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I think you underestimate the impact this type of terrorism has. The real massive danger is constantly trying to downplay it. The simple fact is, when facing an

I think you underestimate the impact this type of terrorism has. The real massive danger is constantly trying to downplay it. The simple fact is, when facing an irrational enemy the last thing you can do is try to shift the blame to those who react.

zxcvcxz 11y ago
>The real massive danger is constantly trying to downplay it. No, it's not. The danger is over reacting, as history has proven time and time again. Fear is not the answer.
- serge2k 11y ago
  Well it's true that France doesn't need to pass their own patriot act tomorrow and start restricting freedoms, under reacting is also possible. The fact is they were attacked and a response is necessary. It doesn't need to be reactionary, it can be thoughtful and measured, but something needs to be done.
  - zxcvcxz 11y ago
    I don't think anyone is saying that there should be no response, people just think we shouldn't over react. Closing off the borders and refusing to take more Middle Eastern refugees is a sane response, starting more wars is an insane response.
Houshalter 11y ago
What impact? They kill a few people. That's terrible, but it's not even enough to dent the murder statistics. Let alone all causes of premature death. The only impact is people's reaction to it. Blame should be shifted to those who react. It absolutely should be downplayed.
- kgwgk 11y ago
  There were less than 100 homicides in Paris in 2012 and 2013 [1]. More than 100 might have been killed today. [1] http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2015/05/05/01016-20150505ARTFIG00256-en-20-ans-le-nombre-d-homicides-a-ete-divise-par-trois-a-paris.php http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2015/05/05/01016-201...
  - Retric 11y ago
    And compared to the average for that block it's even worse. The point being of the people murdered in France this year less than 1/5th of them where killed by terrorists. Yet, the other 4/5th don't make international news. Yes, this is a tragedy, so are all those other deaths. PS: Even at over twice the normal rate, the average US city is far worse every year.
    - kgwgk 11y ago
      There are around 700 people murdered in France each year. But in most cases it's someone from your family killing you, or someone that hates you for some reason, or you're involved in criminal activities. Maybe there are 100 people killed in France in a typical year by complete strangers. And we're talking about 180 people (maybe more) killed in 2015 by complete strangers and in the name of Allah. I don't think that can be easily ignored.
      - Retric 11y ago
        Most people ignore the 400,000+ people murdered every year. What's hard, is accepting that things like this happen, but there not reason to alter policy in any meaningful way.
- gotchange 11y ago
  > It absolutely should be downplayed. Wait till you live in Iraq or Afghanistan where these incidents occur on a daily basis and see if you will still stand by your statement or revisit it very soon.
  - Houshalter 11y ago
    But we aren't talking about Iraq or Afghanistan. We are talking about Western countries where terrorist attacks are not that common.
savanaly 11y ago
It's practically impossible to underreact to terrorism, since its goal is to incense you and provoke a reaction. Mourn the loss, and take reasonable steps to prevent it, but dont put deaths to terrorist attacks on a pedastal as more tragic than other losses or make the perpetrators into some sort of demonic antiheroes.
scrollaway 11y ago
The enemy is not irrational. The moment you understand that, you'll understand why fear is not the answer.
- refurb 11y ago
  Try convincing fear is not rational to the people close to the attacks today. I understand what your point is, but the fact is that fear is exactly what people will feel.
  - scrollaway 11y ago
    I know. :(
- kgwgk 11y ago
  Someone blowing himself up is not irrational?
  - scrollaway 11y ago
    The ones blowing themselves up are the pawns. They are driven to do this generally by the environment. The pack leaders are the rational ones. The ones that stand to gain the most from organizing these horrors.

zxcvcxz 11y ago

>The real massive danger is constantly trying to downplay it. No, it's not. The danger is over reacting, as history has proven time and time again. Fear is not the answer.

serge2k 11y ago
Well it's true that France doesn't need to pass their own patriot act tomorrow and start restricting freedoms, under reacting is also possible. The fact is they were attacked and a response is necessary. It doesn't need to be reactionary, it can be thoughtful and measured, but something needs to be done.
- zxcvcxz 11y ago
  I don't think anyone is saying that there should be no response, people just think we shouldn't over react. Closing off the borders and refusing to take more Middle Eastern refugees is a sane response, starting more wars is an insane response.

Houshalter 11y ago

What impact? They kill a few people. That's terrible, but it's not even enough to dent the murder statistics. Let alone all causes of premature death. The only impact is people's reaction to it. Blame should be shifted to those who react. It absolutely should be downplayed.

kgwgk 11y ago
There were less than 100 homicides in Paris in 2012 and 2013 [1]. More than 100 might have been killed today. [1] http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2015/05/05/01016-20150505ARTFIG00256-en-20-ans-le-nombre-d-homicides-a-ete-divise-par-trois-a-paris.php http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2015/05/05/01016-201...
- Retric 11y ago
  And compared to the average for that block it's even worse. The point being of the people murdered in France this year less than 1/5th of them where killed by terrorists. Yet, the other 4/5th don't make international news. Yes, this is a tragedy, so are all those other deaths. PS: Even at over twice the normal rate, the average US city is far worse every year.
  - kgwgk 11y ago
    There are around 700 people murdered in France each year. But in most cases it's someone from your family killing you, or someone that hates you for some reason, or you're involved in criminal activities. Maybe there are 100 people killed in France in a typical year by complete strangers. And we're talking about 180 people (maybe more) killed in 2015 by complete strangers and in the name of Allah. I don't think that can be easily ignored.
    - Retric 11y ago
      Most people ignore the 400,000+ people murdered every year. What's hard, is accepting that things like this happen, but there not reason to alter policy in any meaningful way.
gotchange 11y ago
> It absolutely should be downplayed. Wait till you live in Iraq or Afghanistan where these incidents occur on a daily basis and see if you will still stand by your statement or revisit it very soon.
- Houshalter 11y ago
  But we aren't talking about Iraq or Afghanistan. We are talking about Western countries where terrorist attacks are not that common.

savanaly 11y ago

It's practically impossible to underreact to terrorism, since its goal is to incense you and provoke a reaction. Mourn the loss, and take reasonable steps to prevent it, but dont put deaths to terrorist attacks on a pedastal as more tragic than other losses or make the perpetrators into some sort of demonic antiheroes.

scrollaway 11y ago

The enemy is not irrational. The moment you understand that, you'll understand why fear is not the answer.

refurb 11y ago
Try convincing fear is not rational to the people close to the attacks today. I understand what your point is, but the fact is that fear is exactly what people will feel.
- scrollaway 11y ago
  I know. :(
kgwgk 11y ago
Someone blowing himself up is not irrational?
- scrollaway 11y ago
  The ones blowing themselves up are the pawns. They are driven to do this generally by the environment. The pack leaders are the rational ones. The ones that stand to gain the most from organizing these horrors.