Why do people fear terrorism?

andrew · 11-09-2008 09:28PM #1

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 · 11-09-2008 09:30PM

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

Ross_Mahon · 11-09-2008 09:34PM

It keeps people on their toes

11-09-2008 09:35PM

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

andrew · 11-09-2008 09:37PM

Jakkass wrote: »

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

What do you mean?

philologos · 11-09-2008 09:43PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:45PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:45PM

Not that terrorists have been been up to scratch lately.

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

gandhi123 · 11-09-2008 09:48PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:48PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:49PM

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

jeremyquinn · 11-09-2008 09:49PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:49PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:50PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:50PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:50PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:52PM

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 · 11-09-2008 09:56PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:01PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:05PM

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

andrew · 11-09-2008 10:10PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:12PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:13PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:17PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:25PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:27PM

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 · 11-09-2008 10:29PM

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 · 12-09-2008 12:24AM

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 · 12-09-2008 12:25AM

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 · 12-09-2008 12:36AM

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.

12-09-2008 12:36AM

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:

Why do people fear terrorism?

Comments