I don't feel scared of terrorists, am I wrong?
Discussion
As title really. Had a discussion with someone I really respect and they're convinced the next terrorist atrocity is just around the corner and it will wipe out some people we know.
Am I wrong to treat the prospect of an ISIS attack as lower priority than day to day killers like cancer?
Am I wrong to treat the prospect of an ISIS attack as lower priority than day to day killers like cancer?
onyx39 said:
I have to say, I was going to post something similar to this thread.
I have used the train a couple of times recently from Reading Station, and have felt decidedly ill at ease.
Back in the days of the IRA, at least there was some kind of warning, and a chance to evacuate, but with these people, the first you will know is when the person standing next to you explodes!
You've hit the nail on the head, this is exactly what i'm trying to reconcile.I have used the train a couple of times recently from Reading Station, and have felt decidedly ill at ease.
Back in the days of the IRA, at least there was some kind of warning, and a chance to evacuate, but with these people, the first you will know is when the person standing next to you explodes!
There's as near as makes no difference, no chance of this happening to you. Or even happening to someone you know. You have more more chance of winning the lottery (that happens to someone in the UK almost every week) or being killed by heart disease.
Yet there's no way on the train journey you'd think "i should stick a lotto on" or "I should really cut back on the saturated fats".
How does this work, what is the influence or factor i'm missing?
onyx39 said:
agtlaw said:
In Britain today, you are statistically more likely to be killed by a policeman than a terrorist.
Only thing I could find was this Wikipedia article, which lists 20 odd victims since about 1920, I suspect the list may be incomplete. How many died on 7/7? 52/53?Unfortunately your more likely to be done in by a copper there than many things!
Not worrying at all about it is too far in the other direction for me. While i don't agree with my Grandpa's fear of terrorism, i don't condone complacency.
I agree with the thinking that nutjobs are the primary vehicle for viable attacks. I think nutjobs (damaged goods type people) can be easy prey for indoctrination by groups which seek to harm the UK. Therefore i think it possible for further attacks to happen here - we have plenty of damaged goods type people as a casual glance at the middle lane of any UK motorway will attest ;-) ... i jest of course.
I don't believe a large attack is possible. There just aren't enough sympathetic nutjobs here or abroad and logistically speaking, i can't see a sustained attack being possible either. Small attacks that occur with extended gaps between them are possible i think.
I'm quite attached to the idea of zero deaths by terrorists. So I support targeted intelligence gathering - worth pointing out by that i explicitly do not mean trawling random people looking for patterns, targeted is key.
I agree with the thinking that nutjobs are the primary vehicle for viable attacks. I think nutjobs (damaged goods type people) can be easy prey for indoctrination by groups which seek to harm the UK. Therefore i think it possible for further attacks to happen here - we have plenty of damaged goods type people as a casual glance at the middle lane of any UK motorway will attest ;-) ... i jest of course.
I don't believe a large attack is possible. There just aren't enough sympathetic nutjobs here or abroad and logistically speaking, i can't see a sustained attack being possible either. Small attacks that occur with extended gaps between them are possible i think.
I'm quite attached to the idea of zero deaths by terrorists. So I support targeted intelligence gathering - worth pointing out by that i explicitly do not mean trawling random people looking for patterns, targeted is key.
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