4 ms·

If it's difficult to distinguish mere theft from terrorism, then here's a hint: it isn't terrorism. The "terror" in "terrorism" is there for a reason. If nobod

If it's difficult to distinguish mere theft from terrorism, then here's a hint: it isn't terrorism. The "terror" in "terrorism" is there for a reason. If nobody can tell that you stole the wiring because you resent the British rule of the Northern Territories/the French occupation of Algeria/US bases in the middle east/whatever, then even if you intended your act to terrify others into getting their government to comply with your wishes, you have failed pretty badly.

busyant 10y ago
Maybe a more accurate phrase is "state sponsored sabotage."
- ivanca 10y ago
  That wording doesn't attract clicks, and it's all this generation is about. You think I'm joking but I'm sure future anthropologists will document how clickbaiting changed the English language. Heck, I have seen common people baiting in their own captions "check what they put in this sandwich, this would be unbelievable in America"
  - astronautjones 10y ago
    Glenn Greenwald has made this particular point about the word "terrorism" so many times that his columns have to cannibalize themselves, but I do think they will be what future anthropologists cite most frequently, as he's got it nailed: https://theintercept.com/2015/06/19/refusal-call-charleston-shootings-terrorism-shows-meaningless-propaganda-term/ https://theintercept.com/2015/06/19/refusal-call-charleston-...
deleted 10y ago
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rconti 10y ago
Maybe it just didn't work. Or maybe it was a dry run. Shooting up transformers in Metcalf was clearly not theft, I know that.
- mhurron 10y ago
  > Maybe it just didn't work. Or maybe it was a dry run You may have crimes, but they aren't terror attacks.
- crpatino 10y ago
  Maybe it was some resentful ex-employees then? Or a bunch of vandals that just watched the Fight Club movie and thought it was really cool? That's the problem when putting so many eggs in the same basket. At the end of the day, it does not matter why it fell, or who dropped it.
rdtsc 10y ago
But if it is not "terrorism" you don't funding, resources, support, publicity, page views. Everyone will learn this eventually and even though they all realize that it isn't really "terrorism" they'll say it is, because it ends up better for them if they do so.

busyant 10y ago

Maybe a more accurate phrase is "state sponsored sabotage."

ivanca 10y ago
That wording doesn't attract clicks, and it's all this generation is about. You think I'm joking but I'm sure future anthropologists will document how clickbaiting changed the English language. Heck, I have seen common people baiting in their own captions "check what they put in this sandwich, this would be unbelievable in America"
- astronautjones 10y ago
  Glenn Greenwald has made this particular point about the word "terrorism" so many times that his columns have to cannibalize themselves, but I do think they will be what future anthropologists cite most frequently, as he's got it nailed: https://theintercept.com/2015/06/19/refusal-call-charleston-shootings-terrorism-shows-meaningless-propaganda-term/ https://theintercept.com/2015/06/19/refusal-call-charleston-...

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

rconti 10y ago

Maybe it just didn't work. Or maybe it was a dry run. Shooting up transformers in Metcalf was clearly not theft, I know that.

mhurron 10y ago
> Maybe it just didn't work. Or maybe it was a dry run You may have crimes, but they aren't terror attacks.
crpatino 10y ago
Maybe it was some resentful ex-employees then? Or a bunch of vandals that just watched the Fight Club movie and thought it was really cool? That's the problem when putting so many eggs in the same basket. At the end of the day, it does not matter why it fell, or who dropped it.

rdtsc 10y ago

But if it is not "terrorism" you don't funding, resources, support, publicity, page views. Everyone will learn this eventually and even though they all realize that it isn't really "terrorism" they'll say it is, because it ends up better for them if they do so.