was home-grown too.

andy1249

US foreign policy is " terrorism" and has been since the end of WWII , American right wing media ( and its all right wing media ) would have you believe the simple view that religious lunatics that hate Americans are what make terrorists and terrorism.

The truth is far different and blatantly obvious to anyone who can be bothered to read a history of American foreign policy.

9/11 attacks and all attacks on Americans are revenge rather than religion based.

Just like the Bloody Sunday massacre in the North swelled the ranks of the Paramilitaries tenfold , every bombing shooting and massacre by the Americans abroad swells the ranks of these so called terrorists.

Al Qaeda are known for choosing dates that are significant , 9/11 was chosen probably because it was the date of the Pinochet/1973 thing.
That day Americans killed many many civilians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Chilean_coup_d'%C3%A9tat

For a Quick introductory read on how destructive American foreign policy in the pursuit of oil has been since WWII read

Interventions , by Noam Chomsky.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Interventions-Noam-Chomsky/dp/0141031808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221180940&sr=8-1

There are no such things as terrorists , there are just the Oppressors and the oppressed who want to strike back , with indiscriminate killings on both sides of the Coin.

Who actually believes that no Civilians were killed in that Obscene " shock and Awe " demonstration of american military might shown on sky news in 2003? For every family that had a relative blown apart by US ordnance on that day there are probably 5 who signed up to get their revenge on any American.

Bush passed a law last year making American presidents immune against charges of warcrimes , thats a fact ! Why would you think anyone would pass a law like that if they didnt think they needed it ?

conceited

Someone getting cancer and dying isn't spectacular, flying planes into building is.:pac:

Bob the Builder

why do people fear terrorism?
we all know the answer to that, it's coz they is black homie! :pac:

on a more serious note, I would rather die knowing that, for them to kill me, they had to kill themselves. And imagine the shock they get when they go to heaven and find out that the virgins, weren't all women, and that they weren't all sexy either.

Imagine how disappointing that would be.

JC 2K3

Because it's terrifying.

KnifeWRENCH

LOL at the Google ads:

Terrorism
Find practical business information on terrorism.
www.allbusiness.com

Who wants to set up a terrorism business with me? I'll need investors, PR officers and a dozen or so pilots.

Oshare Bones

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

binhead

Cos just like the boogey man, we can't see it and it's not real.

Or is it?


oooooh hides under covers...

Black Swan

Oshare Bones wrote: »

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

FDR quote.

Jigsaw

I think people fear terrorism because it is fairly indiscrimate. It deals with people in large groups and does not differentiate between them. If you put yourself in harm's way you can expect something to come back, regardless of whether or not it is justified. Terrorism, you can be out in town to buy your groceries and end up lying blown to pieces on the ground breathing your last even though you personally have done nothing to deserve it.

KnifeWRENCH

Oshare Bones wrote: »

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Wooooah! That's deep, man!!
I bet you're like totally wasted.

hussey

Who'd watch 24 if it was about Jack Bauer not fighting terrorism?

KnifeWRENCH

hussey wrote: »

Who'd watch 24 if it was about Jack Bauer not fighting terrorism?

I've never seen 24 but I know the idea behind it and I'm puzzled.
Does Jack Bauer EVER sleep? It would be pretty funny if there was an hour-long episode of him snoring.

CHD

Smoking kills innocent people aswell

Xavi6

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Terrorists target innocent people and soft targets. Look at the people killed in the July 7th London bombings, they were normal people going to work.

That's why people fear them, because you do nothing wrong and some scumbag wants to kill you to make a point.

there really is a lot of **** on this thread. Fortunately I wasn't on the tube the day of the bombing, but I travelled on it the following Monday and it was the strangest feeling I have ever had.

QFT

I was in the World Trade Center in 1999, two years before the attacks. When it happened the thought entered my head of what if they had done it two years earlier on the exact day I was there? An innocent young tourist with my family taking in the sites of the city. That freaked me out a little.

kowloon

Deaths from "terrorism" - I'm hesitant to use the word, I've always felt it seems more at home in trailers for Vincent Price films - are miniscule compared to those arising from car crashes and too many visits to the chippers. In America more people were killed by low level crime in 2001 than in the world trade centre and pentagon combined; why were people not suggesting the draconian measures brought in after 2001 to combat regular crime?
Terrorist groups are small fry.

Governments, on the other hand, have turned mass killing into a fine art.
I'm not just referring to oppressive dictatorships executing people in countries that, for most of us, only exist on the news or as some interesting fact on QI. "First world" nations are in on the game too; millions have died through trade deals and embargoes. That the victims may not have been dispatched by machetes, roadside bombs or other newsworthy methods doesn't make their deaths any less of a tragedy, or an outrage.

When you have an idea of the statistics the dangers posed by terrorism for us are negligible.

To quote a skydiving instructor,"You've got over the dangerous part; Driving here".

arybvtcw0eolkf

andrew wrote: »

Well, its a small enough number that it wouldn't give me a fear of being killed in a terrorist attack.



.

Well said, coming from the comfort of your home/office in 2008 Dublin.

gixerfixer

I lived and worked in NY for 6 years and was in the city the day the attacks took place. In the grand scale of things people where scared ****less for a few weeks but then everything went back to normal and people just got on with their lives. Are they fearful now? No way.Not at all. What people do fear is guns (which kills 30,000 people a year in America) 10 times the amount that died on 9/11 but is swept under the carpet and not spoke about. Think about that a minute. In ten years 300,000 people will die in America because of Gun's yet what laws do they bring in to prevent gun's getting into the hands of gangs,kids,whacko's etc... None is the answer. Mind you if 10 people died because of a terrorist attack in New York on any particular day (about the amount that die's in the city every day from gun crime) it would be wall to wall coverage on Sky,Fox,CNN and the rest.:rolleyes: As the saying goes "We have nothing to fear but fear itself".