To think we should note how quickly the media suggests the causes of attrocities?

[JeremyCunt]

First, and above all, my thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible events in Belgium. I'm so very sorry this has happened.

I think it is notable how quickly the mainstream media suggests who is behind it (this started even before the event - "expect 'revenge attacks' " etc). Facts simply cannot be adequately known at this stage. Certainly there's been no time for any thorough/impartial investigation (not that the impartiality element is likely to ever happen). And yet we're being led quite quickly to certain conclusions ("The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels" states the BBC). I'm making no comment about the veracity of these conclusions, but I think they're yet another demonstration of how easy we - the populus - are to lead.

[JeremyCunt]

Surely it would be a bit hypocritical of me to attach any credence to my own musings when noting the speed of others' conclusions? So, in answer to the strange accusations: no, I do not wish to speculate about the cause of what happened.

Intriguing to read the responses. Thanks.

[srslylikeomg]

OP you say 'facts cannot adequately be known at this stage' but... They can. Eyewitnesses, social media, rolling news. Facts are available to us almost instantly. Opinion is a different matter. I don't think you have a clear point here. If the situation turns out to have been mis reported, say, it's a terrorist faction not associated with Daesh/isil or al Qaeda then let's talk. But for now, no ones leading anything. No one has (to my knowledge) claimed responsibility so I think you'd be silly to put an opinion piece up now, but it's pretty obvious that (as promised) some kind of Islamist terrorist group have struck. It's just reporting.

[redshoeblueshoe]

Yes it was obviously George Osbourne
YABU

[scarednoob]

I don't think this is the right kind of topic for the media to be leading the populace. It's too obvious. Nobody else wants to kill civilians at the moment. Nobody else is making threats to "turn children's hair white" and other such monstrous phrases.

The chances of it being anything other than an islamic terror attack are incredibly remote. Unfortunately generous liberal open principles like this that make much of Europe so attractive also make it vulnerable to the few bad seeds to spread their vile ideology.

[MartinaJ]

YAVBU
Considering latest developments in Belgium, it's very safe to assume and say that the attacks were not performed by a group of disgruntled girl scouts.

[TinySombrero]

But there are no conclusions yet. The incidents are being reported and most people have connected them to the pre existing terror threat. I don't think that is odd or noteworthy.

[vindscreenviper]

I'm intrigued you felt the need to name-change/join MN on hour ago just to be obtuse about the terrorist attacks in Brussels OP.

[JeremyCunt]

I name change pretty much daily, vind. Don't read anything into that.

[IPityThePontipines]

When your religion is directly responsible for over 90% of the terrorism in the world, tough shit if everyone looks at you when something similar happens again.

By "you" I hope you don't Muslims in general.Especially since 1)IS and AQ are extremely fond of killing Muslims in Muslim majority countries and 2)Muslim civilians have died in everyone one of the European attacks too.

We're as scared as you.

[TinySombrero]

But I would be interested in reading a different viewpoint!

[vindscreenviper]

Get you, international man of mystery eh?
Not like us easily-led members of the populus.

[PercyPigTheSecond]

Yabu. It was clear from the basic facts that it was most likely a Muslim plot.

[Sparklingbrook]

Daily name change?

[JeremyCunt]

But I would be interested in reading a different viewpoint!

Well, there's plenty elsewhere on t'internet for you then, Tiny.
MN, for all its excellent qualities, is (IMHO) not the best place for that.

[vindscreenviper]

Don't you know the Lizard People/Illuminati will track you down if you don't name-change every day Sparkling?

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh no vind.

[TinySombrero]

I like the chatty element here. I avoid conspiracy theorists as i find them (surprisingly) dull!

[LagunaBubbles]

"The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels" states the BBC)

As this is a fact and not speculation Im not sure what your point is? Its all the medias fault to speculate that an attack has been carried out by Islamic terrorists?

[JeremyCunt]

Do you not find it kind of interesting that when someone comes on and attempts (perhaps clumsily) to point out the speed at which we jump to conclusions about big events, they are told they are being unreasonable? Isn't it a bit interesting that people start talking about lizards and Tories and international men of mystery and things? None of that is from me as OP.

I find that really interesting.

[Sparklingbrook]

I am just digging out my tinfoil hat.....

[JeremyCunt]

As this is a fact and not speculation

Sure, but they didn't mention that it was Queen Latifah's birthday four days ago.

The fact is that we immediately jump to these conclusions, with the recent and longer-term aid of the media (which is, after all, where we get most of our info).

[TinySombrero]

For me any scepticism comes from previous experience that there is a "thing" nowadays to explain such events as not terrorism but false flag events.

[stinkysnowbear]

But what about the Chemtrails?

Why has nobody mentioned the Chemtrails!?!?!? SHEEP, THE LOT OF YOU

[JeremyCunt]

Yeah, OK, we'll add chemtrails and tin foil hats to the lizards and Tories...

[Sparklingbrook]