to think why is it always the straight A students that sod off and join terrorists?

[OhBuggerItAgain]

to think why is it always the straight A students that sod off and join terrorists, its never the thickies?

do they know something we don't? I mean they are obviously really bright? or not - is it like when someone dies and everyone says how lovely the person was?

If they want someone to be a suicide bomber or to perform menial tasks, lack of imagination and even having learning difficulties would be an advantage.
In contrast, complex missions would be more successfully performed by more intelligent, if naive, folk. Academic Intelligence is quite separate from Emotional Intelligence, i.e. empathy, "common" sense and judgement.

There is an interesting article in the Independent about why some men throughout time are attracted to dangerous men. This is not a new phenomenon, it's always happened and i don't understand the attraction myself of wanting to join a bunch of murderous nutcases but some women are.

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/national/the-jihadi-girls-are-just-part-of-a-long-line-attracted-to-mad-bad-men/ar-BBhRj5B?ocid=mailsignoutmd

it should read 'some women are attracted to dangerous men' not men but men can be too but in this situation I don't think it applies!

They're not all clever.

What about the guy who went out to Syria after getting the sack from his job at Primark?

Am guessing he didn't have all A stars!

You hear more about the very few bright ones because
a. they make a better story and some people might actually regard it as a loss if they went and
b. they have parents who cared enough to support them at school, who will notice and kick up a fuss when they leave and who don't think their kids are such a waste of space they're actually glad when they go.

Personally, I blame the parents too - if my 15 year old day got involved with a bunch of organised, violent criminals and ran off to join them, my first thought would be to wonder where I went wrong as a parent, not to blame the police/secret services for not stopping her!!