3 ms·

Terrorism works to... what? Sell xray machines? Decrease tourism? Convince Lithuanians to quit interfering in Kentucky? Fund the security industrial complex? T

• thwayunion 4y ago
  To attack. To hurt. To cause fear. To degrade a perceived enemy's sense of safety, order, civility, etc. To destroy social fabric. To cause maximum damage to that from which the terrorist feels alienated. Real life isn't a Tom Clancy novel, and many terrorists are not agents of transnational militant organizations with specific and articulated geopolitical aims. For many terrorists, the terror is the goal. You can yell and scream and plead that we shouldn't be afraid. And look: I'm not here to disagree. Not at all. I'm just here to tell you that if your appeals started to work, future terrorists would switch to different tactics. And also that terrorists are likely choosing the tactics they are precisely because they think you're wrong about your ability to get the vast majority of people to not be afraid. Again, no solutions here. But ignoring the fundamental goal of terrorism and mass violence probably isn't a good starting point.
  • bee_rider 4y ago
    In the US, terrorism is generally understood to be distinct from random violence specifically due to the political goal. So, this excludes most school shootings. Also, when we have a lone shooter with a manifesto or whatever, which could I guess arguably be seen as political, generally the media will skip it I think. Deter copycats and all that.