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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Flipside on January 31, 2012, 07:34:16 am

Title: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Flipside on January 31, 2012, 07:34:16 am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16810312

Two British holidays makers turned back because they said they were going to 'destroy' America (basically referring to their partying for the entire holiday) on a Twitter post.

Whilst I 'kind of' understand a level of concern over the wording used, it seems there is very little effort made by the US to deal with the language differences that exist between the two countries, and I certainly don't think Fundamentalist terrorists would twitter their intention to the open internet before they do it.

Edit: Spelling correction
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: The E on January 31, 2012, 07:45:58 am
Jesus, America must be reeeeaaally fragile these days, if it can be destroyed by tweets. Or really paranoid, if it can be threatened by them.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Nuke on January 31, 2012, 07:50:50 am
im just glad to know our tax money is being well spent. that we can keep agents on monitoring tweets enough to catch tourists while attempting to have a good time on vacation. ironically in alaska the words "tourist" and "terrorist" are somewhat synonymous.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: headdie on January 31, 2012, 07:52:53 am
:wtf:

I am torn here between the protecting innocents bandwagon and the OMG this is a total overreaction bandwagon as i think both parties have a valid say in this.
 
I know that security needs to be maintained but why are alerts going out about travellers before a basic checks have been completed, I mean they had a week to do it in and i would assume there would be enough time to see if any other of his online activity contained danger words/phrases.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Mikes on January 31, 2012, 10:39:59 am
Wasn't there that professor that showed that the tiny amount of flight passengers that will statistically inevitably contract cancer as a result of passing through a backscatter scanner at an airport was somewhat higher than the tiny amount of the total American population that died from terrorist attacks. (Granted, the radiation dosage from a transatlantic flight is also similar or even higher than from a backscatter scanner (afaik)...   but it adds up.)

For that matter... deaths caused by DUI each year are much higher than deaths caused by terrorists...  yet there is no war on alcoholics.


I'd say perspective has long been lost.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Dragon on January 31, 2012, 11:04:07 am
While I agree that this is somewhat paranoid, I can see the reasoning behind the decision. Considering the recent events, I think this was somewhat justified.
It also shows that terrorists reached their goal. This level of security checks might be what will finish off the USA, reducing their tourism and alienating it from other nations.
EDIT: It also seem that they were warned about saying anything like that. Let's just say that terrorism simply isn't a joking matter, especially in the current situation.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: LordMelvin on January 31, 2012, 01:33:37 pm
For that matter... deaths caused by DUI each year are much higher than deaths caused by terrorists...  yet there is no war on alcoholics.

I'd say perspective has long been lost.

If you declare war on alcoholics, we'll fight back, and we'll fight back hard. *hic* Jush as shooon as I fhinish m'nex drink.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: castor on January 31, 2012, 01:41:50 pm
Why weren't they jailed? Turning them back means they didn't take it seriously in the first place, but wanted to teach some manners (which should be a job for ur mom, not for the "Department for Homeland Security").
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: redsniper on January 31, 2012, 01:49:44 pm
Well of course we're not letting Britons in! You guys are our oldest enemy. We aren't going to just let you waltz in here and wreck the place!






:p
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Aardwolf on January 31, 2012, 02:03:07 pm
While I agree that this is somewhat paranoid, I can see the reasoning behind the decision. Considering the recent events, I think this was somewhat justified.
It also shows that terrorists reached their goal. This level of security checks might be what will finish off the USA, reducing their tourism and alienating it from other nations.
EDIT: It also seem that they were warned about saying anything like that. Let's just say that terrorism simply isn't a joking matter, especially in the current situation.

I can see the reasoning too! It's just bad reasoning, and a horrible case of hindsight bias.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: deathfun on January 31, 2012, 09:19:17 pm
Hey guys, I'm going to go destroy American titty bars, who's with me?
*Waits for knock on door*
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: stinkyFeet on January 31, 2012, 11:19:33 pm
Omg, lots of people have starting tweeting their intention to destroy america since this happened!

The british are coming! The british are coming!
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: NGTM-1R on February 01, 2012, 06:27:05 am
Weirdly enough, jihadists actually are well-know for tweeting their intentions. There have been ongoing twitter wars for both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Nemesis6 on February 01, 2012, 12:22:25 pm
I remember a bit of news where the American military was considering equipping their soldiers with smartphones. Hilarity would no doubt ensue.

Quote
GIJoe Joe Smith
Fastmovers came in, #blueonblue. #manydead, lol.
2 hours ago

Oh here it is: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-12/tech/army.smartphones_1_iphone-and-android-smartphones-windows-phone?_s=PM:TECH

As far as this damaging America's reputation, it really is a drop in the bucket.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Grizzly on February 01, 2012, 01:00:53 pm
Quote
The Army group initially had some trouble testing the iPhone in the desert grounds, due to a problem many longtime owners of the popular Apple device know all too well. "AT&T didn't provide service there," McCarthy said.

I smiled.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Mikes on February 01, 2012, 01:42:51 pm
I remember a bit of news where the American military was considering equipping their soldiers with smartphones. Hilarity would no doubt ensue.

Quote
GIJoe Joe Smith
Fastmovers came in, #blueonblue. #manydead, lol.
2 hours ago

Oh here it is: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-12/tech/army.smartphones_1_iphone-and-android-smartphones-windows-phone?_s=PM:TECH

As far as this damaging America's reputation, it really is a drop in the bucket.

Great so the wrong app/malware could reveal your whole armies location to the enemy? LOL.

i.e.: App makers could send GPS information to the web and sell it to the highest bidder...   i.e. what is already happening anyways, except then it could screw up military ops lol.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: Dragon on February 01, 2012, 06:17:44 pm
For that matter... deaths caused by DUI each year are much higher than deaths caused by terrorists...  yet there is no war on alcoholics.

I'd say perspective has long been lost.

If you declare war on alcoholics, we'll fight back, and we'll fight back hard. *hic* Jush as shooon as I fhinish m'nex drink.
Actually, America once declared a war on alcoholism. It was called The Prohibition. Let's say it didn't end well, resulting in a huge increase in crime and allowing gangsters to amass huge fortunes.
Pretty much the only good thing it gave us was material for stories about gangsters.
Title: Re: Because Jihadists are well known for tweeting their intentions...
Post by: NGTM-1R on February 01, 2012, 08:02:23 pm
It actually did some good in forcing law enforcement to modernize and coordinate. But other than that it's pretty much a black hole.