# America's fear of terrorism is mostly irrational xenophobia **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 18, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499 "2016-01-18T14:30:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jerry\_smissingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jerry\_smissingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerry_smissingfinger)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/81 "2016-01-19T03:52:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You control your own fate while driving, but rarely while flying. Not really irrational. Nuh uh some guy in a mini van backed into me while I was parked. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dajn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@Dajn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dajn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/82 "2016-01-19T05:28:37Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > According to [Gallup](http://www.gallup.com/poll/4909/terrorism-united-states.aspx), 51% of US adults are very or somewhat worried that they or their family will become a victim of terrorism. It is clear that most of the respondents implicitly understood this to be foreign terrorism, since the principal solutions they supported were changes to immigration visas and bombing. It is wildly irrational to actively worry that you or your family will be a victim of terrorism. There are a thousand more likely ways for them to die, including by other sources of violence. The chances are similar to being struck by lightning. Or dying because of a piece of furniture falls on you. > > So the question is why does terrorism get such undue concern? One possible explanation is [availability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic) bias. But that’s probably not it. Far more people fear foreign terrorism than domestic mass shooting, for [example](http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/17/poll-watch-americans-fear-more-terrorist-attacks-but-have-mixed-views-on-gun-control/), and the only difference there is foreign-ness. > > I think the best explanation for the evidence is that humans, generally speaking, are hard-wired to fear foreigners. The more different and exotic they are, the more they are feared. We get much more upset when a foreigner kills someone from our tribe than when a snake does, or lightning does, or one of us does. In the modern world, there is no rational basis for that fear. > > This truth has lots of consequences for our politics and our policy, which might be interesting to debate, but I’ll leave the OP at this basic premise. If a Muslim family moved in next door to me I would not be happy about it. The problem with guys like you is you think others think like you. Muslims do not think like you. Wake up ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/83 "2016-01-19T05:50:51Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > As it stands, more than half of the small number of murders committed during mass shootings last year were by Jihadist attackers. How does that compare to other years? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/84 "2016-01-19T06:27:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Terrorism kills more people than shark attacks, and you _can_ stay out of the ocean. Or not fly. > > Since, at least for this year- mass shootings are mostly terrorism (or perhaps they all are, depending on how you define the term), it’s reasonable. Just to be clear, are you referring to 2016, or 2015? And is that worldwide, or in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/85 "2016-01-19T06:28:54Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > As it stands, more than half of the small number of murders committed during mass shootings last year were by Jihadist attackers. Same question, are you referring to mass shootings in the US, or worldwide? ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/86 "2016-01-19T07:03:12Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How does that compare to other years? I don’t know. > [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > Same question, are you referring to mass shootings in the US, or worldwide? US ---
**Author:** ![Dajn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@Dajn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dajn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/87 "2016-01-19T07:37:39Z")
My neighbor is a rush Limbaugh conservative. I disagree with almost everything he believes in. But I trust him more than anyone I have ever met. It’s ok to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/88 "2016-01-19T07:47:41Z")
> [@Dajn](#): > > If a Muslim family moved in next door to me I would not be happy about it. The problem with guys like you is you think others think like you. Muslims do not think like you. Wake up Really? Whats their math like? Base 9? Show their kids a Roadrunner cartoon, they don’t laugh? My representative, the Hon. Keith Ellison, is a Muslim. A Lutheran Muslim, so that’s OK. Knows more about hot dish than bomb making. Didn’t actually meet the guy, but stood about five feet away, no scent of sulpher. A rather ordinary Minnesota type, a bit brown, but otherwise quite normal. Do the Muslims of Indonesia think like the Muslims of Syria? If all Muslims think the same way, how come they are fighting each other? Shia Muslims believe that they think very differently from Sunni Muslims, they’re wrong? Shouldn’t somebody tell them? How about Americans, do Muslims think more like hippies or Wall Street greedfreaks? More like pickle up the butt fundamentalists, or joy-mongering evangelicals? Hydrox or Oreo? Coors or beer? Whats the physical basis of this difference? Is it some sort of neuro-virus, passed from one to another that rearranges synapses? Some chemical treatment of pages of the Koran, that induces a distinct form of psychosis, makes you crazy as a duck on acid but you can still operate machinery? Forgive the pestering curiosity, but lately we have been blessed with experts in all things Muslim, and I’m just trying to get an education. Because I don’t really know if I think differently that any average Muslim, I kinda doubt it. But I’m sure and for certain I don’t think like you guys do. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/89 "2016-01-19T07:48:00Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > I don’t know. You should find out. Because if the broader statistics for even that one year don’t support your case, and no statistics at all support it for any other years, then perhaps your claim about rampaging jihadists all over the US is rather specious. > [@Dajn](#): > > If a Muslim family moved in next door to me I would not be happy about it. If you moved in next door to me I would be even less happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/90 "2016-01-19T07:59:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > You should find out. Because if the broader statistics for even that one year don’t support your case, and no statistics at all support it for any other years, then perhaps your claim about rampaging jihadists all over the US is rather specious… Whoa, dude or dudette! Are you suggesting that if the facts of the citation don’t actually relate to the thesis offered, then the citation has no value in _supporting_ that thesis? Pretty radical notion… ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/91 "2016-01-19T08:06:02Z")
> [@Dajn](#): > > If a Muslim family moved in next door to me I would not be happy about it. The problem with guys like you is you think others think like you. Muslims do not think like you. Wake up Muslims from what culture, society or sect? Muslim societies that have had more female leaders than the USA or Saudi Arabia where some women can just now vote? This notion that there is one America and one Muslim is infantile, you must know that? That simplicity ended for most people in about 3rd grade, right? ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/92 "2016-01-19T08:25:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > your claim about rampaging jihadists all over the US is rather specious. If that is the claim you are interested in you could use the, you know, actual murderous rampages by jihadists as evidence. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/93 "2016-01-19T08:28:32Z")
A cross comparison to the victims of unicorn stampedes might be useful. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/94 "2016-01-19T08:56:39Z")
I think there is something of a culture of fear now in the US, where politicians and news agencies have a lot to gain from perpetuating this idea that America is under siege. Nevertheless, I think any country in the US’ position would have a fear of terrorism, and it’s not necessarily xenophobia. Because: 1. 9/11 happened. I know 15 years later we sometimes get tired of mentions of it, but it was a pretty terrifying event and showed just how real shit can get. 2. Fears are instinctive and don’t necessarily correlate well with probabilities. If it was on the news that guys in my area were randomly stabbing people, I might find that pretty scary, even if the chance of me being stabbed is far less than the chance of some drunk driver knocking me over on the sidewalk. Or indeed the chance that I just have a heart attack out of the blue :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Dajn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@Dajn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dajn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/95 "2016-01-19T10:03:14Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > You should find out. Because if the broader statistics for even that one year don’t support your case, and no statistics at all support it for any other years, then perhaps your claim about rampaging jihadists all over the US is rather specious. > > If you moved in next door to me I would be even less happy about it. I would never move into your neighborhood. I am not that dumb ---
**Author:** ![Dajn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@Dajn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dajn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/96 "2016-01-19T10:05:16Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Muslims from what culture, society or sect? > > Muslim societies that have had more female leaders than the USA or Saudi Arabia where some women can just now vote? > > This notion that there is one America and one Muslim is infantile, you must know that? That simplicity ended for most people in about 3rd grade, right? Muslims period. They all suck. Stop trying to be politically correct. ---
**Author:** ![Dajn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@Dajn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dajn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/97 "2016-01-19T10:13:10Z")
> [@Dajn](#): > > Muslims period. They all suck. Stop trying to be politically correct. If you makes you feel better, I feel the same about christains. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/98 "2016-01-19T10:22:00Z")
> [@Dajn](#): > > Muslims period. They all suck. Stop trying to be politically correct. No. No, they just don’t. People who see every issue (and every group of people) as pure black and white are delusional. The world if full of gray, my friend. 9/11 terrorists? I’ll go with bad there. My co-worker, a Muslim from Turkey? Great guy, and as peace loving as anyone I know. And actually an active force for good. Stop buying what Trump and his kind are selling. It’ simply hate. That’s all it is. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/99 "2016-01-19T12:01:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Nothing scares Australians, they live in a place where butterflies are venomous. This is just irresponsible merkin scaremongering. Yes, Australia has poisonous butterflies, and carnivorous butterflies. :eek: But there are no venomous butterflies here. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/100 "2016-01-19T13:15:42Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > I don’t know. Well, [here you go.](http://econbrowser.com/archives/2015/12/mass-shooting-casualties-by-religion-of-perpetrator-muslim-vs-non-muslim) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499.md?page=6)