Great article - yes once you start comparing numbers you realise it's all narrative.
My favourite example is the blight on public spaces that are a response to terrorism. The list of ways to die in the West that don't involve terrorism is long and mundane. Causes of death that hit more impressive numbers include stairs, bees and vending machines. It's true that a vending machine won't decapitate you for the Caliphate, but if your stomach doesn't tighten every time you buy a Twix, then you might as well buy those concert tickets.
Meanwhile we're happy to cover our cities in a forest of bollards to deter any of these lone wolf truck attacks, but not invest in traffic calming that would actually save a significant quanitity of lives.
Great article - yes once you start comparing numbers you realise it's all narrative.
My favourite example is the blight on public spaces that are a response to terrorism. The list of ways to die in the West that don't involve terrorism is long and mundane. Causes of death that hit more impressive numbers include stairs, bees and vending machines. It's true that a vending machine won't decapitate you for the Caliphate, but if your stomach doesn't tighten every time you buy a Twix, then you might as well buy those concert tickets.
Meanwhile we're happy to cover our cities in a forest of bollards to deter any of these lone wolf truck attacks, but not invest in traffic calming that would actually save a significant quanitity of lives.
Brilliantly said