# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/161 "2016-01-25T19:48:15Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > First, we’re not talking about the UK. Secondly, nobody with half a brain takes anything in the Mail seriously. Are the stories from the Daily Mail incorrect? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/162 "2016-01-25T19:59:47Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > White guys shoot up movie theaters. If you go to the movies, do you require that white guys get patted down? Should people fear white guys? And should the good white guys do something about these movie patron hating white guys? > > When I go to the Afghan grocery to buy Naan I don’t need for them to tell me that they aren’t going to kill me or that they don’t have anything to do with the Taliban. They are just nice businessmen who bake great bread. > Or should they put a “We’re against terrorism” sign in their window to assure you? And xenophobic Muslims use pressure cookers to make bombs. There are many ways to terrorize the public. I don’t know of anyone who champions the monster who made bombs and shot up a theater. The monster was mentally ill and should have been hospitalized, or at least medicated. Most of society hates these monsters, while some feel pity for them. Muslims, on the other hand, need to be more public in their condemnation of the xenophobic Muslims who are constantly calling for the murder of everyone who are not like them. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/163 "2016-01-25T20:07:01Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Most of us, however, recognize that radical fanaticism exists only among a tiny minority – on both sides – and we don’t wish to be defined by them, either as radical Muslims or as radical Islamophobes. You, apparently, have no problem with either characterization. Since the characterization is not supported by evidence, it’s not rational. Go check your dictionary again. My dictionary is right where I left it. Thanks for asking. 😃 Xenophobic Muslims have been repeatedly calling for the death of Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists, Europeans, Americans, and anyone else who doesn’t believe as they do. That “IS” supporting evidence. So it is rational to be worried about terrorism, regardless of the terrorist’s religion, race, skin color, and mental stability. ---
**Author:** ![T.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@T.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.M)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/164 "2016-01-26T01:22:05Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Are the stories from the Daily Mail incorrect? No they are not, The Daily Mail leans a little to the right which is enough for the Left to attack on site no matter what the article has to say. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/165 "2016-01-26T02:30:26Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Are the stories from the Daily Mail incorrect? Generally. It’s the tabloid of record for bored UK housewives. Like the National Enquirer with facts occasionally thrown in. Or maybe the New York Post. Or is it the Daily News? One of those. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/166 "2016-01-26T06:25:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Generally. It’s the tabloid of record for bored UK housewives. Like the National Enquirer with facts occasionally thrown in. Or maybe the New York Post. Or is it the Daily News? One of those. Rather than a _ad hominem_ attack, perhaps you could dispute the actual figures shown in that cite by one of your own? ---
**Author:** ![T.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@T.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.M)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/167 "2016-01-26T09:22:02Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Generally. It’s the tabloid of record for bored UK housewives. Like the National Enquirer with facts occasionally thrown in. Or maybe the New York Post. Or is it the Daily News? One of those. Bored U.K housewife’s is rather a sexist comment and very derogatory towards woman. This is a typical left wing comment, they will protest against the right whatever the subject. I was protesting with a right wing group about the lack of police investigation into the sexual abuse of underage girls, unbelievably the left protested against us when told what the protest was about the reply was, you are the right and we will protest against you all the time what ever your protest. Since then the police are investigating thousands of complaints about the sexual abuse of underage girls backed up by proven court cases. I think that it is a case of attack the author rather than debate the subject ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/168 "2016-01-26T14:30:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Rather than a _ad hominem_ attack, perhaps you could dispute the actual figures shown in that cite by one of your own? If you’re referring to the prison cite, the implication is that these are terrorists or something. But in fact, most of these “Muslims” are actually just [prison converts](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3277502/First-UK-jail-half-inmates-Muslim-pressured-convert-Islamic-protection-racket.html), as the Mail itself reports. ---
**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 26, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/169 "2016-01-26T14:52:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Rather than a _ad hominem_ attack, perhaps you could dispute the actual figures shown in that cite by one of your own? Where it’s wrong is in focusing on the disproportionate presence of minorities in UK jails as being an Islamic issue, when it applies to all ethnicities in the UK: > **[Race | Prison Reform Trust](https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/project/race/)** "21,937 prisoners, was from a minority ethnic group. This compares to around one in 10 of the general population. Out of the British national prison population, 10% are black and 6% are Asian. For black Britons this is significantly higher than the 2.8% of the general population they represent. Overall black prisoners account for the largest number of minority ethnic prisoners (49%). At the end of June 2014, 28% of minority ethnic prisoners were foreign nationals. According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, there is now greater disproportionality in the number of black people in prisons in the UK than in the United States." This is particularly evident in prisons serving London. Where the Mail fucks up is in confusing cause and effect. Funnily enough if you put more blacks and asians in jail, you will find significantly higher proportions of muslims. You then get the feedback loop which even the Mail acknowledges where people can then get protection by aligning themselves with Islam. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/170 "2016-01-26T17:07:26Z")
For historical record - > [@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. (Underline added) > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In other words, you agree with the OP? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If it’s a PR problem, then you agree with the OP. No, I do not agree with the OP. I believe the well was poisoned when he stated, “_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_.” People are concerned about terrorism, both foreign and domestic. It happens. Therefore, it’s not “wildly irrational” to worry about yourself or your family. And I don’t see where “foreign” terrorism was implicitly understood. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/171 "2016-01-26T17:11:41Z")
If you’re worried about your family being probed by aliens, don’t go camping with mouth-breathing rednecks. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/172 "2016-01-27T18:02:07Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > If you’re worried about your family being probed by aliens, don’t go camping with mouth-breathing rednecks. Speaking from personal experience, are ya? TTIUWP ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/173 "2016-01-27T23:45:09Z")
Aliens are scared of hippies. Hang a crystal in front of your tent, no worries. ---
**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 28, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/174 "2016-01-28T01:10:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Aliens are scared of hippies. Hang a crystal in front of your tent, no worries. Your contributions to these discussions have large negative value. You can’t snark your way out of a global Islamist insurgency, sadly. Sarcasm doesn’t seem to stop bullets or bombs or the executioner’s blade. Why don’t you try directing your brilliance towards mocking Prophet Mohammed and the widespread fetishistic obsession over his degenerate behavior, for a bit? You know, for diversity. Do it publicly and you can share the load now bore by a very few brave souls like the Charlie Hebdo artists. Well, the ones are still alive, anyway. No? Oh, I know, you are faaar to tolerant to do anything like that. Cowardice has nothing at all to do with the narrow mindedness of your contributions, of course. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-fear-of-terrorism-is-mostly-irrational-xenophobia/743499/175 "2016-01-28T05:45:30Z")
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