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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To agree with this Guardian article about the London attack?

132 replies

Medeci · 24/03/2017 19:15

And I NEVER agree with the Guardian Shock
ISIS must be thrilled with all the dramatic media coverage.

OP posts:
BillSykesDog · 24/03/2017 20:03

Am I reading a different article to everyone else? He is objecting to the incident being linked to Islamic extremism and saying that it should just have been reported as a violent incident.

Despite the fact we know ISIS has called for this type of attack. Despite the fact these sorts of attacks have happened before. And despite the fact it's looking extremely likely the man involved was an Islamic extremist. We're all supposed to pretend it's perfectly possible he was angry about a parking ticket or just accidently lost control of his car then killed a policeman in a mugging gone wrong. Or maybe he is part of the paramilitary arm of the Women's Institute angry about rule changes in the local jam making contests?

He's arguing for suppression of events. It barely touches on public grief, I don't know why so many posters seem to have taken that as the aim of the article. The article is simply a demand that terrorist activity be hushed up.

reuset · 24/03/2017 20:05

I wondered the same, Bill.

I think we have a few nodding dogs who haven't actually read the article Grin

OhMrBadger · 24/03/2017 20:07

I agree. I've always felt very uneasy with the (imo) sensationalist UK media coverage of terrorist attacks in this and other Western countries.

The platitudes flying around Facebook, the 'prayer for etc'. It provides so much publicity for terrorists.

Those of us of a certain age will remember that Gerry Adams' voice was never allowed to be broadcast during the IRA bombing campaign. Because it was believed that he should not be allowed to attempt to justify the IRA's acts of terror.

Fast forward 30 years and our daily news is full of images of terrorist atrocities. I think we all agree that terrorists are pretty bad people so why can't we universally agree to stop giving them column inches?

AlPacinosHooHaa · 24/03/2017 20:09

Good point Bill - read it again and I think your right.

Ellieboolou27 · 24/03/2017 20:12

Totally agree bill you've just summed up perfectly the response I struggled to post.

Count2three · 24/03/2017 20:15

Don't usually agree with the Guardian and don't agree this time, either.

GrommitsEarsHurt · 24/03/2017 20:15

BillSykesDog - I agree. I'm sure that those killed and injured, and the MPs and even children in Parliament, didn't think that it was just another crime.

For those who were hurt and killed, and the police who were powerless to stop it, I bet it did feel like the end of the world at that moment.

OoarOoarAyFontyItsMe · 24/03/2017 20:19

Actually bill you have made me think twice. I agree x

Vegansnake · 24/03/2017 20:19

I'd go further in not even allowing the name or photo or religion of the criminal in the public domain,I know that would be difficult,but if they don't get their five minutes of fame,that might put others off,especially if no one knows it was a terrorist attack..don't we manage that when some celebrities shag around and decide they want to protect their modesty,so it's banned from being reported

OoarOoarAyFontyItsMe · 24/03/2017 20:21

I dot mind it being in public domain.

Not naming the terrorists stops people being able to worship them after death though which I think is a great idea.

Medeci · 24/03/2017 20:24

I'm not a nodding dog and HAVE read the article Grin
It points out that there was an instant assumtion that the attack was terrorist related without any evidence.
Also that the response of govt and media was over dramatic and likely to ramp up fear and uncertainty.
Both reasonable points IMHO.

OP posts:
GrommitsEarsHurt · 24/03/2017 20:24

How could we show terrorists we don't agree and they won't win, if we don't know, that any crimes are terrorist linked, and they are aware of non-reporting?

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 24/03/2017 20:24

If you don't call it a terrorist attack what do you call it? A car crash and a burglary gone wrong? There were thousands of witnesses.

GrommitsEarsHurt · 24/03/2017 20:25

Sorry for poor spelling and grammar Blush

DJBaggySmalls · 24/03/2017 20:25

Yes, but, they couldn't win. If they down played it someone would have pointed the political shock horror finger and accused them of siding with The Enemy.
I'm glad they've raised this and I hope it will lead to a more sensible and rational future.
For that to happen we have to stop trial by social media as well.

BigGreenOlives · 24/03/2017 20:25

The 'Prayer for London' memes really annoy me. We don't need your prayers, London is fine.

reuset · 24/03/2017 20:29

Sorry, OP. Grin You didn't mention grieving as I recall.

I haven't seen the 'Prayer for London' memes, Greenolives, or anything similar! Yet.

ToffeeForEveryone · 24/03/2017 20:30

I disagree. There were mass casualties and it could have been much much worse - Westminster Bridge is so crowded with people. This wasn't crime, this was terrorism.

There seems to be an assumption in the article that it took a while to determine motive for the attack. That flooding the area with armed police in the aftermath was an overreaction.

That's just stupid. Once they ID'd the guy, they knew he was on their watch list. They raided his associates that night. An increased police presence is a completely appropriate response to an incident linked to an established threat, where they don't know yet (but it is possible / likely) that there were other plotters and the potential for further incidents over the coming days. Arming yourself isn't a sign of fear, it's an acknowledgement that there might be more fight coming.

We can wish that he is just a lone wolf, completely working in isolation - but the reality is that he will be part of a network somewhere, it may be irl and present in UK or it may only be online. But the attacker was part of a community with an intention to do harm. When intent becomes action, I'm glad that the security services err on the side of caution and prepare for a bigger threat until they know differently.

DH works opposite Westminster and this weeks has been really scary. He could have easily been on the bridge.

Vegansnake · 24/03/2017 20:30

With my kids ,I never gave bad behaviour any attention,I ignored it,they soon got fed up and behaved well for attention...I'm just thinking the more attention these crimes get ,the more it encourages similar behaviour...but if the perpetrators didn't get any attention from the media at all.and the focus was on the victims,with an agreed no out pouring of grief ,it might put copycats off doing the same

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 24/03/2017 20:33

How do you focus on the victims without showing grief?

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 24/03/2017 20:36

Having read Simon Jenkins previous articles I'm struggling to think of anything that he believes does deserve media attention. The raising of an eyebrow would probably be an overreaction to him. He seems to make a living out of belittling everything and everyone.

Imstickingwiththisone · 24/03/2017 20:39

The article says that they shouldn't have had armed police in London afterwards. And that it was wrong to assume it was a terrorist act without evidence.

Of course they have to assume it is the worst case scenario without glaringly obvious evidence otherwise they would be putting people's lives at risk.

The problem is with the media being almost bloodthirsty it's disgusting. It's extremely sad that those people lost their lives but that does not give the press good reason to give wall to wall coverage of these events which can be summed up in 5 minutes. It is glorifying it and the person who did it.

I agree that if our press cannot be sensible then the names of suspects for these kind of crimes should not be released.

GinAndTunic · 24/03/2017 20:40

Hell has just frozen over: I actually agree with an editorial in The Guardian.

Vegansnake · 24/03/2017 20:41

Snoopy,I don't know,I'm still thinking..I just wonder if the government put a ban on reporting terrorists ,and their actions...I just think what would be the point from the terrorists point of view if it didn't get reported and no one knew he had done it..no five minutes of fame

Imstickingwiththisone · 24/03/2017 20:42

toffee has it right