Job Discussion Forums

[gugelhupf]

I grew up for the most part in the UK when the threat from the IRA bombing campaigns was a fact of everyday life. I also spent some time in Germany at the time of the Baader Meinhof/RAF attacks.

Maybe because of the times I grew up in I'm usually pretty aware of hazards such as unattended baggage in stations and airports, but at the same time I've always believed in carrying on normal life and I was NOT one of those who stopped flying after 9/11. A general travel warning from the Foreign Office does not deter me from moving to Indonesia.

It's easy for me to say that right now - I'm not up at the sharp end like those colleagues of ours in parts of Saudi where fairly random attacks on westerners have occurred recently.

Should I be scared? Are you?

[johnslat]

Dear gugelhupf,
If I were still in the Kingdom, I think I'd feel at least a bit threatened, but I don't feel that here in Santa Fe, NM.
The difference? Well, over there you can't help but think of yourself as something of a target, based simply on the fact that you're a "recognizable Westerner" (though, admittedly, the terrorists don't seem to make much, if any, distinction regarding whom they shoot/blow up)
But here I'm just one of roughly 293,365,000 other folks, so the odds of my being "targeted" would appear to be considerably lower.
Regards,
John

[Teacher in Rome]

Put it this way - I'm uneasy.

If terrorists can strike at Madrid, they can strike at Rome. The security services here don't have a high reputation, and I'd imagine that Rome is a soft target.

Like you, Gugelhupf, I also grew up in the days of the IRA. I've also travelled relatively extensively, and I don't consider myself easily scared. However, I think that terrorism has moved on from the 1970s. Issues have become much more global, in the sense that what happens thousands of miles away can impact on you. It used to be that the IRA would strike at targets within the UK. You now get disaffected groups striking at any Western target. The worrying thing (for me, at least) is that the element of chance is so high. You may be on the train that gets blown up - you may miss that train by minutes.

I have to admit that I have changed my day-to-day habits because of the terrorism threat - I am worried enough that I don't think it's any longer a question of "if", but "when".

[Hector_Lector]

What a bunch of cry-babies!

I don�t think any so-called terrorist group is going to hunt you down in Rome, or any other �soft target�.

If people are so concerned about being �targets�, they should stay at home with their mummies.

[johnslat]

Dear Hector-Lector,
Just curious - have you ever been in a life-threatening situation, teaching junior high, for example?
It's not paranoia when they're really out to get you.
Regards,
John

[Hector_Lector]

Life-threatening situations?

Youth in Uk - oh no, there go the nasty IRA.

Libyan bombing in Omdurman, 1984.

Sicily - say no more.

Saudi Arabia bullshit.

First Gulf War - driving past the chicken farm as it was hit by a Scud.

Caught in a crowd of secondary school students during the start of the Intifadah, in Oman.

Face-off with English football hooligan/scum in Bratislava, 2003.

Catching the train before the bombs in Atoche in Madrid, 2004.

Living in the world, threatened by Bush.

Yes, i have had my moments.

[johnslat]

Dear Hector_Lector,
Chicken farm? I don't recall a Scud hitting any chicken farm. One did hit a building just down the street from my apartment in Riyadh, though.

[Aramas]

We're all far more likely to die as a result of a malfunctioning toaster than at the hands of terrorists.

[johnslat]

Dear Aramas,
By Jove, then I'm absolutely safe, not eating toast or even having a toaster in my abode.
I'll sleep well tonight.
Regards,
John

[Hector_Lector]

Famous (well, famous in Qatar) chicken slaughter near Doha.