I'm not afraid of terrorism, are you?

[Excited Penguin]

You can't have it both ways. You're either concerned about it and scared because you've nearly experienced it or watched it from nearby, in a sense, or you don't because it's not a problem. You're either deluding yourself or in denial.

Deluded???? Not day goes by when a suspect package is found on a metro, a train or a bus here, which means a delay until the controlled explosion goes off. After a while, you become numb, immune, desensitised to it. Should there be another Paris attack, nothing is going to stop me from going out and enjoying myself. Even when the bomb went off on the 7/7 in London, people were still going to bars and enjoying themselves because as kids, they had to live through that shit because of the stinking IRA.

Except we weren't debating whether you should live your life or not, merely whether you should be concerned about Terrorism on an intellectual level.


And you clearly are or I don't know what the hell you're saying otherwise. I can't imagine how you couldn't be, given what you're describing.

[CapnAwesome]

IF we're talking about personal safety, I probably have the least to fear from Terrorists given my current location and the utter unlikelihood that they might attack it. I just don't think only about myself or indeed on that small a scale whenever I'm worried about terrorism. And the OP certainly didn't show signs of asking us (only) about this side of the issue. The OP seems to think Terrorism isn't a problem, or, at least, that saying so is somehow his small way of fighting it. I bet this warped notion has been implanted in his head by a misinformed, regressive and utterly idiotic media, so I'm not about to blame him for it, but I would gladly hear his further reasoning on the matter.

I don't really know what you are asking here.

[Excited Penguin]

IF we're talking about personal safety, I probably have the least to fear from Terrorists given my current location and the utter unlikelihood that they might attack it. I just don't think only about myself or indeed on that small a scale whenever I'm worried about terrorism. And the OP certainly didn't show signs of asking us (only) about this side of the issue. The OP seems to think Terrorism isn't a problem, or, at least, that saying so is somehow his small way of fighting it. I bet this warped notion has been implanted in his head by a misinformed, regressive and utterly idiotic media, so I'm not about to blame him for it, but I would gladly hear his further reasoning on the matter.

I don't really know what you are asking here.

The OP seems to think Terrorism isn't a problem, or, at least, that saying so is somehow his small way of fighting it. I bet this warped notion has been implanted in his head by a misinformed, regressive and utterly idiotic media, so I'm not about to blame him for it, but I would gladly hear his further reasoning on the matter.

[RobertE]

The flaw in the rationale here is the idea that historical terrorism statistics are how you should base your concern on future terrorism.  We don't know the statistical probabilities going forward, because the capabilities/opportunities/strategies aren't static.

If it's a rando shooting up his office or a night club every other month, that's sad, but ultimately not that meaningful.

But 9/11 was a big deal.  Aside from loss of life, it was estimated to have cost as much as 2 trillion dollars depending on how loose you get with the math.  (http://www.iags.org/costof911.html)

Larger scale attacks like that, that could disrupt the country in a meaningful way, are cause for concern.  I almost like the terrorists having access to guns, because it's small scale.  If they are shooting up their office, they're not trying something at a nuclear power plant, or in a packed stadium, or at Disney or with Biological weapons, or etc...  

But to sum up in regards to OP question, I would say Terrorism is legitimately a big deal because of the potential damage that could result from it.

From small acorns and all that.....

[RobertE]

Deluded???? Not day goes by when a suspect package is found on a metro, a train or a bus here, which means a delay until the controlled explosion goes off. After a while, you become numb, immune, desensitised to it. Should there be another Paris attack, nothing is going to stop me from going out and enjoying myself. Even when the bomb went off on the 7/7 in London, people were still going to bars and enjoying themselves because as kids, they had to live through that shit because of the stinking IRA.

Except we weren't debating whether you should live your life or not, merely whether you should be concerned about Terrorism on an intellectual level.


And you clearly are or I don't know what the hell you're saying otherwise. I can't imagine how you couldn't be, given what you're describing.

No, we are debating "I'm not afraid of terrorism, are you?" I don't see the word "intellectual level", anywhere in the thread title.

[Excited Penguin]

Except we weren't debating whether you should live your life or not, merely whether you should be concerned about Terrorism on an intellectual level.


And you clearly are or I don't know what the hell you're saying otherwise. I can't imagine how you couldn't be, given what you're describing.

No, we are debating "I'm not afraid of terrorism, are you?" I don't see the word "intellectual level", anywhere in the thread title.

We don't spell everything out. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't asking us whether we literally piss our pants with fear or not at the thought of terrorism. Because that reaction is more likely to occur to something that happens directly to you, rather than something intangible like terrorist attacks that happen to other people in some far away location from you, other than the fact that it would occur naturally.

If you would like me to spell anything else out for you, let me now.

[RobertE]

I don't really know what you are asking here.

The OP seems to think Terrorism isn't a problem, or, at least, that saying so is somehow his small way of fighting it. I bet this warped notion has been implanted in his head by a misinformed, regressive and utterly idiotic media, so I'm not about to blame him for it, but I would gladly hear his further reasoning on the matter.

The same idiotic media who are into scare-mongering making gullible politically correct people tremble like jellies. Listen mate, life is too short, grab a beer, take your wife out and have a good time. If it happens, it happens, just like you could get run over by a tractor, in spite of living in a quiet, traquille, Miss Marple-like village.

[Excited Penguin]

The OP seems to think Terrorism isn't a problem, or, at least, that saying so is somehow his small way of fighting it. I bet this warped notion has been implanted in his head by a misinformed, regressive and utterly idiotic media, so I'm not about to blame him for it, but I would gladly hear his further reasoning on the matter.

The same idiotic media who are into scare-mongering making gullible politically correct people tremble like jellies. Listen mate, life is too short, grab a beer, take your wife out and have a good time. If it happens, it happens, just like you could get run over by a tractor, in spite of living in a quiet, traquille, Miss Marple-like village.

I believe you're too much of a moron to be able to have an intelligent conversation about anything, let alone about this. Fuck off, why don't you, you ignorant fuck.

[RobertE]

No, we are debating "I'm not afraid of terrorism, are you?" I don't see the word "intellectual level", anywhere in the thread title.

We don't spell everything out. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't asking us whether we literally piss our pants with fear or not at the thought of terrorism. Because that reaction is more likely to occur to something that happens directly to you, rather than something intangible like terrorist attacks that happen to other people in some far away location from you, other than the fact that it would occur naturally.

If you would like me to spell anything else out for you, let me now.

He is asking us if we are afraid, and most, if not all of us have responded with a "no." Then you call those who responded with a "no", "keyboard warriors", and to be honest, if it doesn't fit your own agenda and your views, you don't like it. Now, go and take your condescending attitude, and stick it clearly where the sun has no chance of shining. As long as you carry on your condescending attitude, I will no longer respond. 

[henryp]

From small acorns and all that.....

I did say "almost like..." it.  Intuitively, I think obviously we don't want terrorists to have guns.  But then I wonder what they'd come up with if there wasn't that quick easy option.  Maybe they'd just try and stab a bunch of people.  Or maybe they get creative and think up shit like the Nice attack.  Or worse, they take their time and come up with something more significant.