Analyzing Terrorism

[Microcosm]

This is an opinionated thread in which I would like to discuss your opinions on the origins of terrorism. What do you think provokes terrorism? What goes through people's heads while they are terrorizing others? Are they just crazy, mindless, moral-less, or do they have a point somewhere in there? Share your thoughts here.

Personally, I see it as being provoked by a few things. First of all, religion can strongly provoke terrorism in particular cases which I will not state here. Also, I think there is a sort of desire within us all to terrorize others. As animals, we have animalistic brains. Perhaps we have a sort of deep desire that terrorists simply are making clear. We can sort of see this deep part of ourselves in these people. They are simply lacking in the area of self-control.

[Uniquemind]

There's a lot probably going on in their heads. But I'll nutshell it with my best guess:

1. Rage

2. Carnal base thoughts of eye for an eye justification

3. Probably propaganda mantras they've been taught

4. Introspectively they probably feel they don't matter hence joining a cause they can die for appeals to them.

5. Not all are rational, some probably have mental illnesses

6. They probably feel extremely desperate to the point that embracing violence feels like their only real option for a livelihood.

7. They also might be affecting by substance abuse like drugs or alcohol which will alter how their brain works, and that will affect how they emote and rationalize the world. Keep in mind they might've been taking those substances since they themselves were children, meaning it altered their brain development compared to someone who did not take drugs.

[Ridonks_CB]

There's a lot probably going on in their heads. But I'll nutshell it with my best guess:

1. Rage

2. Carnal base thoughts of eye for an eye justification

3. Probably propaganda mantras they've been taught

4. Introspectively they probably feel they don't matter hence joining a cause they can die for appeals to them.

5. Not all are rational, some probably have mental illnesses

6. They probably feel extremely desperate to the point that embracing violence feels like their only real option for a livelihood.

7. They also might be affecting by substance abuse like drugs or alcohol which will alter how their brain works, and that will affect how they emote and rationalize the world. Keep in mind they might've been taking those substances since they themselves were children, meaning it altered their brain development compared to someone who did not take drugs.

What my answer would have been as well. I'd also add, knowing this is the case for a few, that a family member/friend was a part of a terrorist attack/organization and some would follow.
Others hold such radical strong beliefs on religion and God; one might state that "Killing a supporter of the military will please God," because their extreme views have basically created an entirely new mindeset of beliefs that might not actually be true.

[Left Now]

By Terrorism you mean today's one or Terrorism in General?

[Jason The Great]

Sick people look for excuses to satisfy their stupid needs....religion is just an excuse.

[Uniquemind]

Extremism is bad.

[Vlerchan]

Has anyone ever considered that some terrorists might have genuine grievances and in some cases violence is the most effective means of affecting their condition. Examples include [1] revolutionaries in the US, [2] revolutionaries in Ireland (old IRA), [3] Yugoslav partisans, [4] French resistance fighters, [5] and lots of others.

But these were freedom fighters?! No. These just won.

[roadwarrior]

Terrorism arises because of lacks of justice in this world... The world has full of problems and it will be never stopped so terrorism will also never be stopped unless we reach the total world peace...

[phuckphace]

Timothy McVeigh bombed the OKC Federal Building due to grievances with the Federal government, in particular the latter's abortive handling of the Waco siege. he gambled that his action would inspire further resistance against the Man, but failed to take into account the power of the media to influence and direct public opinion against him. that, and he forgot that while Americans love to complain about gov't overreach, they are in fact passive and complacent like a giant flock of morbidly obese sheep.

all this is not to say that I sympathize with McVeigh or condone his actions, which amounted to pissing into the wind and having it splash back in his face. another one of his grievances was (hilariously) some lolbertarian baloney about taxes being theft and that everyone ought to go live as a survivalist loon in Montana with a wood stove and MRE's :lol3:

moral of the story: if you resort to violence to achieve goals, you need a receptive audience.

[Microcosm]

By Terrorism you mean today's one or Terrorism in General?

Terrorism in general. If you'd like you could use contemporary forms of terrorism as examples for analysis and such.

Extremism is bad.

Please explain.

[Stronk Serb]

The term 'terrorist' is so vague. What some people see as terrorists, others see as freedom fighters. Hell, some terrorist organisations even have legitimate goals, for example, 'Young Bosnia' (for formation of Yugoslavia, killed Austrian heir to the throne), as Vlerchan pointed out, old IRA, Garibaldi's Redshirts, Polish resistance, Vietcong...

[Uniquemind]

The term 'terrorist' is so vague. What some people see as terrorists, others see as freedom fighters. Hell, some terrorist organisations even have legitimate goals, for example, 'Young Bosnia' (for formation of Yugoslavia, killed Austrian heir to the throne), as Vlerchan pointed out, old IRA, Garibaldi's Redshirts, Polish resistance, Vietcong...


^This is hitting a concept of what I meant by "extremism is bad".

I also think it's worth diverging and acknowledging not all violent acts are equal.

It is commonly said that "the devil is in the details" but I also want to add that many answers reside in the details of intent and motive.

Some people have mental health issues have a personal ideology due to psychosis that they're carrying out, but others are considered rational criminals, meaning they might believe crazy things, but they haven't had a break with reality.

Religion in particular is polarizing, and anything that is polarizing can have an extreme interpretation of belief that spreads like a virus. One can say the same about political issues as well. This is especially true of those beliefs or concepts carry the connotation of a "prize" out of reach (heaven, the cleansing of guilt from troubles past, the adding of self-worth for one's future).


Those are the driving forces behind the culture of terrorism in my humble opinion.



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However other historical wars and revolutions have arisen out of core tangible complaints (oppression and overtaxation) and so in response they had objectives with clear end goals of what victory or loss meant.

I don't know if terrorism has that, especially in recent history, because it is often tied to inspiration or goals about intangible abstract concepts that are endless.

[Left Now]

Well,Terrorism in general means using fear and terror to reach a goal.

[phuckphace]

Well,Terrorism in general means using fear and terror to reach a goal.

I think this motivation for extremism is pretty rare.

Like Timothy McVeigh for example. I don't think he was trying to "scare" anyone, in fact, causing widespread panic can often end up being counterproductive. extremism tends to be motivated by vengeance, thus it is a tit-for-tat response.

consider also the extremists who attacked the WTC on 9/11. they were motivated by vengeance against the US for its atrocities and political meddling. on the other hand, look at the response to 9/11 by our government - I think it's more accurate to say that their post-9/11 fear mongering is the real "terrorism", going by your definition here.

[Left Now]

I think this motivation for extremism is pretty rare.

Like Timothy McVeigh for example. I don't think he was trying to "scare" anyone, in fact, causing widespread panic can often end up being counterproductive. extremism tends to be motivated by vengeance, thus it is a tit-for-tat response.

consider also the extremists who attacked the WTC on 9/11. they were motivated by vengeance against the US for its atrocities and political meddling. on the other hand, look at the response to 9/11 by our government - I think it's more accurate to say that their post-9/11 fear mongering is the real "terrorism", going by your definition here.

Extremism is a different story from Terrorism itself.

Actually those who destroyed WTC in 9/11 were Saudi militants who were encouraged by Wahhabi School elements which is based on "Harbi Takfir" which means everyone who opposes or doesn't agree with their beliefs must be killed,at the first place those who they call Islamic Heretics or we Shias and other Sunnis and then non-Muslims.Their act was not an act of revenge,but an act encouraged by a school which was first created in 18th century;actually the elements of this school are similar to another movement's which was made in 7th century,known as "Khawarij",means "Outlaws" or "Expeled ones".

This is raw extremism,or as we call it "Bed'at" means making new things and in this matter new elements which are against the Islamic Elements.

But the things which were done by South African Anti-Apartheid movements in Apartheid South Africa are considered as Terrorism.Or the things which 1778 Revolutionists did against British Loyalists.

[ValentinClarke]

This is an opinionated thread in which I would like to discuss your opinions on the origins of terrorism. What do you think provokes terrorism? What goes through people's heads while they are terrorizing others? Are they just crazy, mindless, moral-less, or do they have a point somewhere in there? Share your thoughts here.

Personally, I see it as being provoked by a few things. First of all, religion can strongly provoke terrorism in particular cases which I will not state here. Also, I think there is a sort of desire within us all to terrorize others. As animals, we have animalistic brains. Perhaps we have a sort of deep desire that terrorists simply are making clear. We can sort of see this deep part of ourselves in these people. They are simply lacking in the area of self-control.

I see terrorism as something people choose to do in order to get a point across. I think that anything could provoke it, as different people have different minds. I think that some people are plain psychopaths, sociopaths or masochists, so they feel pleasure or nothing when committing acts of terrorism. Like, in order to get one's point across, one sometimes wants to punch someone. This is in order to convey that we do not like that person at all. We are slaves to our animalistic urges, as said above, and I believe that we will always be. If we are not slaves to our urges, I don't want to see how humans would be, to be entirely honest.

[Uniquemind]

I see terrorism as something people choose to do in order to get a point across. I think that anything could provoke it, as different people have different minds. I think that some people are plain psychopaths, sociopaths or masochists, so they feel pleasure or nothing when committing acts of terrorism. Like, in order to get one's point across, one sometimes wants to punch someone. This is in order to convey that we do not like that person at all. We are slaves to our animalistic urges, as said above, and I believe that we will always be. If we are not slaves to our urges, I don't want to see how humans would be, to be entirely honest.

I'm actually kinda interested in what society would be like if they were ruled more by logical thought process than just urges alone though.

I don't think you could get rid of urges, they certainly serve a purpose, but to be able to not let them enslave you...I'd very much like to see humanity go that direction.

What we have now is just not working because of a lack of foresight, and discipline in the face of very hard truths that to survive kindly, macro society in the developed world have to willingly give up lots of luxuries to combat the world's problems.

An example is an addiction to a meat diet in the developed world.

[Vlerchan]

I'm actually kinda interested in what society would be like if they were ruled more by logical thought process than just urges alone though.

I don't think you could get rid of urges, they certainly serve a purpose, but to be able to not let them enslave you...I'd very much like to see humanity go that direction.
Since the values we base our policies around are incommensurable, politics is always going to be based around human whims.

[Stronk Serb]

Some anarchist planted mysterious boxes in front of government buildings here. Everyone was scared shitless of a terrorist attack only to discover that the boxes were full of animal dung.