mattj
blatant Nintendo fanboy
Some questions, as starting points for serious discussion, from a thread on another forum I frequent.
What could it have been that allowed this tragedy to occur?
Honestly, I think several factors played heavily into allowing this tragedy to occur. Firstly, this appears to be an extremely low level, low key plot. Our government does a fantastic job infiltrating Al Qaeda, determining what they're going to do next, and thwarting it before it becomes serious. But from everything I've read, this does not appear to be an Al Qaeda sponsored plot. It just seems to be two (or some have argued one) kids who for whatever reason decided to do this. No help from the outside. There's not much our government could do in such a case, unless they literally wiretap and monitor every single phone call, every single text, every single email, have a drone listen in on every conversation on every street corner and in every house. It's just not feasible.
Secondly, I think that the grand scale of the marathon played a part. There were so many people there of all races and ethnicities. People were running. They were supposed to be running. People were walking about. They were all supposed to be walking about. People were shouting. They were supposed to be shouting. It was a very big, very distracting event.
Thirdly, I think the race and ethnicity of these boys played a factor. I know this is going to sound racist, and arguably it is, but this is the reality we live in. Should a brown skinned, turban wearing Muslim have walked through that crowd, dropped a backpack, and left people would have been calling 911, if not taking the law into their own hands right there on the spot. But these were two, light skinned, athletic, attractive, smiling young men. America is a pretty accommodating place if you fit that bill. "Oh, you want to set your bag down? You must be tired. I'll keep an eye on it for you. Have fun!"
What do you think about the FBI's crowdsourcing efforts in gathering information, photos, and videos on the bombing?
I have always been a fan of this kind of crime fighting crowdsourcing. I watch America's Most Wanted religiously. It's kind of like playing the lottery for me. I would just love to one day be the lucky one to spot someone from an episode, and be the person to alert the authorities so they can catch them and put them to justice! But this is a unique case. Most often, when the authorities put out information and seek information from the public it takes weeks or months or even years to generate solid leads. The information is still hit or miss, but in this case these boys were spotted by someone looking over footage of a gas station robbery that didn't even involve them. And then, a very brave homeowner spotted something amiss with his boat, investigated, saw what he knew must be the remaining suspect, and alerted authorities. Honestly, I really don't know what it was that made the public react the way it did, so fast, and so passionately. But I for one am very heartened and inspired. This method works. And it could work this spectacularly more often, should the public become as passionate and involved as they were in this case. Boston definitely was a tragedy, but there are tragedies every day. And the people involved in those "little" tragedies would appreciate your help just as much as those 130+ Boston victims.
Is a new sense of fear overreacting?
I definitely think so. Life is not worth living if you're living it in fear. I personally would rather die happy, of some random, unknowable, unavoidable event, than to live my life miserably, constantly in fear, and then probably die the same way. I can see why people would become more afraid. But I don't think we ought to allow ourselves to become overwhelmed and defined by that, what should be temporary, emotion. And in my personal estimation, the media sources that I've read and watched and listened to have surprisingly not done a terrible job concerning this. It would be easy for them to print in the headlines "FEAR! FEAR! FEAR! HIDE IN YOUR HOMES! HE'S OUT TO GET YOU!" That actually probably would sell. But they seem to have done a pretty good job of being realistic about this. This was two boys with thousands upon thousands of federal agents working feverishly to find and apprehend them and keep the public safe.
What do you think this ordeal means for the war on Terrorism?
If my assumption is correct, that this was homegrown, not affiliated with Al Qaeda, just two "lone wolves", I hope this will awaken a realization that Americans, immigrated or natural born, are just as likely to be terrorists as that brown skinned guy who works the register at the gas station. There's this sickening racism that every American citizen has been infected with since September 11th, 2001. Brown skin means terrorism. It does not mean terrorism any more than any other skin color. The middle east does not hold a monopoly on terrorism. Terrorism is a human condition, it is not a middle eastern condition. I hope this changes the way the public views people of middle eastern ethnicity, and terrorism in general.
What do you think was the motivation for this attack?Anything I could say right now would be speculation. The boys' uncle speculated it was because they weren't being as successful as they thought they should be, and because they weren't fitting in as well as they thought they should be. But honestly, even that is speculation. We'll should know eventually. I have the feeling that this young man is going to talk. I could be wrong, but he just doesn't look like the hardened type who won't speak.
What does this attack, and the subsequent shootings and lockdown mean to the gun debate?There have been many people who have reasonably suggested that this event is an example of why ordinary people don't need guns. I would argue that this even is an example of why ordinary people do need guns. What would have happened if Dzhokhar had been more healthy when he broke onto that man's property? What if it had been your property? Would you rather face a "crazy", "irrational", "fearing for his life", "nothing left to live for", armed and dangerous fugitive with or without a gun to protect yourself? Me personally, I would rather take my chances with a gun while on my property. I would rather die defending my family in such a circumstance than cower as my family is executed. I think this whole ordeal reminds us that crazy, irrational people do exist, and they do threaten people. That's one of the foundational pillars of the gun ownership argument.
How has the unusual speediness of capture affected your view of law enforcement?The authorities involved were fantastic, marvelous, commendable, ... I just don't even know how to thank them enough! As a society we often joke about "fat cops eating doughnuts and slacking off". It's a media meme. But in reality, the vast majority of these guys are sweating their balls off keeping us safe. I think every single authority involved (and yes that includes the President I so often disagree with) deserves respect and thanks for their part in this case.
Do you think this attack will change American's views on Chechnya, and Russia in general?I wish it wouldn't, but I fear it will. As much attention as this story has garnered, I do fear that anyone with that trademark nose and cheekbones and eyes is going to be looked at with more suspicion than before. We saw it back in the cold war in America; discrimination against anyone who appeared to be Russian. It wouldn't surprise me if it revived in America now.
Any takers?
What could it have been that allowed this tragedy to occur?
Honestly, I think several factors played heavily into allowing this tragedy to occur. Firstly, this appears to be an extremely low level, low key plot. Our government does a fantastic job infiltrating Al Qaeda, determining what they're going to do next, and thwarting it before it becomes serious. But from everything I've read, this does not appear to be an Al Qaeda sponsored plot. It just seems to be two (or some have argued one) kids who for whatever reason decided to do this. No help from the outside. There's not much our government could do in such a case, unless they literally wiretap and monitor every single phone call, every single text, every single email, have a drone listen in on every conversation on every street corner and in every house. It's just not feasible.
Secondly, I think that the grand scale of the marathon played a part. There were so many people there of all races and ethnicities. People were running. They were supposed to be running. People were walking about. They were all supposed to be walking about. People were shouting. They were supposed to be shouting. It was a very big, very distracting event.
Thirdly, I think the race and ethnicity of these boys played a factor. I know this is going to sound racist, and arguably it is, but this is the reality we live in. Should a brown skinned, turban wearing Muslim have walked through that crowd, dropped a backpack, and left people would have been calling 911, if not taking the law into their own hands right there on the spot. But these were two, light skinned, athletic, attractive, smiling young men. America is a pretty accommodating place if you fit that bill. "Oh, you want to set your bag down? You must be tired. I'll keep an eye on it for you. Have fun!"
What do you think about the FBI's crowdsourcing efforts in gathering information, photos, and videos on the bombing?
I have always been a fan of this kind of crime fighting crowdsourcing. I watch America's Most Wanted religiously. It's kind of like playing the lottery for me. I would just love to one day be the lucky one to spot someone from an episode, and be the person to alert the authorities so they can catch them and put them to justice! But this is a unique case. Most often, when the authorities put out information and seek information from the public it takes weeks or months or even years to generate solid leads. The information is still hit or miss, but in this case these boys were spotted by someone looking over footage of a gas station robbery that didn't even involve them. And then, a very brave homeowner spotted something amiss with his boat, investigated, saw what he knew must be the remaining suspect, and alerted authorities. Honestly, I really don't know what it was that made the public react the way it did, so fast, and so passionately. But I for one am very heartened and inspired. This method works. And it could work this spectacularly more often, should the public become as passionate and involved as they were in this case. Boston definitely was a tragedy, but there are tragedies every day. And the people involved in those "little" tragedies would appreciate your help just as much as those 130+ Boston victims.
Is a new sense of fear overreacting?
I definitely think so. Life is not worth living if you're living it in fear. I personally would rather die happy, of some random, unknowable, unavoidable event, than to live my life miserably, constantly in fear, and then probably die the same way. I can see why people would become more afraid. But I don't think we ought to allow ourselves to become overwhelmed and defined by that, what should be temporary, emotion. And in my personal estimation, the media sources that I've read and watched and listened to have surprisingly not done a terrible job concerning this. It would be easy for them to print in the headlines "FEAR! FEAR! FEAR! HIDE IN YOUR HOMES! HE'S OUT TO GET YOU!" That actually probably would sell. But they seem to have done a pretty good job of being realistic about this. This was two boys with thousands upon thousands of federal agents working feverishly to find and apprehend them and keep the public safe.
What do you think this ordeal means for the war on Terrorism?
If my assumption is correct, that this was homegrown, not affiliated with Al Qaeda, just two "lone wolves", I hope this will awaken a realization that Americans, immigrated or natural born, are just as likely to be terrorists as that brown skinned guy who works the register at the gas station. There's this sickening racism that every American citizen has been infected with since September 11th, 2001. Brown skin means terrorism. It does not mean terrorism any more than any other skin color. The middle east does not hold a monopoly on terrorism. Terrorism is a human condition, it is not a middle eastern condition. I hope this changes the way the public views people of middle eastern ethnicity, and terrorism in general.
What do you think was the motivation for this attack?Anything I could say right now would be speculation. The boys' uncle speculated it was because they weren't being as successful as they thought they should be, and because they weren't fitting in as well as they thought they should be. But honestly, even that is speculation. We'll should know eventually. I have the feeling that this young man is going to talk. I could be wrong, but he just doesn't look like the hardened type who won't speak.
What does this attack, and the subsequent shootings and lockdown mean to the gun debate?There have been many people who have reasonably suggested that this event is an example of why ordinary people don't need guns. I would argue that this even is an example of why ordinary people do need guns. What would have happened if Dzhokhar had been more healthy when he broke onto that man's property? What if it had been your property? Would you rather face a "crazy", "irrational", "fearing for his life", "nothing left to live for", armed and dangerous fugitive with or without a gun to protect yourself? Me personally, I would rather take my chances with a gun while on my property. I would rather die defending my family in such a circumstance than cower as my family is executed. I think this whole ordeal reminds us that crazy, irrational people do exist, and they do threaten people. That's one of the foundational pillars of the gun ownership argument.
How has the unusual speediness of capture affected your view of law enforcement?The authorities involved were fantastic, marvelous, commendable, ... I just don't even know how to thank them enough! As a society we often joke about "fat cops eating doughnuts and slacking off". It's a media meme. But in reality, the vast majority of these guys are sweating their balls off keeping us safe. I think every single authority involved (and yes that includes the President I so often disagree with) deserves respect and thanks for their part in this case.
Do you think this attack will change American's views on Chechnya, and Russia in general?I wish it wouldn't, but I fear it will. As much attention as this story has garnered, I do fear that anyone with that trademark nose and cheekbones and eyes is going to be looked at with more suspicion than before. We saw it back in the cold war in America; discrimination against anyone who appeared to be Russian. It wouldn't surprise me if it revived in America now.
Any takers?
