Without the media, terrorism can be stopped
 

Terrorism lives and breathes from attention from the media. That is a fact. I've brought this up before a long time ago but I want to see what everyone's views on this approach are. I first picked it up a few years ago in college in a War and Force class, and the idea has stuck with me.

If the worldwide media (obviously excluding Al Jazeera) literally and completely ignored anything that had to do with terrorism, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups would basically cease to exist. Now we'd still be fighting them and killing them like we currently are, but the media wouldn't be airing any of their threat tapes, or giving them an ounce of airtime on television, the radio, or even the internet. Terrorism exists because these crazy fuckers want to get their message out, so if our media ignores them completely they won't know what the fuck to do.

It's an idea. Would it work? Not entirely, because I think terrorists will simply find another means of communication, but I still think it would be effective. What's everyone's take on this?

i agree 100%

as for media ignoring terrorism - watch my lips: "never gonna happen"

yeah I never see it happening either, unless the federal govt stepped in and made it federal law.

So you think that by taking away even more of our civil rights you will stop terrorism? You sound like Bush to me...

Would you support that?

i agree 100% -
Every time they show a Bin laden tape on air, is a point score to the terrorrists - they use the videos to communicate with as well.

Just send a tape to a news chanel, and get your message spread around the world for free within 24 hours - great service they provide.

I would if it came to that, but first as a country the media heads should be asked to comply first, and also giving them an explanation as to why they should stop airing terrorist news.

As for the "I sound like Bush" comment, I dont see how taking away the enemies food is taking away our civil liberties, but you're entitled to your own opinion. And yes, I proudly voted for Bush and fully agree with the Patriot Act. I don't have anything to hide, the FBI can have a picnic in my front yard for all I care; hell then I'd feel even safer for myself and for my family.

I agree, but this is the perfect example of "easier said than done" :)

Do you think that there has not historically been terrorist attacks against imperial colonies by occupied/defeated countries, before CNN came around?

Newspapers? As I said before, even if this was done I still think terrorists would find new means of communications in order to get their demands out and survive, but I think it would still be worth it.

They had Gopher! :1orglaugh

haha so when 80 people were killed in the middle of downtown London while commuting to work the media is supposed to ignore it? Of course there would still be rumors, so it would be like "ATTN: GFY... I just heard from a buddy that bombs are expoding all over London... thousands of people are lying dead in the street... the media isn't saying anything."

Sounds like a fun world to live in.

And would you ban this guy also ???

He is a terrorist. if you are on the other side of the fence :

http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=500030

Keep playing the videos of the bombings and you make the terrorists happier and happier. This isn't just about changing the media skinnywussy, it's about getting the entire world on the same mindset, and on the same page.

Terrorism has to be ignored to be stopped. Even if that means not playing videos of subway bombings, etc, as hard as it is, because that's what Al Qaeda wants us to see, over adn over again on CNN, Fox, and in the newspapers. It adds to our fear, and it's exactly what the terrorists want. If we ignore everything they do, it shows them how strong we are, and we know that we'll still be hunting every single one of them down around the world in the meantime.

They should just make one TV channel like the telescreen from 1984, get rid of everything else. So basically Fox News.

Welcome to BUSH NEWS TV....

headlines:

- Mission accomplished
- Bin Laden is hunted down
- Iraq is now a democracy
- Oil is flowing like never before
- The US buys the UN out !

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

a shame this thread turned stupid.. it was a good subject

You raised some very good point, but with the 100% assurance, I'm not really quite sure. There are still other factors.

Not necessarily. This world needs some sort of overhauling. ;)

What a load of bullshit

How bad would terrorism would look if it was spread word of mouth? The events would be magnified 10x with all sorts of conspiracy theories. Just look at the chaos hours after 9/11. No one really knew what was going on. People don't know whats happening, there is panic. Thats the whole point of terrorism.

If you want to end it you have to get rid of Islamic religious fundamentalism. There is no other short cut. The Islamic world needs the same revolution that the US had in the 60s. If I was George Bush I'd be pumping porn, drugs, beer, and rock n roll straight into the Middle East -- and there wouldn't be a single American soldier involved.

agreed. there is no point to terrorizing people unless it strikes fear in others. if we don't know about it, terrorists have no reason to continue.

....to an extent. i don't think terrorism would ever be wiped out completely. definitely is an interesting view though.