NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6101307,00.html

The poll was taken amongst British Muslims, and 1 out of 10 say that if they had knowledge of an impending terror attack, they would NOT inform the authorities.

Well, let's poll the NS General crowd. Would you inform the authorities if you had knowledge of an impending terrorist attack?

Sure -- but I would do it as an anonymous tip. I wouldn't want the authorities crawling up my ass because they think I'm involved with the terrorists.

Post it on NS first. Cos it's the silly poll option.

But other than that, yes. As soon as I concievably could.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6101307,00.html

The poll was taken amongst British Muslims, and 1 out of 10 say that if they had knowledge of an impending terror attack, they would NOT inform the authorities.

Well, let's poll the NS General crowd. Would you inform the authorities if you had knowledge of an impending terrorist attack?

Of course. But if movies have taught me anything it is that due to either not being believed, corrupt police or amazingly appropriate skill, it will be up to me to save the day. :)

I would do so anonymously, since I don't really care to draw the ire of a large community. Sure, it would prevent a terrorist attack, but do I really need bin Laden knowing it was me who did it? Just as if I were to stop a hijacking, I would probably enter the Witness Protection Program immediately afterward.

Depends on who was commiting it and against whom. Most likely yes, but there are potential exceptions.

Well, let's poll the NS General crowd. Would you inform the authorities if you had knowledge of an impending terrorist attack?

is there any money in it? ;)
of course i would

Sure but I would drive a couple of hours and then find a payphone and make sure that my name isn't used in my tip. Last thing I need is to be questioned on additional knowledge that I for some reason didn't tell them or worse being used as a tool to help Bush get good PR.

Of course. But if movies have taught me anything it is that due to either not being believed, corrupt police or amazingly appropriate skill, it will be up to me to save the day. :)

Ah, so you ARE Chuck Norris!

Sure but I would drive a couple of hours and then find a payphone and make sure that my name isn't used in my tip. Last thing I need is to be questioned on additional knowledge that I for some reason didn't tell them or worse being used as a tool to help Bush get good PR.

Exactly. Giving the tip is one thing... the last thing you want to end up doing is being picked up and tortured for the 'extra information' you no doubt must have...

Exactly. Giving the tip is one thing... the last thing you want to end up doing is being picked up and tortured for the 'extra information' you no doubt must have...

This is what I'm getting at - there's more than one reason not to inform, especially directly.

sure i would inform. it certainly would be less embarassing than calling up the state police to tell them that the "vagabonds" down by the river saw aligator prints and would like someone to check them out. (they stopped me on my way home and asked me to do it. the police dispatched laughed but said she's send someone over. alligator in the rio grande, yeah right.)

anyway, i dont think the question is the same as the poll question. almost anyone would inform on strangers. but would you inform on someone in your highschool? would you inform on your minister? would you do what david Kaczynski did and turn in your own brother?

yes i would.

The poll was taken amongst British Muslims, and 1 out of 10 say that if they had knowledge of an impending terror attack, they would NOT inform the authorities.

Also means that 9 out of 10 WOULD inform the authorities.

sure i would inform. it certainly would be less embarassing than calling up the state police to tell them that the "vagabonds" down by the river saw aligator prints and would like someone to check them out. (they stopped me on my way home and asked me to do it. the police dispatched laughed but said she's send someone over. alligator in the rio grande, yeah right.)

anyway, i dont think the question is the same as the poll question. almost anyone would inform on strangers. but would you inform on someone in your highschool? would you inform on your minister? would you do what david Kaczynski did and turn in your own brother?

yes i would.

Of course i would. It is only when the question is informing on close family and close friends that the question gets murky.

Ah, so you ARE Chuck Norris!

Not really, but I do have a unique set of skills.

If a terrorist hid a nuclear weapon in a mudpit, who would YOU call? :)

The poll was taken amongst British Muslims, and 1 out of 10 say that if they had knowledge of an impending terror attack, they would NOT inform the authorities.

Well, let's poll the NS General crowd. Would you inform the authorities if you had knowledge of an impending terrorist attack?

Considering the amount of people who don't report a crime or don't come forward as witnesses, I'd say 1 in 10 is pretty good but maybe what they would do in reality is different.

I like to think I'd report it if I had knowledge of it and if I can do it anonymously.

Yes, if I thought it was a genuine threat.

Absolutely.

I would also like to point out, that I am willing to bet that if you asked the question to a Christian Fundie, and replaced "terrorist attack" with "Bombing an Abortion Center", the number would probably be similar.

Depends on who was commiting it and against whom. Most likely yes, but there are potential exceptions.

Would you like to expand on the potential exceptions where you would not inform the authorities about a potential terrorist attack on civilians?

Perhaps you mean asymetrical warfare against a military target. That's not really terrorism in its classic form - it's a military tactic.

When would you condone a terrorist attack against civilians? What would it's justification be?

If a terrorist hid a nuclear weapon in a mudpit, who would YOU call? :)

Team America? TerrorBusters? The A Team (if I can find them)? :p

Some wouldn't because they fear reprisal. Others are frankly so pissed at us for treating them like 2nd Class citizens that they feel we probably deserve it.


Example: A British man with an Arabic name is on an airplane. The plane is forced to land so he can be investigated.

Its stuff like that which is sickening. Have we come to this?!?

Paxomenia;11733914']Team America? TerrorBusters? The A Team (if I can find them)? :p

I aint gittin' on no plane, Hannibal!

I aint gittin' on no plane, Hannibal!

Okay, no planes B.A.. Here, drink this. :)

Okay, no planes B.A.. Here, drink this. :)

*grunts*

I sure do like a glass of milk!

Well, let's poll the NS General crowd. Would you inform the authorities if you had knowledge of an impending terrorist attack?

It depends on the source and depth of that information, and the information itself.
In general, unless the source was completely clean, like data that are open or I have legal access to, I would not inform the authorities. Sure, it would prevent a terrorist attack, but do I really need the authorities knowing it was me who did it?
However, I would post it on NS and a number of other sources, under different names, using Tor via wi-fi network in another city, and let other people do the job.